Tucson officials move closer to passing tighter rules for data center development
Tucson officials are moving to implement tighter zoning regulations for data center development following public opposition to the rejected Project Blue. The proposed rules, which include stricter requirements for residential setbacks, noise levels, and natural habitat preservation, are being debated by the city's Planning Commission. Concerns over water and energy demands are key drivers behind these new standards.
Tucson's Planning Commission is currently deliberating stricter rules for data center development, which would apply to any project exceeding 25,000 square feet or 20 megawatts of energy demand. This initiative was spurred by the widespread public rejection last fall of Project Blue, a massive data center planned for unincorporated Pima County, 20 miles east of Tucson.
Carver Struve, a principal planner with the Tucson Planning and Development Services department, presented the zoning recommendations to the commission. He highlighted residents' primary concerns, which include the perception of inadequate water supply, high energy demands, and potential strain on utility infrastructure leading to increased electrical rates. Despite Arizona's limitations on the city's ability to directly regulate water or energy use through zoning, the proposed amendment aims to establish land use standards and a robust public review process.
The new regulations, if passed, would require interested data centers to apply as a Planned Area Development (PAD), meaning development would not be a by-right land use. Instead, developers would need to meet specific demands set by the commission and City Council. These include stricter requirements for residential setbacks, noise levels, electric grid risk mitigation, and natural habitat preservation. Additionally, the City Council has already approved a Large Quantity Water User program requiring high-volume water users, including data centers, to disclose demands and develop conservation measures.
The Planning Commission is extending its hearing to incorporate further stipulations, such as more specific language regarding on-site renewable energy generation, site decommissioning standards, and stronger protections for natural resources. The commission is expected to deliver its final recommendations to the mayor and council within 45 days.