Decatur TX proposed data center overlay district (2026)
Decatur, TX — Proposed Data Center Overlay District for Eagles Landing Business Park, Barring Evaporative Cooling (September 2026)
Decatur, TX · City of Decatur, Texas — proposed Data Center Overlay District (Eagles Landing Business Park), presented to City Council Sept. 28, 2026
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Developers of data centers within the proposed overlay at Eagles Landing Business Park, if adopted
- Enforced by
- City of Decatur (Development Services; Planning and Zoning Commission; City Council)
Decatur, a Wise County city in North Texas, is drafting a zoning overlay district with extra rules for any data center at its Eagles Landing Business Park. City staff presented the draft to the City Council on September 28, 2026, and no vote was taken. As described, the overlay would allow only closed-loop, air-cooled or recycled-water cooling, require water studies and dedicated metering, and set buffers, noise studies and other site standards. The city says no data center developer has applied; the measure is meant to put rules in place before one does.
Who is protected: Decatur residents and nearby land uses (schools, hospitals, homes, churches, child care) and the city's water and power supply, if adopted
Legal detail
DRAFT ONLY — not adopted. Per Wise County Messenger (Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, 2026): the council discussed the proposed overlay at its Sept. 28, 2026 meeting (agenda item listed as discussion only, no action). Location: Eagles Landing Business Park (reported as 529 acres off FM 2264 with U.S. 81/287 and Business 81 frontage). Reported draft standards: cooling limited to closed-loop, air-cooled or recycled-water systems (evaporative systems excluded); water loading studies and dedicated metering; wastewater discharge limits/pretreatment standards; documentation of grid interconnection approval from PUCT/ERCOT; minimum lot size, setback, parking, lighting and screening standards; buffers from schools, hospitals, residences, churches and child care facilities; noise studies and mitigation. Schedule: P&Z discussion Oct. 6, P&Z public hearing Nov. 4, council hearing Nov. 23, 2026. City manager Nate Mara said no data center proposals have been received. Official agenda (City Council, Sept. 28, 2026): discussion item 2, 'Discussion of a proposed ordinance establishing a Data Center Overlay District, including development standards and special regulations applicable to Data Centers' (no action). Messenger: council could take action to establish the district Dec. 14, 2026. NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance number, final text, adoption date; draft standards listed above come only from the Messenger (no backup posted with the agenda).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Decatur, TX |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | City of Decatur, Texas — proposed Data Center Overlay District (Eagles Landing Business Park), presented to City Council Sept. 28, 2026 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located source |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | Decatur begins process to establish data center overlay district at business park — Wise County Messenger |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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