Glendale moves to next phase of data center project annexation
(City of Glendale)
The three annexations currently in various stages of completion that would add to the city of Glendale. The 160-acre Project Eagles is colored red on the map.
The former Project Baccara data center campus and natural gas power plant is now Project Eagle.
If Tuesday’s council workshop was any indication, it is likely to land in Glendale.
With the 160-acres north of Olive Avenue and a half mile west of Litchfield Road essentially approved by Maricopa County, the majority of the council gave approval to move ahhead on the annexation of a project that is expected to bring at least $14.4 million annually to the city’s revenue.
“This already exists as a property right. So whether it’s annexed into Glendale or not annexed into Glendale, this data center is going to get built and developed becausr they already have that entitlement,” Councilmember Lauren Tolmachoff said. “I think this is a good thing for the city of Glendale. The data center is going to be there. Why would we not take advantage of the revenue it’s going to generate?”
City Attorney Michael Bailey said the project already received a Luke Air Force Base compatibility permit and the county board of supervisors’ approval.
The city can ensure to develop the site in a way that is least disruptive to the surrounding area, Tolmachoff said..
Tuesday’s discussion did not include a call for consensus on the rezoning application associated with Project Eagle. Those discussions will be at council voting meetings, where a public hearing will be offered on a rezoning of the site.
The data centers would total 1.1 million square feet and the power generation facility would include 18 natural gas turbines, city planner Sydney Tirella said.
Glendale borders this property to the west and south.
“The three data center buildings are proposed on the western portion of the site. About two-thirds of the site will be made up of three data centers, each approximately 330,000 feet under roof,” Tirella said.
Mayor Jerry Weiers, after asking for the buildings' locations, added to the consensus though, saying the building locations are not a deal-breaker.
“I was trying to see if there was any way the buildings could be put in that higher decibel area, not on the edges,” Weiers said. “We’ve got F-35s blasting off out there, and with the high decibel it’s less likely people would notice that — the further out you get, the lower it becomes.”
Project Eagle would have a one-time $35.8 million cost.
The next step will be a public hearing on a blank petition for the site, with property owner signatures then being able to sign the petition.
After that, the city council would have another public hearing for the adoption of the annexation.
“The access point to the west is the main ingress/egress point and etends Hatcher Road directly into the site. Meanwhile, the access point on Olive Avenue crosses BNSF Rail and will be for emergency access only,” Tirella said.
Councilmember Bart Turner did not speak about the project and Councilmember Leandro Baldenegro had an excused absence.
Vice Mayor Ray Malnar and Councilmember Dianna Guzman supported moving ahead.
“I did a lot of research on this project and watched a lot of videos, and there has been a significant amount of public input in making the decision to move that forward at the county level and also at the corporation commission level regarding the power plant,” Malnar said. “There was a lot of public comment, and I’m not going to go into that today, but when we get closer to an actual vote, if that becomes a concern I really feel like the process has been very elaborate.”
Councilmember Lupe Conchas was the lone member to oppose the project, listing air quality and water use as concerns.
He does intend to watch some of the videos Malnar talked about.
“Having these 18 gas-fueled turbines producing up to 700 megawatts of energy is very concerning to me,” Conchas said. “I know its through EPCOR, but this water is also for all of Arizona. There’s also concerns about safety, and I know there has been a lot of reviews and a lot of things said. I just want to say on the record that I am opposed to the turbines and to this project in general, because I believe we could be doing so much better and so much more for our community,” Conchas said.
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here