Harris County wants 3,840 acres to be industrial. Public exposes it's for data centers
In late July, the Harris County Board of Commissioners started the process of amending its comprehensive plan to add three new industrial areas in the county. But during the first of two public meetings Oct. 20 , commissioners were met with anger and fear from residents concerned the proposal could allow the development of a hyperscale data center. On Nov 17, the public will have a chance to meet with commissioners again to express their opinions about this proposed amendment. The compressive plan, which was passed in July 2024 , is meant to last until 2029, but the commissioners are making the case that there needs to be zoning amendments to industrial (M-1, light manufacturing) to diversify the tax base and attract industry. “We have been concerned about diversifying our tax base,” commission chairwoman Susan Andrews (District 5) said at the Oct. 20 meeting. “For the last 30 years it’s been a topic of conversation. Not even 1% of our land is commercial or industrial, not even 1%.” Harris County economic development director Greg Panzer presented the current and future plans with this amendment, including specifics about the location, acres and parcels. “I brought this to the board in July,”
