Houston-area data center wants a 44-year-old road plan out of its way

A data center looking to expand its massive Houston-area campus has something standing in its way: a public road the city has been planning for more than 40 years.

The solution it wants? Get rid of the road.

Serverfarm, the data center developer behind the Hockley campus, is asking Houston to remove roughly 5,200 feet of the planned Kermier Road between Becka and Bath roads from the city's Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan. The company argues the planned 100-foot-wide public roadway would create an "insurmountable barrier" to expanding and securing its data center campus.

The request came before the Houston Planning Commission during its Aug. 20 meeting, but commissioners did not vote on it. Planning staff said their review remains ongoing as officials coordinate with Harris County and consider an updated traffic analysis before making a recommendation in September.

City officials referred only to "the applicant" during the presentation, but a map shown to commissioners identifies Serverfarm at the site. State records also identify Serverfarm as the owner of a data center project at 4801 Betka Road in Hockley.

The California-based company describes itself as a global data center developer and operator and currently lists two Houston-area campuses in its portfolio.

The proposed road is in far northwest Harris County near Waller and Hockley, an area west of the Grand Parkway where Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction stretches toward the Waller County line.

While Kermier Road hasn't actually been built through the property, it isn't exactly a new idea.

Petra Hsia, a City of Houston planner, told the Planning Commission that the Kermier Road segment has been part of Houston's Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan since an update in 1982 and appeared on the city's published map the following year. At the time, Houston envisioned a much longer thoroughfare connecting the area around Spring Creek with the city's southern extraterritorial jurisdiction west of Katy. Subsequent amendments have since shortened the planned corridor.

Now, Serverfarm wants to expand its data center campus across part of the planned route.

Hsia said the proposed expansion would add several structures and detention areas to the campus.

"The applicant asserts that dedicating a hundred-foot-wide major thoroughfare would represent an insurmountable barrier to the proposed data center expansion," Hsia told commissioners, citing challenges with providing physical connections within the complex across a public street and securing the site.

The applicant also arguesthat existing portions of Warren Ranch and Kickapoo roads could serve as alternatives for regional traffic circulation and has submitted an updated traffic impact analysis to Harris County. Hsia said city staff will coordinate with the county and consider that analysis before making its recommendation.

Jennifer Curtis with Meta Planning and Design told commissioners the city's presentation accurately described the proposal and said discussions are continuing.

"Our coordination is ongoing and we look forward to bringing a final solution to you all," Curtis said.

The Planning Commission did not vote on the proposed road removal at its Aug. 20 meeting.

Thursday's meeting was a workshop on proposed changes to Houston's 2026 Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan. Planning Commission Chair Lisa Clark stressed at the beginning of the meeting that commissioners were "taking no action today," while staff said recommendations could still change as additional information comes in.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to act on the proposed amendments Sept. 3. Its recommendations will then be forwarded to Houston City Council for action by the end of September.

Until then, the data center may want Kermier Road out of its way, but the 44-year-old plan isn't disappearing just yet.

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