Hays County Commissioners Court approved a resolution establishing a 180-day emergency water protection review period for high usage development applications, including data centers, on June 23.
Temporary Review Period
During the temporary review period, commissioners will not consider discretionary approvals related to industrial projects that utilize high amounts of water, within the county’s legal authority, according to the resolution.
Some discretionary approvals that will be deferred until the review period has ended include tax abatement agreements, development agreements, variance requests, and other discretionary approvals outlined by the Hays County Development Regulator regulations.
Review Board
The resolution will create the Hays County High Water Demand Development Review Board, an advisory board to the Commissioners Court and Development Services Department.
The review board will be composed of commissioner-appointed participants with a variety of experience and knowledge on water availability and the region, including but not limited to elected officials, development services staff, water resource professionals, emergency services representatives, development stakeholders, and members of the public with relevant expertise.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Walt Smith emphasized the county’s intention not to support or provide additional tax incentives for data center developments during the June 23 meeting.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said, ‘I think we just need to continue to hold firm to that.’ Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra stated, ‘We can even say that until Dec. 31, we fortify that there will be no incentives, loud and clear, to anyone looking to do business in Hays County under those descriptions.’
Regional Environmental Review
The approved resolution included a formal call by Hays County to neighboring counties, groundwater conservation districts, and regional water authorities to establish a joint regional environmental review.
It also authorized the county to submit a formal petition to Gov. Greg Abbott requesting that a special legislative session be called. The petition will request expanded authority for Texas counties to protect water availability and regulate the impact of industrial high-water-use projects.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
