Big data center in SE Mesa passes first review
NTT Global Data Center's proposal for a 2.3-million-square-foot data center campus in southeast Mesa received a 4-0 recommendation for approval from the Planning and Zoning Board. The project, comprising seven buildings and an on-site substation, now proceeds to the City Council for further review and a final decision. Landscaping and water usage concerns were addressed with a condition for drought-tolerant plant species.
NTT Global Data Center's expansive 2.3-million-square-foot data center campus, featuring seven buildings in southeast Mesa, successfully passed its initial review. The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended approval of NTT's requests for rezoning, a council use permit, and a major site plan modification for the 170-acre site at Pecos and Crismon roads. NTT, a Japanese IT firm, acquired the land last year for $300 million.
Addressing potential environmental concerns, particularly water consumption, NTT plans to implement closed-loop chiller systems for cooling, which are self-contained and do not rely on evaporative methods. The company also emphasizes water-efficient landscaping and design features intended to minimize southern sun exposure and optimize interior cooling.
Despite these measures, Planning and Zoning Board Chair Benjamin Ayers raised concerns about the density and species of proposed landscaping, particularly along Pecos Road, suggesting many were unsuitable for Arizona's climate. Staff agreed to explore more drought-tolerant alternatives. Additionally, two residents attending a neighborhood meeting last October voiced concerns regarding noise from the planned substation and generators, as well as the overall impact of data centers on their homes, to which NTT responded by citing low-noise design elements.
The project is grandfathered under previous city ordinances, having been submitted before the council approved more stringent data center regulations last July. As a condition of the board's recommendation, NTT must present a revised landscape plan using drought-tolerant plants to the city planning director before obtaining a building permit. The proposal is scheduled for introduction to the Mesa City Council on June 8, with a final decision anticipated on July 20.