San Marcos Data Center — Meta / Hays County
San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Critical Risk
Last updated 2026-03-29
Trajectory evidence: Denied 3 times in 12 months. Emergency drought declaration. Organized coalition with 53 data center proposals tracked across Central Texas.
Critical Risk
Dimension Breakdown
Four dimensions that determine entitlement feasibility.
Regulatory Risk
Data centers are not a permitted or conditional use in any San Marcos zone. Proposed site zoned Conservation/Cluster requiring both a Preferred Scenario Map amendment and rezoning to Light Industrial. P&Z Commission recommended denial. City Council denied twice (August 2025 and February 2026).
Infrastructure Readiness
Edwards Aquifer at historic lows. Governor issued emergency drought declaration January 17, 2026. Proposed facility would consume 70,000 gallons/day, exceeding 25M gallons annually. Water supply from Crystal Clear SUD, not the city. At least 14 Central Texas counties in moderate to extreme drought.
Opposition Density
Among the most organized opposition documented in any U.S. data center case. Three named groups: Central Texas Water Coalition (Shannon Hamilton, tracking 53 regional DC proposals), Data Center Action Coalition, Hays County Water Watchers. 130+ public comments at February 2026 hearing (2:14 AM vote after 8+ hours).
Approval Timeline
Denied 3 times in 12 months (March 2025 P&Z denial, August 2025 Council denial, February 2026 Council denial). Developer can refile after 6-month waiting period (earliest August 2026), but political environment unchanged.
Key Findings
What the record shows.
San Marcos City Council voted 5-2 to deny the Preferred Scenario Map amendment at 2:14 AM on February 18, 2026, after an 8+ hour hearing with 130+ public comments.
KUT Radio: San Marcos City Council blocks proposed data centerThe Edwards Aquifer is at historic lows. Governor issued emergency drought declaration on January 17, 2026 affecting Hays County.
Spectrum News: Hays County data center proposition receives community pushbackCentral Texas Water Coalition executive director Shannon Hamilton identified 53 data center proposals in the region.
KUT Radio: With 5 data centers on the horizon, Hays County water advocates see the fight as just beginningHays County Judge Ruben Becerra stated: "We are no longer just looking at a dry spell. We are looking at a potential catastrophe."
Hays Free Press: Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra tables water moratoriumKey Officials
The decision-makers on record.
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra
County Judge
Documented Record
Stated: "We are no longer just looking at a dry spell. We are looking at a potential catastrophe." After the denial: "I was so grateful that the community came together the way they did as a unified front."
Documented position based on public record.
San Marcos City Council
Legislative body
Documented Record
Voted 5-2 to deny the data center on February 18, 2026. Previously denied August 19, 2025.
Documented position based on public record.
Commissioner Amy Meeks
P&Z Commissioner
Documented Record
Stated: "We had well over 100 of our citizens saying, don't do this, we don't want this."
Documented position based on public record.
Opposition Profile
Who is organizing.
Central Texas Water Coalition (Shannon Hamilton, ED) — tracking 53 regional DC proposals
Data Center Action Coalition — organized opposition coalition
Hays County Water Watchers — water-focused advocacy group
130+ public comments at February 2026 hearing over 8+ hours
Online petition opposing data centers in the region
Timeline
How it unfolded.
March 25, 2025
P&Z Commission recommended denial of PSA amendment and rezoning.
August 19, 2025
City Council denied the zoning request (PSA amendment failed to achieve required supermajority).
January 13, 2026
P&Z Commission voted 6-2 to approve on second application attempt.
February 18, 2026
City Council voted 5-2 to deny the PSA amendment at 2:14 AM after 8+ hour hearing.
Known Risks
What can go wrong.
Data centers not permitted in any San Marcos zone classification
Edwards Aquifer at historic lows with emergency drought declaration
Three organized opposition groups with sustained campaign
Project denied 3 times in 12 months with no path to reversal
Recommendation
Critical Risk — Score 8/100
Critical Risk. Three denials in 12 months combined with emergency drought conditions and organized opposition make San Marcos effectively blocked for data center development.
Sources
Every claim cited.
Get your site scored before the surprises start.
Zoning posture, approval pathway, community risk, and comparable outcomes. Sourced and scored by close of day, not months.
