Taylor council approves employment‑center plan for Blueprint data center after extended public comment

Taylor City Council voted unanimously to approve an employment‑center plan for Blueprint Data Centers at 1601 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, adopting Ordinance 2025‑17 after a staff presentation and an extended public comment period.

City planning staffer Pearson presented the application, noting the parcel has been zoned for industrial uses in city plans dating to 1996 and was recodified as an "employment center" under the city’s 2021 comprehensive plan and the 2023 land development code. Pearson said the developer provided an environmental assessment and engineering report addressing questions about noise, water and fire risk. "All of the equipment will be contained in a building envelope, so noise pollution will be mitigated," Pearson said, and she added the engineering firm understood the site would connect to the electric grid and use backup diesel generators only for emergencies.

The item drew a lengthy public comment period of 17 speakers. Residents near the planned site said the property is too close to long‑standing South Taylor neighborhoods and asked the council to pause approvals until independent studies and more community outreach occur. "Prolonged exposure to these low frequency hums and noise will lead to stress, anxiety, and heart disease," resident Jose Orda said, urging the council to halt the project. Lisa Drummond, who said she lives on Hossack Street, called the engineering report vague and asked who authorized and paid for the assessment. "Why would the city use taxpayer money to pay for an environmental study for a private developer?" she asked.

Other speakers raised equity concerns, saying the proposed location places industrial impacts on historically underserved Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. "Placing a high impact industrial development so close to these neighborhoods raises serious concerns about the long term health, safety and well‑being of Taylor residents," Alicia Davenport said. Several speakers asked the council to consider rezoning or a land swap and urged investments in sidewalks, creek cleanup and neighborhood amenities if the project proceeds.

Supporters of the project urged the council to proceed. Tia Ray Stone, president and CEO of the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce, urged the council to "consider their positions thoughtfully and do your best to mitigate their concerns," and warned that delays or cancellation could harm Taylor’s reputation for pursuing economic development. Ben White, president and CEO of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation, said the project would bring ‘‘a total capital investment of a little over a billion dollars’’ and estimated the school district’s net revenue over 10 years at about $20 million after state adjustments.

Council discussion referenced the city’s development code and recent history of public planning. Mayor Pro Tem Smerek and other council members repeatedly emphasized that the land’s industrial designation predates the current council and that the land development code is a form‑based code that limits the council’s ability to deny uses expressly allowed by the zone. Council members said they heard residents’ concerns and discussed possible follow‑up steps, including recommending the developer hire a public‑relations firm and commit to neighborhood engagement, and reviewing the city’s 200‑foot public‑notice policy in the future.

A motion to approve Ordinance 2025‑17 was made by Mayor Pro Tem Smerek and seconded by Councilwoman Long; the council voted 5‑0. The ordinance approved the employment‑center plan and a variance to allow a taller screening wall at the site. Council members and staff noted that the developer must still complete site‑level engineering, obtain required building and fire reviews, and meet city, state and federal environmental and safety requirements before construction and occupancy.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2025‑17 (employment center plan for Blueprint Data Centers, 1601 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard): motion to approve by Mayor Pro Tem Smerek; seconded by Councilwoman Long. Vote: 5‑0; outcome: approved. The approval included a variance for a taller screening wall.

- Consent agenda (noncontroversial routine items): motion to approve by Mayor Pro Tem Smerek; seconded by Councilwoman Cobb. Vote: 5‑0; outcome: approved.

- CAPCOG representation (two city seats on the Capital Area Council of Governments General Assembly): motion to appoint Councilwoman Long and Councilwoman Cobb (moved by Councilman Redden; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Smerek). Vote: 5‑0; outcome: approved.

- Presentation received: update on the 88th Texas legislative session and items of interest to municipalities (motion to receive by Mayor Pro Tem Smerek; seconded by Councilman Redden). Vote: unanimous; outcome: received.

What was decided and next steps

The council’s approval applies to the employment‑center concept and the requested variance; the developer must still submit detailed site improvement and building plans, and satisfy all applicable city ordinances and state and federal regulations (stormwater, fire and life safety, utility connections and others) before work can begin. City staff and council members said they will pursue additional community engagement, sidewalk and creek cleanup commitments in the area and will examine the city’s public‑notice policy going forward.

Context

Pearson and developers told the council the engineering assessment concluded the data center would use closed‑loop cooling (minimizing water withdrawal from the municipal system), would be connected to the electric grid (the developer is coordinating with utility provider Encore and is paying for a substation to serve the project), and would not host large on‑site lithium‑ion battery storage. Staff noted examples of data centers in other central Texas cities (Georgetown and Round Rock) and provided distances to nearby residences as comparisons; staff said the nearest residential parcels to the Taylor site are roughly 500‑600 feet away.

Residents and civic leaders asked the council to ensure transparency and independent review of technical studies, to secure commitments for neighborhood mitigation (noise limits, lighting, screening, stormwater protections), and to prioritize infrastructure and amenities for South Taylor if the project proceeds. Council members reiterated that some policy changes (including broader notice beyond the state‑required 200‑foot notice) would need to be considered separately from the ordinance vote and that the city will continue to review code and notification procedures.