The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has approved a major comprehensive plan amendment that paves the way for a new data center project northwest of Florence. The board voted 4-1 on October 30, 2024, to approve Resolution No. 2024-PZ-PA-012-24, which redesignates approximately 96 acres of land from moderate low density residential to employment and mixed-use residential focused development.
The approved amendment, requested by Judd Ventures LLC with Rose Law Group and Iplan Consulting Corp. acting as agents, splits the property into approximately 80 acres for employment use and 16 acres for mixed-use residential development. The property is located at the southeast corner of North Felix Road and East Judd Road in the Arizona Farms region of San Tan Valley.
The Sunhill Project
The Sunhill Project, aims to bring multiple facilities to the area, including a data center, battery energy storage system (BESS), and mixed-use residential developments. The site is strategically located near the Magma Ranch subdivision and has direct access to major arterial roadways. The employment portion could encompass battery energy storage systems, data centers, office spaces, and warehousing, while the mixed-use residential focused area is planned to accommodate commercial retail, neighborhood commercial, professional offices, and multi-family residential uses.
Site Surroundings
The development site is located at the southeast corner of North Felix Road and East Judd Road, in an area becoming known for energy infrastructure development. The property is bordered by the Town of Florence on three sides, though these areas are currently vacant. The Magma Ranch residential development lies to the north.
The site is situated near SRP’s Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center, which includes both existing and planned solar facilities, as well as the Abel substation. The Copper Crossing complex is currently undergoing multi-phase development, including a 55-megawatt solar installation and plans for battery storage facilities. SRP is developing a long-duration energy storage facility off Judd Road as part of this complex, utilizing non-lithium battery technology. A future north-south highway is also planned for the area.
Project Benefits
According to the developer’s presentation, the Sunhill Project offers several community benefits. The development is designed to create a buffer between residential and employment uses, and aims to provide much-needed opportunities for neighborhood retail and office uses along Judd Road. The developer emphasized that residents currently face a 10-mile drive to the nearest grocery store. Additional benefits include job creation, reduced water usage compared to current farming operations, and environmental awareness in the development approach.
Community Concerns
During the approval process, residents raised several significant concerns. Public speakers highlighted safety concerns regarding battery energy storage systems, citing past incidents where battery failures led to fires and explosions. Infrastructure concerns were also raised, focusing on increased traffic demands and the suitability of current roadways. Residents noted potential utility stress from the data center and battery storage operations, particularly given that SRP is already planning a long-duration energy storage facility off Judd Road.
Moving Forward
Following the Board of Supervisors’ approval of the comprehensive plan amendment, the project will need to return for a zoning case to determine the exact use of the employment portion of the land. The proposal had previously received unanimous approval recommendations from both the Citizens Advisory Committee (15-0) and the Planning Commission (7-0) before reaching the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
