A Taylor city official issued a letter of apology Friday regarding an “untimely” online post about the data center zoning controversy.
During a City Council meeting to discuss a resident-led petition asking for zoning changes to data center development, a prepared statement outlining the city’s postponement of a decision was released before the meeting was concluded.
Traditionally such releases are made after the gavel has dropped, all discussions have concluded and members of the public have had a chance to air their views — not before or while the meeting is going on.
Officials during the Thursday, July 9, session said state law prohibited changing zoning through a popular vote such as the Nov. 3 election and the matter would instead be considered only by the council, not the voters, in September.
City Manager Brian LaBorde offered an online mea culpa to the public July 10 about the “untimely online announcement.”
“Announcing the decision online shortly after the start of last night’s meeting at which many community members had turned out to speak was an error that we deeply regret,” LaBorde stated. “Our goal was to present our findings at the meeting, share how we would incorporate the petition into proposed regulations, and distribute it to the rest of the community following the meeting. Again, our council had no prior knowledge of the timing.”
Many residents in Thursday’s overflow crowd were upset or angered when they learned the post stating the same information was released before the meeting finished and the public had a chance to speak.
“On behalf of the city of Taylor, I would like to sincerely apologize for the untimely online announcement last night in regard to the citizen-led petition relating to data centers,” LaBorde said in the online “beg pardon.”
He added, “Please know our City Council had no prior knowledge that this announcement would be published at that time.”
The petition, which was launched by the advocacy group HALT Taylor Data Centers, received more than 1,400 signatures – all of which were certified by Williamson County officials.
LaBorde said the city’s legal team and outside counsel determined the measure “cannot be adopted through the initiative process or placed on the (Nov. 3 general election) ballot.”
According to elected officials, Taylor is planning changes to its Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to address digital businesses including data centers.
The proposed amendments would create new requirements for such uses, including environmental protection, performance and compatibility measures to protect neighborhoods, noise mitigation, air quality and water conservation.
The draft regulations can be viewed and commented on at https://fni.mysocialpinpoint.com/taylor-comprehensive-plan-and-ldc.
Public comments will be accepted through July and the council will take up the matter in September.
“We encourage all residents concerned about data centers to participate in this process, which provides opportunities for written feedback as well as hearings,” LaBorde said. “Additionally, we are currently working to schedule and coordinate a community meeting in the coming weeks to continue this important discussion and explain more about the constraints that all Texas cities face in dealing with this pressing issue.”
