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San Marcos council advances increased data center restrictions

The San Marcos City Council is in the process of updating its Land Development Code and Design Manual, in part to address new types of development. The council voted on multiple amendments, not yet finalized, to increase restrictions on the development of data centers at an April 21 meeting.

What happened: City staff proposed an update to the Land Use Matrix to add data centers to the system as an individual line item.

Mayor Jane Hughson proposed an amendment that would only permit data center development in High Industrial-zoned areas on a conditional basis, requiring council approval.

City Council approved Hughson’s amendment. Place 6 council member Amanda Rodriguez then proposed a new amendment that would not permit the development of data centers in any zoning district within city limits.

Rodriguez’s amendment failed to pass, with three votes in favor and four dissenting.

Diving deeper: Council voted to approve a variety of additional amendments related to data centers.

Looking forward: The council will vote to fully approve the amendments May 5 and 19.

 
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Latest Education News
Hays CISD considers employee compensation, librarian pay for 2026-27

Hays CISD library media specialists may see stipends on their paychecks next year, among other changes.

The overview: The HCISD board of trustees discussed the employee compensation plan for the 2026-27 academic year at an April 20 agenda workshop meeting. Many of the changes to the compensation plan reflect the budget cuts that were announced in March.

Some changes include:

  • Removal of positions identified in the cuts
  • Work calendar changes for some staff
  • Suspension of some stipends

Librarians will also be moved to a different pay scale to receive “proper” compensation, according to HCISD Chief Human Resources Officer Christina Courson.

Looking ahead: This item will come back to the board for further discussion April 27.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

2026 Red Poppy Festival

Eeyore’s Birthday Party

April 24-26, times vary
Georgetown

April 25, 11 a.m.
Austin

More info

More info

 

Austin Blues Festival

Mini-Con 2026

April 25-26
Austin

April 25, 2-5 p.m.
Cedar Park

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
ERCOT forecasts quadruple growth in electric demand, warns estimate is likely overinflated

Demand on the Texas power grid could more than quadruple in the next six years, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced April 15.

The details: The state grid operator projected that peak electric demand could hit 367,790 megawatts by 2032—more than four times the current demand record of 85,508 megawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave. Much of this forecasted growth is due to data centers, according to ERCOT documents.

However, ERCOT leaders warned that the growth forecast is “preliminary” and needs adjustments.

What's happening: During an April 17 meeting, ERCOT officials told the Public Utility Commission of Texas that they plan to work with utility providers to issue a revised forecast in the coming weeks.

“I think it's clear we need to engage in the process and look at ways to refine this number to something that's more usable,” PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson said.

Stay tuned: ERCOT said it expects peak electric demand on the grid this summer will hit between 90,500-98,000 megawatts, which would shatter the current demand record.

 

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