County votes for lot merger of proposed data center site

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a comprehensive lot merger for Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing's hyperscale AI data center. The decision on April 7 allows five individual parcels and Leimgruber Road to be consolidated into a single 75.39-acre site for the future data center construction. This approval overturns a previous decision by the Imperial County Planning Commission, which had failed to approve the merger in December 2025 and subsequently tabled the item for workshops. Developer Sebastian Rucci had appealed the Planning Commission's initial decision, a move objected to by the City of Imperial, which argued that skipping the Planning Commission review violated county ordinances. Residents, including Bob Diaz and Heber resident Leonardo Mendez, expressed strong opposition, citing concerns about potential contamination, overuse of local water and electricity resources, air pollution, health risks for nearby residents, and a lack of transparency in the development process. Despite the opposition, the project received significant support from labor unions, including LiUNA, whose representatives filled the board chambers. They emphasized the potential for hundreds of high-paying jobs and economic benefits for Imperial County, with figures like Mike Dea and Nick Gumbleton advocating for the project as a vital economic surge. IVEDC president Tim Kelley also noted that the land merger would increase property value and attract further investment. District 4 Supervisor Ryan Kelley clarified that the vote was specifically for the lot merger and not a full project approval. The Board ultimately approved Rucci's appeal and denied the City of Imperial's objection, with District 2 Supervisor Martha Cardenas-Singh casting the sole dissenting vote.