City Council discusses amendment waiting period, data centers

The San Marcos City Council convened on April 21 for a public hearing to deliberate on amendments to the city's Land Use Matrix, specifically concerning data center developments. The council approved changes to its amendment passing process, allowing members to block the review of proposals they oppose, and incorporated a data center section into the Land Use Matrix, necessitating a conditional use permit for new facilities. Mayor Jane Hughson spearheaded the amendment that grants the council the power to deny a proposal for a year or not pass it at all, a practice already in use that is now codified. Additionally, Hughson's proposal shifted the responsibility for approving or denying data center projects from the Planning and Zoning committee directly to the City Council. Both amendments were passed by a six-to-one vote, with Council Member Alyssa Garza dissenting on the procedural amendment. During the meeting, Council Member Amanda Rodriguez introduced a separate amendment to prohibit data centers across all zoning categories in San Marcos, citing concerns from residents. However, this prohibition proposal was denied, with Council Members Josh Paselk, Jane Hughson, Matthew Mendoza, and Lorenzo Gonzalez voting against it. While some residents, like Abigail Lindsey, expressed fears about data centers impacting safety and the environment, particularly following Guadalupe County's approval of a data center development nearby, others, such as Sam Young, supported data centers for their potential to generate city revenue.