The San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-2 to approve a data center at its Jan. 13 meeting
The proposed data center is set to be located on Francis Harris Lane on a plot of 199.19 acres of land.
A total of 94 public comments from San Marcos and Hays County residents, students and union workers were made either for or against the planning and zoning before the public hearings.
John Mayberry, a managing partner at Highlander Real Estate Partners and leading agent on the item spoke about the benefits San Marcos, Hays County and potential employees would receive from the data center.
“Data center construction and operation rely heavily on licensed skills trades, particularly electrical workers,” Mayberry said. “These projects are designed to staff locally because local labor reduces risk, improves response times, and builds long-term operational knowledge.”
Out of the 94 public comments, 16 were made in favor of the data center. The majority of those comments came from leadership and union workers from Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA), a construction workers’ union that represents about 5,000 workers in Texas and 500 in San Marcos.
Jeremy Hendricks, a representative of LIUNA, spoke about his support of the data center for LIUNA union workers.
“Supporting the items of this project presents real opportunities for working people in San Marcos,” Hendricks said. “Not just for short-term jobs but long-term careers. These are the kind of jobs that allow families to put down roots and be a part of this community that they helped build.”
Those in opposition of the data center spoke about concerns dealing with water usage, environmental issues, public health, agriculture and the rising use of Artificial Intelligence.
Lydia Rodriguez, a resident and third-generation ranch owner, spoke about water usage and insecurity across the state.
“San Marcos is a community defined by it’s neighborhoods, natural resources and its responsibility to future generations,” Rodriguez said. “This proposal threatens all three of them. First off water, several Texans are facing an increasing water drought risk and water insecurity. Approving a project that adds major industrial water vans is reckless.”
During the public hearing, Julia Clearly, the senior planner with the city of San Marcos, outlined the process of the application of the zoning, the preferred scenario amendment process, and the restrictive covenants proposed by Mayberry and his team.
According to Clearly’s presentation, the conditions the data will follow if constructed will not exceed 235 LUEs or 75,000 gallons of water. Water quality facilities will be constructed that meet a total suspended solid removal requirement of at least 80% of the site, worker protection standards and drainage facilities will be constructed.
Lasting almost eight hours, after debate about the application process, zoning categories, community and environmental concerns, the majority of commissioners supported both the zoning and planning of the data center.
Commissioners accepted questions from concerned citizens who shared public comments throughout the meeting up until 2 a.m. after the vote.
According to the city’s preferred scenario, Feb. 3, 2026, would be the date for the city council’s public hearing.
The commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers.
