TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A second data center rezoning application has been submitted to the town of Marana, separate from a Beale Infrastructure-run data center that was already approved by the town council.
The rezoning application for the “Ranch House” project was submitted in November by The Planning Center, according to Marana Town Manager Terry Rozema. The application surfaced on the town’s website within the past week, according to Jackie McGuire, who said she’s been checking the website for changes for weeks.
McGuire is a current a candidate for Marana Town Council, but has long been a data center opponent and a representative of the No Desert Data Center Coalition.
Rozema said the application is still in early stages and the town has not approved anything.
“That’s all it is is an application,” Rozema said.
Multiple Marana municipal entities and outside entities, including Tucson Electric Power and Southwest Gas, have submitted reviews regarding portions of the application since its submittal, according to the town’s website.
Rozema said reviews will continue until a complete, up-to-standard application is submitted. The application will then go to the town’s planning commission for consideration.
“If the planning commission were to approve it, then it would go on to the council. If the planning commission did not approve it, it would not go to the council unless one of the council members ask that it be reviewed,” Rozema said.
If the application advances, the town will conduct community outreach and hold meetings to receive feedback on the proposal, Rozema said.
McGuire expressed concern about what she called a lack of transparency from the town.
“If this paperwork was submitted in November, the town’s had over six months to tell residents about it and you would think with the amount of backlash that’s happened because of the first data center that was considered, that the town would know that they would probably need to do some more work,” McGuire said.
The application comes after months of community pushback following the town’s approval of the Beale Infrastructure-run Luckett Data Center.
McGuire said she worries the town could approve this application as well, noting that the first data center was approved unanimously.
“It’s possible they don’t approve it, but when you have it approved unanimously the first time and you’re out, you know, really telling residents ‘it’s a great idea, it’s a great deal for the town,’ it’s hard to see them having better judgement in the future,” McGuire said.
Rozema said approval of one data center does not guarantee approval of another.
“Every project has to be weighed on the merits of its own merits and not necessarily on a use that could be beneficial and not be beneficial. There’s so many factors that could come into considering whether or not something is beneficial to a community,” Rozema said.
McGuire said she hopes Marana residents are more prepared to respond if the application advances.
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