Zydeco Hutto Data Center
Proposed size
70 MW
Site area
40 ac
Building area
950,000 sq ft
Cooling
Unknown (evaporative cooling assumed for estimation)
Developer
Zydeco Development Corporation
Zydeco Development Corporation (Austin-based) is seeking to rezone 40 acres at 450 Ed Schmidt Blvd (SE corner of CR 119 and Limmer Loop) from residential to PUD-heavy industrial to allow a 950,000-sq-ft data center. Zydeco has requested 70 MW of power from Oncor. The project pivoted from a planned apartment development. Hutto Planning & Zoning Commission heard testimony April 7, 2026, with strong community opposition; P&Z recommendation expected April 20; final City Council vote May 7.
Water Impact
Daily water use (estimated range)
630K – 910K gal/day
Water returned per day
None reported
Per Estimated from 70 MW using LBNL benchmark 9,000–13,000 gal/day/MW. No cooling type confirmed; evaporative assumed for conservative estimate., based on Zydeco requested 70 MW from Oncor per KXAN/DCD reporting. Cooling type not confirmed.
The higher estimate is equivalent to the daily water use of approximately 3,033 households.
- Water intake
- 630K – 910K gal/day
- Lost to evaporation
- 100%
- Returned to system
- 0% (None reported)
Location
Address: 450 Ed Schmidt Blvd (SE corner CR 119 & Limmer Loop), Hutto, Williamson County, TX
Water source: City of Hutto Water (Heart of Texas groundwater + Manville WSC + City of Taylor surface water)
Infrastructure
- Water provider
- City of Hutto Water
- Power provider
- ERCOT / Oncor
Timeline
May 7, 2026
Hutto City Council scheduled for final public hearing and vote on Zydeco rezoning
The Hutto City Council is scheduled to hold its final public hearing and vote on the Zydeco rezoning request on May 7, 2026, contingent on P&Z recommendation. Council members will hear additional public comment and vote on whether to approve or deny the proposed 950,000-sq-ft, 70 MW data center at 450 Ed Schmidt Blvd.
Source →(opens in new tab)April 20, 2026
Hutto P&Z Commission scheduled to vote on Zydeco rezoning recommendation
The Hutto Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to revisit the Zydeco rezoning request on April 20, 2026 and make a formal recommendation to City Council. If recommended for approval, the proposal advances to the City Council for final action on May 7, 2026.
Source →(opens in new tab)April 17, 2026
Zydeco Development withdraws rezoning application; May 7 council vote canceled
Zydeco Development Corporation formally withdrew its request to rezone 450 Ed Schmidt Boulevard from multi-family residential to heavy industrial use for a proposed ~225,000 sq ft data center. The withdrawal was announced April 17, 2026, before the scheduled May 7 Hutto City Council vote. The Stop the Hutto Data Center community group had organized a formal legal protest and collected approximately 60% of signatures needed to trigger a supermajority council vote threshold. Hutto development services director Howard Koontz had recommended denial as inconsistent with the city comprehensive plan. Zydeco CEO Wes Gilmer did not respond to KUT for comment. Mayor Mike Snyder praised the developer for "listening to the people."
Source →(opens in new tab)April 17, 2026
Zydeco withdraws from Hutto development agreement
Zydeco Power withdrew its application from the City of Hutto development agreement process on April 17, 2026. The 70 MW campus proposal had been under review since mid-2025. No reason for withdrawal was publicly stated; no resubmission timeline has been announced as of April 25, 2026.
Source →(opens in new tab)Via research-projects
April 7, 2026
Hutto P&Z hears packed public testimony — 55 opposition letters on record
The Hutto Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing on April 7, 2026 on Zydeco's rezoning request. City staff notified residents within a 600-foot radius, generating approximately 55 opposition letters — only 2 in support. Residents raised concerns about power demand, water consumption, noise, and home values. The commission deferred its recommendation vote to the April 20 session.
Source →(opens in new tab)April 7, 2026
The Real Deal and DCD break Zydeco story — apartment pivot to data center draws scrutiny
The Real Deal and Data Center Dynamics simultaneously reported on Zydeco's pivot from a 173-unit apartment project to a 950,000-sq-ft data center, drawing attention to the site's residential history and the developer's relatively unknown track record. KXAN and Community Impact followed with resident opposition coverage on April 9.
Source →(opens in new tab)March 1, 2026
Zydeco files rezoning application — pivots 40-acre site from apartments to data center
Austin-based Zydeco Development Corporation filed a rezoning application with the City of Hutto to convert 40 acres at 450 Ed Schmidt Blvd (SE corner of CR 119 and Limmer Loop) from a planned residential/commercial PUD to PUD-heavy industrial, scrapping a 173-unit apartment project in favor of a 950,000-sq-ft data center. Zydeco requested 70 MW of power from Oncor.
Source →(opens in new tab)
Documents
Sources
- 1. 950,000 sq ft data center proposed for Hutto, Texas — Data Center Dynamics, 2026-04-07. Link →(opens in new tab)
- 2. Zydeco switches from apartments to data center project in Hutto — The Real Deal, 2026-04-07. Link →(opens in new tab)
- 3. Hutto residents air concerns over proposed data center — Community Impact, 2026-04-09. Link →(opens in new tab)
- 4. Proposed Hutto data center faces opposition from nearby residents — KXAN, 2026-04-09. Link →(opens in new tab)
- 5. Project Hutto (Zydeco) — datacentermap.com — datacentermap.com, 2026-04-20. Link →(opens in new tab)
- 6. Zydeco Power withdraws Hutto data center proposal — Community Impact, 2026-04-17. Link →(opens in new tab)
Community Notes
Strong community opposition: 55 letters submitted against (only 2 in favor). Residents raised concerns about power demand, water consumption, noise, and home values. At 70 MW with presumed evaporative cooling, estimated water use is 630,000–910,000 gallons per day on Hutto's groundwater-dependent system during Stage 3 drought. The site's former residential designation raises neighborhood compatibility issues. Developer claims $312M in projected tax revenue.