Taylor City Council addresses data center concerns after rejecting citizen petition
Citizens in Taylor, Texas, attempted a petition to restrict data center development, which the city council rejected citing state law. Despite the rejection, the City of Taylor is addressing resident concerns through proposed changes to its Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, focusing on issues like noise, water usage, and buffer zones. Citizens remain motivated to pursue legal avenues for the petition's implementation.
Residents in Taylor, Texas, expressed high tensions after the city council rejected a citizen-led petition aimed at restricting future data center development. Kerry Deanna with Hall Taylor Data Centers, who helped lead the effort, criticized the city's handling of the situation, stating that a lot of trust has been lost. The city, however, maintained that state law prevents zoning changes initiated in the manner proposed by the petition, and that attempting a complete ban or moratorium could lead to lawsuits.
Despite the petition's rejection, Daniel Seguin with the City of Taylor stated that many of the petition's goals are being addressed as the city reworks its Comprehensive Plan. Proposed draft amendments include protections related to noise, water usage, and light, and will ensure adequate buffer zones between properties.
Deanna affirmed that the citizens' work would continue, with residents motivated to learn about zoning, data center impacts, and to pursue legal and effective paths to implement their petition. Draft regulations for amending both the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code are available online for public review.