Hundreds of San Marcos residents gathered at the city courthouse to protest a proposed data center on Feb. 17. The council voted to deny a map amendment, stopping the project’s development. (Michael Milliorn/Community Impact)
The San Marcos City Council voted to deny a Preferred Scenario Map amendment for approximately 200 acres of land west of Francis Harris Lane on Feb. 17.
The requested change would have allowed landowners, Highlander SM One LLC, or John Maberry, and Donald and Germaine Tuff to develop a data center—a project met with significant pushback from community members.
What happened
Hundreds of residents gathered outside the San Marcos courthouse to protest the proposed data center, waving handmade signs outlining their opposition. Over 100 community members spoke on the data center during the meeting’s almost five-hour-long citizen comment period.
Inside the council chambers, dozens of members of the San Antonio-based labor union LiUNA! Laborers Local 1095 stood in support of the project. Donning bright orange shirts, members spoke on the union construction jobs the data center project would create.
Members of the LiUNA! Laborers Local 1095 union showed support for the data center project and the construction jobs it would create at the Feb. 17 council meeting. (Michael Milliorn/Community Impact)
“People in previous meetings have said that these are just temporary jobs, they hold no value and they do not change lives,” said Matthew Gonzalez, Laborers Local 1095 business manager, during citizen comment. “Our members come to meetings like this to advocate for projects across the board so that our members can go to work, take care of their families and put food on the table.”
A majority of speakers voiced their opposition to the data center, citing high water usage, increased strain on the ERCOT grid and potential environmental impacts on the surrounding land and residents.
Community members gathered on the San Marcos courthouse lawn Feb. 17 to show their opposition to the proposed data center. (Michael Milliorn/Community Impact)
“We are going to be fighting these data centers no matter what, and we're looking for someone who wants to untie their hands and help us fight them and save San Marcos,” resident Saunders Drukker said during citizen comment.
Also of note
The water required to operate the proposed data center was a major aspect of the community’s opposition and the council’s denial.
Ruben Becerra, Hays County judge and emergency management director, called for all water supply corporations, municipal providers and groundwater districts in the county to issue Stage 4 water restrictions Feb. 4.
Becerra intends to propose a moratorium on the approval of permits for new developments that have high water demands, including data centers, for Hays County Commissioners Court consideration, according to a post on his official Facebook page.
Next steps
Due to the council’s 5-2 vote to deny the requested map change, a second and final reading vote on the issue originally scheduled for March 3 will not take place.
Maberry must wait six months before bringing the request back for consideration.
