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County and project officials will review water use, power consumption, noise mitigation and more
Bastrop County officials and EdgeConneX representatives are preparing to host a series of town hall meetings to address community questions and concerns about the company’s data center projects in Cedar Creek.
Commissioner David Glass requested the meetings June 16-18 to give residents direct access to project representatives and information about the developments. According to officials, EdgeConneX has three separate campus projects at different stages of development near Wolf Lane and FM 535.
“The county believes residents should have access to information directly from the developer and subject matter experts and have an opportunity to ask questions in an open forum,” said Lyndsey Schroeder, executive assistant to Bastrop County Judge Gregory Klaus.
The meetings come amid growing public interest and concerns raised during recent Commissioners Court discussions, particularly around water usage, power consumption and the projects’ effects on nearby residents.
According to Schroeder, Campus 1 is currently under construction and is the only project with a county tax abatement agreement in place. Campuses 2 and 3 remain in earlier stages of development, and no abatement applications have been submitted for either.
“We hope attendees leave with a better understanding of where each project stands, what approvals have and have not occurred and have an opportunity to ask questions directly to the developer and technical experts,” Schroeder said.
According to Schroeder, a common misconception is that all phases of the projects have already been approved.
“Information regarding future phases may continue to evolve as engineering, permitting and development plans progress,” Schroeder said.
Future tax abatement applications would undergo financial and economic review, including any studies commissioners deem necessary. Schroeder noted Texas counties have limited land-use authority and no zoning authority, but said incentive negotiations offer an opportunity to secure additional commitments from developers.
“These may include provisions related to infrastructure improvements, reporting requirements, water conservation measures, power efficiency, noise mitigation and other community benefits,” she said. Officials said the meetings would be a success if residents leave with a clearer understanding of the projects and the development process.
Meetings run from 6-8 p.m. each day:
• June 16: North Bastrop County Community Annex, 704 Bull Run, Elgin
• June 17: Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston Drive, Smithville
• June 18: Bastrop County Community Center, 15 American Legion Drive
