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Edinburg residents have raised questions in recent weeks about whether data centers could be built in the city. However, city officials say no such projects are currently proposed.
The City of Edinburg is not aware of any plans for the development of a data center within city limits, according to Roxanne Lerma, director of Communications and Media for the city.
“Any project proposed in the City of Edinburg is required to follow the city’s standard review and approval process for major developments,” Lerma wrote in a Jan. 9 email to The Rider.
She said the process includes staff review for zoning compliance, evaluation of infrastructure impacts, and consistency with the city’s master plan and ordinances.
Lerma said a development of that scale would also require public notice and approvals before the appropriate boards or the City Council, depending on the nature of the project.
“No major project can proceed without following the city’s established protocols,” she said.
Jonathan Searfoss, data center director at MCTX1, located in the Chase Tower in McAllen, said data centers function as secure facilities designed to house and protect critical systems and require specialized infrastructure to operate.
Information published by 1547 Critical Systems Realty, which operates the facility, describes data centers as buildings designed to support mission-critical technology infrastructure through specialized power, cooling and security systems.
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Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa said large-scale developments, such as these, typically involve multiple layers of review and oversight before they can move forward.
“There are a number of ways that a project, whether it’s small or large, could go through the city,” Ochoa said. “For example, if a company wanted to build a data center on land zoned for agriculture, they would have to change the zoning, which would require going through city administration and City Council.”
He said another common entry point for major developments is when companies seek city incentives, such as property tax or sales tax rebates, which also require formal approval.
“A large project like that, especially one that requires as many resources as a data center typically does, would require transparency and public input,” Ochoa said.
He added public input on large-scale developments can take several forms, including committees, surveys, town halls and public forums, depending on the scope of the project.
“We need to balance responsible growth and preserving quality of life,” the mayor said. “We can’t sacrifice quality of life or property tax dollars for economic prosperity. Those things have to go hand in hand.”
Lerma and Ochoa said if a data center or other major development were proposed in Edinburg, it would be subject to public review and formal approval before moving forward.
–This story is part of an ongoing series.
Aarykah Navarro/THE RIDER
