Two-minute impact
The applicant requested a change to the preferred scenario map, which guides the types of developments and where they should go; however council denied the request. Without a change to the map, the zoning could not be changed to allow a data center.
What happened?
The meeting included hours of public comment related to the data center.
Those in favor cited increased jobs, a higher tax base and said that the data center would use less water than the 500 homes initially approved for that development.
Citizens opposed to the project cited what they considered a large amount of water use, and impacts of chemicals and noise on wildlife and humans.
San Marcos City Council member Amanda Rodriguez thanked everyone who came to speak and agreed with the majority of those opposed to the data center.
“I’m not supporting this. I can’t,” Rodriguez said. “This council talks constantly about the need to solicit opinions, and I know, often, when people come from [the community and speak to representatives]–because I was that community member; that’s why I ran–you’re dismissed. They say, ‘You don’t know enough.’ They say, ‘You don’t understand the consequences.’ It’s been very clear here today that all of y’all had to weigh the potential consequences of this scenario ... that we’re put in.”
What else?
Also during the meeting, council approved the first reading of a 65-acre annexation for the property. The other 135 acres are already annexed.
According to city spokesperson Mostafa Jalal, the second reading for the annexation is scheduled for Sept. 2, but the applicant can choose to proceed, postpone or end the annexation request.
