Development
BY MICHAEL MILLION
San Marcos data center talks return
The background
The land owners’ request would see a Preferred Scenario Map amendment and zoning change for approximately 200 acres of land. The request is the second of its kind within the past year for Highlander SM One LLC, comprised of John Maberry, along with Donald and Ger- maine Tu. The San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commis- sion in March 2025 recommended a denial for the changes. The request was ultimately rejected in August 2025 after not gaining the necessary supermajority council vote. Since then, the land owners resubmitted a request. This time, the PZC approved a recom- mendation for the current designation amend- ment request at a Jan. 13 meeting.
Dozens of San Marcos residents spoke to the City Council on Feb. 3 regarding a data center proposed on the western side of Francis Harris Lane near the Hays Energy Power Plant. The tract of land is currently zoned and entitled for the development of single-family homes. The city received a petition opposing the project signed by at least 20% of the project’s neighbors prior to the meeting. That petition triggered a required 6-1 supermajority vote by council to pass the proposed data center’s owners for zoning and map designation changes. Community members expressed concerns over the potentially high water and electricity usage. Others shared support for the project, citing the addition of construction jobs necessary to complete the data center and the city’s potential tax revenue.
OLD BASTROP RD.
35
FRANCIS HARRIS LN.
266
N
Annexed portion
135 acres
65 acres
Annexation request portion
265
The next steps
N
Council held its rst reading and second public hearing on the request at a Feb. 17 meeting, after press time. Council members are expected to vote on the request at its second and nal reading during a March 3 meeting at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos., at 6 p.m. According to the city’s website, the public will be invited to provide comments during the meeting or email them ahead of time to cityclerk@sanmarcostx.gov.
Estimated Data Center Property Tax Revenue Using scal year 2025-26 tax rates
Taxing entity valuation City of San Marcos San Marcos CISD Hays County and special road district
$500 million
$3.26 million
$5.07 million
$1.96 million
$1 billion
$6.52 million
$10.15 million $3.93 million
$1.5 billion
$9.77 million
$15.23 million $5.89 million
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOS
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