Developer withdraws rezone request for proposed Hutto data center

Zydeco Development has formally withdrawn its rezone request for a proposed data center on Ed Schmidt Boulevard in Hutto, Texas, effectively halting the project. The proposal sought to change the site's designation from multifamily residential to heavy industrial, requiring amendments to the city's future land use map and SOAR 2040 comprehensive plans. Earlier this month, Howard Koonz, Director of Development Services for the City of Hutto, formally recommended against approving the rezone, citing inconsistencies with the community's vision outlined in the comprehensive plan. Residents had also organized through a Facebook group called "Stop the Hutto data center" and filed two written protests a week before the withdrawal. These residents expressed concerns about potential 24/7 low-frequency noise, the impact on the local power grid, and the long-term risks of a heavy industrial zone near residential neighborhoods. Their protests aimed to trigger a state-mandated supermajority vote by the city council. The withdrawal of the application led to the cancellation of a special Planning and Zoning Commission meeting scheduled for April 20, where the application was set for consideration.