[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6179174,"mediaKeyId","5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a","parentId",5132610,"title","Mesa approves Medina Station development agreement; restaurant incentives limited to select national thresholds","audioSeconds",449,"startMs",2837000,"endMs",3286000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a&start=2837&end=3286","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a/thumbnail_2837000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6179174/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-approves-Medina-Station-development-agreement-restaurant-incentives-limited-to-select-national-thresholds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179174-ae22a3aa9e708f573798998c9af808d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048059&Signature=KmnAKqjZppPkWq8qYW9eKQD9BBfBiJJl2HQxlIl2q9fHKKmbn--1xAQ0d4yD6z77kVMgKuZtLfRX6K4gbfrG3K-gaB8SlDwWVHo9ACkUbre55cc6zPgQYPKv5QCpziaTk4NT39kpmwgxBvPLngKv29WA76dFfgQFpckSFrHvVrDySYFucQ2tNHFfPu-cStNuK8SDsT00g2HYh00ksZOzU7KWaAHlBXBcXvD-yhcibrTvy7W2t4wX~bxP3yIWZNR4Y4sS6WzkJ9RbystWy7mxHpUjEWPvc0ISSLfcNLPgbyZ2Yu7tpzd6sS0kf4Z0PkJREcsrq7gBq-Fkhs8CqEbHoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mesa City, AZ ","date","2025-07-02T02:05:24Z","article","Mesa City Council approved a development agreement on July 1 for the Medina Station project, including an element marketed as “Restaurant Row” intended to attract mid‑ and upscale restaurants to the city.

Council Member Go Forth said attracting higher‑quality dining and experiential retail was a campaign priority, arguing that residents currently travel outside Mesa for some restaurant options and that sales tax leakage hurts the city. “Jobs follow talent, and we must build a city that is highly desirable to the talented people who will attract and fill the jobs,” she said.

Deputy City Attorney Kelly Whittemore briefed the council on the development agreement’s eligibility requirements for the retail‑tax reimbursement portion. Whittemore said qualifying restaurants must be mid‑class or high‑quality operators with fewer than 100 locations nationwide and generally must not be located within 10 miles of the Mesa site; there is an exception for a location at Mesa Gateway Airport. Reese Anderson, representing Simon CRE (the developer), said many of the national tenants displayed on the project website are not part of the Restaurant Row reimbursement program and that the DA ties reimbursement eligibility to specific retail anchors and to the cross‑hatched eligible areas shown in the council packet.

Anderson and Whittemore clarified that while many tenants will participate in the project, the DA separates two types of reimbursements: construction sales‑tax reimbursement that can apply broadly across the development and a retail‑sales‑tax reimbursement that is narrowly targeted to specified anchors and to the Restaurant Row area.

Council approved item 10A and item 10B in separate motions; both passed unanimously with Council Member Heredia absent.

Discussion only: council discussed policy goals for retail attraction, types of qualifying restaurants and whether national brands on the project website would qualify for retail‑tax incentives. Direction/next steps: the development agreement moves forward; the city will execute the contract and the developer will proceed with site work and tenanting. Formal action: approval of the development agreement and a companion item; no additional incentives were created beyond what the DA specifies.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - 7/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mesa City Council approved the Medina Station development agreement on July 1, including a Restaurant Row program that ties retail‑tax reimbursements to qualifying restaurants with fewer than 100 locations nationally.","taxTitle","Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2210,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6179179,"Mesa council approves $700,000 increase for library materials to stock Gateway Library; parent raises content concerns",149,1417000,1566000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a&start=1417&end=1566","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a/thumbnail_1417000.jpg","/articles/6179179/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-council-approves-700000-increase-for-library-materials-to-stock-Gateway-Library-parent-raises-content-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179179-b97d8b7cfea6ed388070bd83762f4421/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048059&Signature=Ngc1fBfbmYGAH4KECB-AdI-OSm4Z8X6lsPjY-2gPDsZS2lNF3Ud-sYsDLweeazLu6HLZD6~Ah7iDK2XJnxlksKPiHr7STHZvtaUF~yW1lJcf9d8FnTaCSyYjvz9GRt1xTY9Mg0-To6MHtAq2p2ZL~01UNVnAcYtg7HH1rnBfLBW-QX~-M6qqLNyLLSDzAi5zZJSOtIEI~nnXb3XCSCVcTu96HLcR6UdEk7w8RkHnVtJWmI86Oe-kUHSPKz2qQYT7vTYncuoidA0KQ4y4IQRYEHuk~wDX6-QNF3F9bUm~eO~26Cexxs2uWchIw8LfBrS3EAgpRHCbNWP1QALAfvbcXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesa City Council on July 1 approved a $700,000 increase to a term contract to purchase library books, spoken word, DVDs and digital media to stock the Gateway Library, which city staff said will open in a few months.

During public comment, Alex Francik asked how the funding would be used and whether the city has an oversight committee for materials selection. “We'd appreciate more information about how this funding will be used,” Francik said, adding concern about “types of materials available, especially in the children's sections where some books and articles have been found to be inappropriate and overly explicit.” Francik also asked whether the city had considered legal exposure under ARS 13‑3505 concerning obscene prints and requested public access to the selection process.

Library staff responded that the item was a one‑time increase to provide materials for the Gateway Library and did not change library policy or procedures. A library representative told the council staff would follow up with Francik to explain how selections are made.

Council Member Pillsbury moved to approve item 5I, a motion seconded by Council Member Summers. The motion passed unanimously with Council Member Heredia absent.

Discussion only: public requested clarity on selection and oversight. Direction/next steps: library staff offered to follow up directly with the commenter to explain selection policies. Formal action: council approved the $700,000 increase to the term contract for library materials.","Council approved a $700,000 limit increase to a term contract for library books and media to supply the new Gateway Library; a parent urged the city for transparency on selection and cited Arizona statute ARS 13‑3505.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6179185,"Mesa council introduces data‑center zoning amendments; industry seeks clarifications",1190,1600000,2790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a&start=1600&end=2790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a/thumbnail_1600000.jpg","/articles/6179185/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-council-introduces-datacenter-zoning-amendments-industry-seeks-clarifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179185-cdcdeb00c29df37561172a3b2b10f96e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048059&Signature=MDd1t04I2yB2bp7uHhyxodPSd7LUc5GriHjHMZAK3VXiTfJbYMztJLl77tgjEAFVLtEKne4dSRwyyayza4RzDhN93pxY4LkgjS-YHV1H7r~zN-2ZPDzPPaLgE2X7skjvgSjSJDFOXxZiyNLHv0WwBBEeRmcHbyK45XvWjaTKJ7bCT5D~dzfuPJ~kFPKWR9Dfi7yYiVXwtrx-G8DNb-34kwTOVCH2FieXuYGQWYbj2uxxsqVizrPVjNf7JMZ4oHrRSxy-RCTxEEi0HvQO2ongeq7N0q~~qLXXsO96VpSwX--fhmTrR8FL~QCCN7QtDVfnBnpdUZ70ydsiKZPyouTSsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesa City Council on July 1 introduced zoning text amendments that would limit where future data centers may locate, set new screening and distance requirements, and change how projects qualify as data centers.

The changes, listed as items 8A and 8B, were introduced for formal consideration July 8 after a unanimous council vote to advance the ordinance language. The city said the changes aim to protect existing residential areas while steering data centers to appropriate industrial districts.

The ordinance as drafted would allow data centers only in General Industrial (GI) and Heavy Industrial (HI) districts unless a property owner obtains a waiver. City counsel told the council that a waiver application must be filed within three years and, once granted and applied to the land, “goes in perpetuity with the land unless the property is rezoned.” Planning staff also said a previously proposed 10% threshold tied to building components has been revised to use gross square footage on a site to determine whether a project counts as a data center.

Industry representatives pressed for additional changes and more time. Tom Maples, representing the Arizona chapter of the 7x24 Exchange, said the industry needed “a little more time to resolve a couple of issues” and warned, “we're on the 10‑yard line. We're not in the end zone yet.” He asked staff to revisit a proposed 400‑foot separation from residential neighborhoods and to align mechanical‑equipment (MEP) screening and siting rules with the improved standards staff crafted for substations.

Ben Graf, attorney for Nova Holdings LLC, said his firm's project had site plan approval and asked for clearer confirmation that minor site‑plan amendments would continue to be processed under the prior standards while major amendments would be required to meet the new rules. He also said it was important that a council use permit or similar entitlement not automatically negate an existing waiver.

Jay O'Donnell, Mesa's economic development director, said Mesa already has a notable cluster of data centers: “we have 15 in Mesa existing or coming online,” and that the city is trying to balance the land‑use needs of data centers with higher‑density, higher‑wage users such as advanced manufacturers.

City staff told the council they had held multiple stakeholder meetings in recent weeks and described the draft as a “living document” that could be adjusted after introduction. Council members voted unanimously to introduce the amendments for further consideration on July 8; the motion to introduce carried with Council Member Heredia absent.

Discussion only: speakers raised three recurring issues—(1) whether the 10% threshold appropriately separates data centers from advanced manufacturing, (2) whether a 400‑foot residential separation requirement is necessary or should be reduced, and (3) the placement and screening rules for MEP near residences. Direction/next steps: the council approved introduction, setting the ordinance for follow‑up consideration July 8 and inviting continued staff‑industry dialogue. Formal action: introduction vote only; no ordinance adoption occurred on July 1.","Mesa City Council voted July 1 to introduce zoning text amendments that restrict where new data centers may locate and set new development standards; industry representatives and the city sought more time and clarity about waivers, mechanical‑equipment screening and how existing projects will be treated.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6179169,"Residents urge Mesa to end 287(g) cooperation with ICE; council declines comment during public comment",232,3338000,3570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a&start=3338&end=3570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5132610-d25b74cd825cee2e058e8aa230bb234a/thumbnail_3338000.jpg","/articles/6179169/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Residents-urge-Mesa-to-end-287g-cooperation-with-ICE-council-declines-comment-during-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179169-7b43aadb0e40a2cc8160bcc637f4dccc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048059&Signature=W6V0OAW51ghKyViAu3yYicMqbab6jMaycyh~Nk~46duvsFyoUrI5qTjwFGJaiIRAnleriNU-zz1APYwuIsQYp~do-eB8Vb5El3d1hkMavaZ-uRq1SKk4HX-XWs8IiwR-Z32KCFA4K1jLTF~ioMbJHXtGytl-ZcacLBvVgVe7ByO2-WI8n7si5rZQHl3GjSC-R~tpOl5hcTaVoQE7f0zfBmbECaqXQ9eszY7dD01dM40HY1akfd1ZNm9RBuThj-c~zRuGbQFrhtkdGXM6CcQpU8AgKectAINSw9FYgXY9VlBLxsoCLJMEAXE8DYR76yi3pS5UbzFK5QejWOWzuwYu6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public‑comment portion of the July 1 meeting, Cassandra Winchester of Mesa urged the City of Mesa to withdraw from its 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to end cooperation with ICE.

Winchester described the agreement as incompatible with Mesa Police Department’s stated mission to “protect and serve all residents regardless of immigration status” and urged the council to “choose humanity over fear.” She recounted a case in which a Mesa resident she identified as Kareem (last names described in the comment) was taken from work June 6 and deported three days later; Winchester said the individual had lawful immigration documentation and that the family had not been told what happened until later.

Because the matter was not on the agenda, the council did not respond. The city clerk recorded six additional residents who asked to have their names placed on the record in support of withdrawing from the agreement: Nolan Guy, Jillian Ryan, Amber Campos, Dee McDonald, Cecilia Campos and Vicki Drake.

Discussion only: public commenters urged withdrawal from the 287(g) agreement; no council action occurred during the meeting.","At the July 1 meeting, a resident urged the city to withdraw from its 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing civil‑liberties concerns and a recent deportation case; council did not take action because the topic was not on the agenda.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mesa approves Medina Station development agreement; restaurant incentives limited to select national thresholds

Mesa council approves $700,000 increase for library materials to stock Gateway Library; parent raises content concerns

Mesa council introduces data‑center zoning amendments; industry seeks clarifications

Residents urge Mesa to end 287(g) cooperation with ICE; council declines comment during public comment