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Residents urge limits on large data centers near Bastrop
Summary
Multiple residents told the council that proposed industrial‑scale data centers threaten Bastrop County’s rural character, citing large land use, tree loss and high power demands; some urged conditional‑use zoning to limit projects.
Residents warned the council that proposed data centers would change Bastrop County’s rural character and called for regulatory limits.
Samuel Pines said projects under discussion are not typical 'data centers' but 'massive industrial projects' that can require hundreds of megawatts and deforest 'hundreds, if not thousands of acres.' Ethan Hoffmeister and others described recent notice of projects near Red Rock and said the noise, light and loss of night skies would degrade quality of life.
John Bush praised council members for pursuing conditional‑use zoning to limit data‑center activity within the city and urged officials to take constituent concerns seriously. The council and staff reiterated that land‑use tools (including conditional‑use permits) and coordination with county planning are central to how the city will respond.
No formal ordinance was passed at this meeting; the record shows continued public opposition and council interest in using zoning tools to constrain future large industrial developments.
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