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Residents and tradespeople spar over proposed data center during San Marcos public comment
Summary
At a Feb. 17 San Marcos City Council work session, multiple residents urged the council to block proposed data centers over groundwater and local-soul concerns while the applicant and a local contractor argued the project will bring jobs; the council did not act and the applicant provided a supplemental FAQ packet for later consideration.
During the citizen-comment period at the San Marcos City Council work session on Feb. 17, speakers offered sharply divided perspectives on a proposed data center near 904 Francis Harris.
A resident who did not give a name urged council to codify water protections and mandate net-zero water use for any large data center, saying, "We must codify it" and arguing data centers threaten the city’s water tables and character.
Rocco Moses told council that data centers are "parasitic entities" that seek low-cost land near water and residential areas and urged elected officials to resist what he described as a broader playbook by outside developers. "These data centers represent a control mechanism," he said, and he asked the council to be the "last line" of defense.
The developer/applicant, John Mayberry, introduced himself as the applicant for a proposed facility at 904 Francis Harris and said he supplied a supplemental packet with an FAQ and maps responding to community questions; he asked council to review that material before later consideration.
Chad Bartling, an electrical contractor who said he employs more than 80 people, urged approval on economic grounds, saying projects of this size "will provide not only a long runway of job opportunity" for tradespeople and open opportunities for young people entering the trades. Bartling also advised the council to focus on enforceable deed restrictions and covenants.
Other commenters and council members referenced a forthcoming 6 p.m. public hearing on the topic and asked speakers not to repeat identical remarks at that hearing. During the work session no council action was taken on the data center applications; staff and the applicant signaled further materials and hearings will follow.
The session recorded multiple citizens expressing opposition on water and community-identity grounds and at least one local tradesman highlighting potential job and local-business benefits. The council will consider the project later in the public process; no vote occurred during the Feb. 17 workshop.
