Hutto city officials announced in a news release April 17 that Zydeco Development, an Austin-based commercial real estate development firm, has withdrawn its request to rezone a parcel of land currently designated for residential uses in order to build a data center.
What you need to know
Per the news release, Zydeco's proposal for the data center at 450 Ed Schmidt Boulevard would have required amendments to Hutto's future land use map and the SOAR 2040 Comprehensive Plan in order to convert the site from being zoned multifamily residential to heavy industrial.
Director of Development Services Howard Koontz formally recommended against approving the request on April 7, per the release.
Zydeco's withdrawal came just before a special called planning and zoning commission meeting that was scheduled to take place April 20, where its application was the sole agenda item for consideration. Following Zydeco's withdrawal, the meeting was canceled.
"Our comprehensive plan reflects the community's vision for how Hutto should grow, and that vision guides how we evaluate every item that comes before us,” Koontz said in the release. “As submitted, this proposal was not consistent with that vision. Thoughtful planning is a priority for the city, and we remain open to continued dialogue.”
Those opposed
The data center saw considerable opposition from residents, including Katie Martin, an organizer for the local Stop the Hutto Data Center group. The group held a press conference April 16, citing health, noise, heat, water and power usage concerns with the potential data center.
The group was also aiming to trigger a Texas Local Government Code that would have required a three-fourths supermajority City Council vote to approve the request rather than a simple majority. Doing so would have required owners of at least 20% of the property within 200 feet of the center to file a formal written protest.
According to Martin, at the time of the withdrawal the group had secured about 60% of the signatures required for this supermajority vote ahead of the May council meeting.
"Data centers do have to go somewhere, we understand that, but the question is not whether data centers matter to the modern economy," resident Jess Brown said at the conference. "The question is whether this data center belongs here, in the heart of Hutto, next to homes, schools, local businesses and churches, and the answer is no."
Stay tuned
Martin said while the "immediate threat has been resolved," the group will remain active as a community watchdog for any future development on the parcel of land to ensure "compatibility with existing homes."
Community Impact reached out to Zydeco Development for comment on the withdrawal and any potential future development in Hutto and will update this story if a response is received.
