Mesa Planning and Zoning Board to vote on zoning regulations for data centers

By Connor Van Ligten
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The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board is set to vote and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding amendments that would establish specific zoning regulations for data centers at their upcoming meeting.

The meeting begins with a study session at 3 p.m. June 11 at 57 E. First St.

The proposed text amendments would add a definition for data center to the Mesa City Code and modify the definition of indoor warehousing and storage. It would also modify land use tables to permit data centers as an accessory use in commercial and employment districts, as well as principal use in the general industrial and heavy industrial zoning districts.

It would establish specific use standards for data centers, modify planned area development overlay districts to allow land uses not otherwise permitted, and establish the conditions under which a waiver from the “data center laws” may be submitted.

“Due to the number of data center projects and the scale of each development, staff (including planning, economic development, water resources and energy resources) strongly support the need for this text amendment. There are many variables to consider for future data center development including land use compatibility, land availability, utility demand and availability, residential impacts such as noise, low employment generation and broader sustainability concerns,” council documents stated. “Clear standards are essential to help the city manage these issues and guide responsible future development. As such, staff recommends establishing specific zoning regulations and development standards for data centers to ensure data centers are appropriately sited, designed and integrated within the community.”

The request was made by a trio of Mesa Development Services Director Nana Appiah, Planning Director Mary Kopaskie-Brown and Assistant Planning Director Rachel Phillips.

The seven-member Planning and Zoning Board conducts hearings and make recommendations to the City Council on requests for changes in zoning and on required site plans. It also considers and recommends changes in the city’s long-range plans and in the municipal code concerning planning and zoning matters. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years.