Planning commission recommends approval for Blueprint Data Centers employment plan with screening variances

The City of Taylor Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of an employment center plan for Blueprint Data Centers, a proposed data center campus at 1601 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, after a public hearing on the project and its requested variances.

The plan covers a roughly 52.42-acre parcel (Williamson Central Appraisal District parcel R667904) and would establish an employment center plan and required civic space along a floodplain. "So staff is recommending approval of the proposed employment center plan referred to as Blueprint Data Centers with the stipulated variances," City planner Preston Gunn told the commission during the hearing.

The applicants seek a variance allowing an 8-foot security fence and, where that wall is not used, a 5-foot berm with trees to provide screening along East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Gunn said the applicant will provide a precast concrete wall with native shrubs (including Texas silverleaf) in front of the wall, describing the approach as consistent with the ENCORE standard the project team discussed with staff. Gunn also noted the plan is illustrative and that a future site-development review will determine exact building locations, and that a future substation is planned to power the data center.

An applicant representative, identified in the record as the founder of Blueprint Data Centers, told the commission the company holds letters of intent from tenants and is planning a large buildout. "We are looking at approximately $360,000,000 investment for full CapEx," the applicant said, describing a target investment timeline tied to securing additional power from the regional utility and tenant demand. The applicant said the buildout timing aims for full investment by late 2026 or by Q1 2027 depending on power availability and tenant agreements.

During the hearing staff and the applicant discussed the planned substation and the need for flexibility in final screening because the substation’s exact location on the parcel is not finalized. The variance request also includes an 8-foot interior security fence to ensure site security for the data center, which staff said is a common condition for similar facilities.

No members of the public spoke in opposition. The commission moved to recommend approval; a formal motion to approve PZ2025-2506 was made and carried at the meeting.

The recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission next goes to City Council for final action and any conditions or modifications the council may set.

Details in the record reported by staff and the applicant describe the plan as illustrative and subject to site-development review, and staff noted they sent 13 notices with no responses recorded as in favor or opposition.