Officials move forward on large Hutto data center

Almost a year after an announcement that Dallas-based Skybox Datacenters and San Fransico-based parter Prologis Inc. purchased more than 220 acres in Hutto, City Council made steps to advance the development process.

At a June 15 meeting, officials gave preliminary approval to annex the land, which occupies about 224 acres in the Hutto Megasite, a roughly 1,400-acre tract of land on Hwy. 79 earmarked for industrial development.

At the same meeting, City Council members also approved a municipal service agreement to bring services including water, wastewater and waste disposal as well as a zoning of the land for light industrial use.

Ashley Bailey, development services director for the city of Hutto, said council will likely make the second and final approval to annex the land into the city at the next regular meeting in late June.

Skybox and Prologis plan to build a data center campus on the site, but specific details about an economic development between the companies and Hutto are not yet available.

Last August, JC Witt, vice president and investment officer at Prologis, said the growth happening in and around Hutto made the city a compelling location for the campus.

“The city of Hutto is very attractive for its strong workforce, prime location and pro-growth mindset,” Witt said in the announcement. “The site on Hwy. 79 is a rare find, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the city and Skybox Datacenters to develop it.”