Neighbors had argued land intended for a park
GEORGETOWN — A court ruling has cleared the way for Blueprint Data Centers to build a 135,000-square-foot facility in Taylor despite legal claims from neighbors the land was intended for a park, Judge Ryan Larson of the 395th state District Court issued his ruling Oct. 8 after five neighbors filed suit to stop all commercial and industrial development on 53 acres at 1601 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. purchased by Blueprint from the Taylor Economic Development Corp.
After deliberating for seven “
We were really surprised that he also dismissed the case.”
— Carrie D’Anna days, Larson granted Blueprint’s request to deny the neighbors’ request for an injunction prohibiting any construction and entirely dismissed the case.
Testimony indicated a buffer zone separates the site from the residences, and the ruling opines the neighbors have no standing on the issue.
The plaintiffs, who argued a deed they found indicated the land was donated in trust to become a park, said they were disheartened by the decision.
Taylor attorney Chris Osborn, who represents the plaintiffs, has filed an appeal.
“We were disappointed that he denied the injunction, of course, but we were really surprised that he also dismissed the case,” said Carrie D’Anna, a community supporter helping the neighbors.
According to the plaintiffs, the Cromwell family donated the land Blueprint now owns to the nonprofit Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in 1999 with a line on the deed stating it was “to be held in trust for future use as parkland by Williamson County.”
In future exchanges of the land that line was omitted, and the EDC sold the land to Blueprint Data Centers parent company NCP Travis BPP Project LLC for $10 million last year.
The court heard the deal left a 15-acre swath about 500-600 feet wide still owned by the EDC between the site and residences.
The lawsuit was based partly on the argument that residents who live on adjoining parcels have a vested interest in land usage, giving siblings Pamela, Corey, Michelle and Ralph Griffin standing to sue, as well as Polly Randle.
The attorneys representing Blueprint questioned their right to bring a lawsuit since their properties actually abut the swath of city-owned property between the data center land and their homes The ruling agreed with Blueprint’s attorneys.
In its lawsuit, the community members listed concerns the data center could adversely affect residents’ quality of life, citing ecological issues including electromagnetic frequencies and light, water and noise pollution.
The legal team for Blueprint directed much of its response to assuring the plaintiffs they would not suffer from any decrease in property values from having the data center next door and noting the south side already has a park.
Counsel for the defendant also argued a survey showed there will be no environmental impact from the 60-megawatt facility, which includes a separate Oncor Electric substation on its land.
The Taylor City Council and the EDC are giving Blueprint a 50% rebate on property taxes for 10 years on each of the three phases of construction for the $1 billion project. In addition, the company would get a 50% rebate on local sales-and-use tax collected on construction material purchases.
A Go Fund Me account to help pay legal fees has been established, called Fund the Fight: Stop the BPP Blueprint Data Center.
More information about the NCP project can be found on the city website at taylortx. gov/1293/ Blueprint-Projects-Data- Center.
Blueprint is constructing a similar center in Georgetown.
The data center and other high-tech companies coming to Williamson County are being drawn to the area by the advent of industry giants such as Samsung Austin Semiconductor in southwest Taylor, analysts have said.
