Mayor: Legal action prompts Taylor to stay mum on data center zoning
An advocacy group, Halt Taylor Data Centers, has filed a legal action against the City of Taylor, Texas, seeking to compel a public vote on data center zoning. This action follows the dismissal of a previous lawsuit aimed at halting the "Blueprint Projects Data Center." Mayor Jim Buzan stated that the city is deferring public discussion on zoning due to the pending litigation.
Mayor Jim Buzan of Taylor, Texas, announced that city officials are deferring public discussion on future data center zoning due to pending legal action filed by the advocacy group, Halt Taylor Data Centers. The group submitted a writ of mandamus to the 3rd Court of Appeals, demanding the city place a proposed measure regarding a pause on local data center development on the November ballot. This move comes after the City Council previously stated that state law prevents them from making zoning decisions via petition or popular vote.
The controversy centers on plans for the Blueprint Projects Data Center on an 87-acre tract, which critics argue was intended for a park. Opponents raise concerns about noise, pollution, and strain on the electric grid, while proponents highlight the economic benefits and the necessity of data centers for modern technology.
Halt Taylor Data Centers had previously collected 1,400 signatures for a petition. A prior lawsuit filed by critics in a state district court to halt the data center project was dismissed, with the group now seeking an appeal for that matter. Mayor Buzan, elected in May, stated the city's legal arguments will be presented through the judicial process and that the city's response brief will be made publicly available.