Mesa Planning Board Recommends Approval for NTT Data Center Campus

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board has unanimously recommended approval for a substantial 2.3-million-square-foot data center campus proposed by NTT Global Data Center in southeast Mesa, Arizona. The project, encompassing seven buildings on a 170-acre site at Pecos and Crismon roads, cleared its initial hurdle after the board voted 4-0 to support requests for rezoning, a council use permit, and a major site plan modification. The site, purchased by NTT last year for $300 million, is located one mile north of the Queen Creek town border and contributes to an ongoing industrial construction boom in the region.

Addressing potential environmental impacts, NTT's representative Asif Kazimi detailed plans for closed-loop chiller systems for each building, designed for a one-time fill without evaporative cooling. The company also highlighted architectural designs to limit southern sun exposure and integrate water-efficient landscaping. However, Chair Benjamin Ayers expressed concerns about the proposed landscaping's density and the selection of water-intensive tree species "not great for Arizona," urging a comprehensive reevaluation. Principal Planner Evan Balmer acknowledged staff would seek enhancements and agreed on the need for more drought-tolerant species. Community members had previously raised concerns about noise from substations and generators at a neighborhood meeting.

The project, which is grandfathered under an older ordinance as it was submitted before more stringent data center regulations were approved last July, is expected to serve as a catalyst for technological growth in the area. The Planning and Zoning Board added a condition requiring NTT to present a revised landscape plan using drought-tolerant plants and more even distribution of greenery along Pecos Road before submitting building permits. The proposal is slated for introduction to the Mesa City Council on June 8 and a final action on July 20.