Data Center Census

Red Oak, Ellis County, TX

Compass Datacenters Red Oak second campus

ApprovedRed Oak City Council approved rezoning and a tax abatement 4-1 in May 2026 despite a planning board recommendation against it
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating

Compass Datacenters has proposed a second Red Oak campus on nearly 830 acres of agricultural land. Council members voted 4-1 to rezone the land to planned development for a 'high tech industrial park' and 4-1 to grant a tax abatement, after the planning and zoning board voted 3-2 on April 27 not to recommend the rezoning. Residents raised concerns about noise, strain on the power grid and the site's proximity to schools.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Site size830 acres [1]
nearly 830 acres
Source excerpt
“Council members voted 4-1 for rezoning nearly 830 acres from agricultural district to planned development for a 'high tech industrial park.'”

Water

Water sourceNot city water for cooling (per city leaders) [2]
Source excerpt
“it would not draw on city water for cooling the center”
Coolingclosed-loop [1]
city manager said the system would require 10 million gallons of water annually
Source excerpt
“City Manager Todd Fuller explained the center will use a closed-loop cooling system, which would require 10-million gallons of water annually.”

Money & incentives

Tax incentives$2.82 million tax abatement over the next decade [3]
Source excerpt
“The council approved a $2.82 million tax abatement over the next decade”
Tax abatement value$2.8 million [3]
Source excerpt
“The council approved a $2.82 million tax abatement over the next decade”

Local decisions & site

Deciding voteRed Oak City Council approved rezoning 4-1 (Franklin, Flannery, Miller, Lightfoot for; Smith against) and a tax abatement 4-1 [1]
Source excerpt
“Council members Mayor Pro Tem Willie Franklin Jr., Sean Flannery, Ricardo Miller and Tim Lightfoot voted in favor of the rezoning, and Jeffery Smith voted against it.”
ZoningRezoned from agricultural district to planned development for a 'high tech industrial park' [1]
Source excerpt
“Council members voted 4-1 for rezoning nearly 830 acres from agricultural district to planned development for a 'high tech industrial park.'”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. Planning and zoning board votes 3-2 not to recommend the rezoning [1]

  2. City Council approves rezoning of 830 acres around midnight after a packed meeting [2]

  3. City Council votes 4-1 to approve a tax abatement for the project [2]

Issues raised

  • Residents raised concerns about noise, potential strain on the power grid and proximity to schools [2]
  • Residents cited noise, pollution and declining property values [4]
  • The developer says the project will result in $72 million in electric grid reinforcements [3]
  • It will be the sixth data center campus in Red Oak [4][5]

Sources

  1. Red Oak rezones land for data center campus despite protests
    Ellis County Press · news
  2. Red Oak approves 800-acre data center project despite resident protests
    FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth · May 11, 2026 · news
  3. New Red Oak Data Center Project Meets Community Pushback
    Dallas Observer · news
  4. Red Oak City Council approves another data center in North Texas amid backlash from community
    CBS News Texas · May 12, 2026 · news
  5. Oppose? Expand? Votes in 2 North Texas communities highlight a divide over data center growth
    KERA News · May 12, 2026 · news
  6. Red Oak residents pack city council meeting to protest proposed data center
    NewsRadio 1080 KRLD · May 12, 2026 · news