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Hutto Residents Push Back Against Proposed Zydeco Data Center in Standing-Room-Only Meeting
- iHutto
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Hutto, TX - Something unusual happened in Hutto this week, and it wasn’t quiet.
It was loud. Packed. Emotional. And very, very clear. Dozens of residents filled the room, standing-room only, to speak out against a proposed data center development by Zydeco, planned for what many consider the heart of town. The message from the community? Not so fast.
What’s Being Proposed
At the center of the debate is a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment for a roughly 40-acre property at 450 Ed Schmidt Boulevard.
The proposal would:
Convert land use from residential and commercial to industrial/data center use
Rebrand the site as the Zydeco Hutto Data Center PUD
Potentially introduce a large-scale data facility near established neighborhoods
In plain English: Land that was expected to support homes and everyday businesses could instead house a high-powered industrial data operation.
The Meeting That Drew a Crowd
During the recent Planning and Zoning Commission meeting (watch here), turnout exceeded expectations.
Residents voiced concerns ranging from:
Proximity to neighborhoods
Long-term environmental impact
Quality of life changes
Lack of clear community benefit
And perhaps most notably: frustration that a project of this scale is even being considered in such a central location.
Just next door in Round Rock, residents recently fought similar proposals, only to see them approved despite strong public opposition. That situation has become a cautionary tale. The underlying concern in Hutto? Will history repeat itself?
What Happens Next
This isn’t over, not even close. Key upcoming milestones:
Public comment took place on April 7, 2026
Public comment will open on April 20, 2026
P&Z Votes on their recommendation April 20, 2026
City Council Public Hearing: May 7, 2026
That meeting will play a major role in determining whether the project moves forward.
Between now and then, residents still have opportunities to:
Speak at public hearings
Submit feedback (see contact list below)
Organize locally
Per P&Z Chair, Richard Hudson, "P&Z receives input from various City Staff sections - typically development services, engineering, parks, public works, communications, and legal - as well as input from other City boards & commissions (Parks, DEIB, EDC, HPC, LAB, etc.) on relevant items. Individual commissioners bring their personal experience, education, training, and outlooks into the process. The applicant's request and the impact on the community is considered, and if there is public input - sadly that does not happen on every item - that also goes into the decision-making process. Those inputs are considered, discussed in public view during the meetings, and a decision to recommend approval or disapproval (or some other action) is reached through a simple majority vote."
Who is the P&Z Commission?
The Planning and Zoning Commission is comprised of seven members that are appointed by Hutto City Council:
Richard Hudson - Chair- Term Expires: June 30, 2027
Tony Wertz - Vice Chair- Term Expires: June 30, 2028
Hazel Sherrod - Term Expires: June 30, 2026
Norman Delay - Term Expires: June 30, 2027
Cory Hall - Term Expires: June 30, 2028
Brian Kenard - Term Expires: June 30, 2026
Brandon DeLeon - Term Expires: June 30, 2028 (also running for City Council in May)
Want Your Voice Heard?
You can email any or all of the following:
James.Earp@Huttotx.gov
planning@huttotx.gov
Find more departments on our Local Government page.
Here’s the blunt truth:
Cities don’t accidentally become overrun with projects residents don’t want. It happens one approval at a time, usually when people aren’t paying attention.
But this time?
Hutto is paying attention.
And judging by the standing-room-only crowd, this conversation is far from over.
iHutto will share any updates as this story develops.
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