By BEX Staff for AZBEX
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has approved a requested rezoning for 638 acres at the NEC of 491st Avenue and Thomas Road near Tonopah to enable development of a data center site with solar power generation and battery energy storage system facilities.
According to project documents and a local news report, the site owners are Grandilla (Arizona) Inc. and Foot Creek Corporation. Ben Heglie of Land Advisors Organization is a director at Grandilla.
The owners have requested a Comprehensive Plan amendment from Rural Development Area to Utilities and a rezoning from Rural-43 to Light Industrial (IND-2) with an Industrial Unit Plan Overlay.
According to the project narrative, “The purpose of the IUPD overlay is to allow variations in development standards for industrial projects that require special design techniques or flexibility. As described herein, the proposed rezone is intended to accommodate a data center campus that will support critical digital infrastructure functions. Data centers are a unique and evolving product type with certain design and operational needs that are not fully accommodated by the base IND2 development standards. Accordingly, this application proposes the following development standards for the IUPD overlay, which include variations to the maximum height and minimum parking requirements.”
The submitted narrative says, “The proposed development is anticipated as a phased development, in which the sequencing would occur per market demand. The initial conceptual phase of development is anticipated to occur over the south portion of the Property. The conceptual site plan identifies nine industrial buildings, each with a footprint of approximately 250KSF, for a total building area of 2.25MSF. The conceptual site plan may be modified, however key strategic infrastructure will provide the backbone for development, including a dedicated switchyard (±26 acres), on-site septic facilities, and a water campus, which will enhance the site’s capacity for a variety of users. Retention areas are planned throughout the site to manage stormwater. Designated “Future Development (IND-2)” areas within the site plan provide flexibility to meet evolving industrial market needs, which may include colocation and innovative uses that support the primarily intended data center use.”
The property is currently vacant farmland. There are no residential neighborhoods nearby, and surrounding uses include agricultural and an Arizona Public Service gas-powered generating station.
As noted above, there is no formal development plan in place. Future development will be determined by demand and market conditions.
Materials prepared for the Board showed no statements of opposition and one statement of support from a nearby landowner. County staff recommended approval of the requests, as did the Planning and Zoning Commission in its hearing last month.
The owners are Grandilla (Arizona) Inc. and Foot Creek Corporation. Colliers Engineering & Design is the civil engineer, and the project is represented by Withey Morris Baugh, PLC.
