Florence council approves land‑use changes for Lighthorse battery storage project amid safety and revenue debate

The Florence Town Council on Aug. 5 approved two ordinances to allow a utility‑scale battery energy storage system on about 40.9 acres east of Attaway Road and south of Judd Road.

The council voted to adopt the minor general‑plan amendment (ordinance 762‑25) and the corresponding Dobson Farms planned‑unit‑development amendment (ordinance 763‑25) that add battery energy storage systems as a permitted use and change the site’s place type from suburban neighborhood to industrial.

The project, presented by John Gillespie of the Rose Law Group on behalf of ES Volta Development LLC, is proposed as a 400‑megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS). Gillespie told the council the developer expects the facility to store power and redistribute it during peak demand; he described it as “a 400 megawatt, utility scale battery, storage system” and said the applicant could connect directly to an existing SRP substation north of Judd Road.

Why it matters: Council and staff framed the change as part of a broader shift in northern Florence toward industrial uses driven by utility infrastructure and long‑range transportation planning. Staff said ongoing utility investments and proposed corridors make industrial designation appropriate for the northern sections of town. Supporters said the facility would add property tax revenue and grid reliability; opponents and several council members pressed for protections on fire response, landscaping, and setbacks.

Public comment split. Melissa Cordero, Arizona lead organizer with Veterans Power America, said the project would bring “reliable proven technology” and improve grid resilience for residents. Resident Kathleen Lehman opposed the amendment and questioned whether residents would receive lower electric bills, raised concerns about removed landscaping at nearby solar sites and asked about fire response times. A resident asked how the toxicity from a container fire compared with a house fire; project representatives and town staff said industry studies and town code changes reduce propagation risk and that current designs emphasize separation and monitoring.

Safety and standards. Council members and staff stressed the town’s recent adoption of the 2024 International Code Council standards related to BESS and cited consultation with the fire department and developer commitments to training, emergency response plans and setbacks. The applicant proposed a minimum 100‑foot setback between the enclosures and adjacent residentially designated lots and an 8‑foot perimeter wall with landscaping outside the wall. Project representatives said enclosures are typically 8 to 10 feet high, arranged in rows on concrete pads, and that ES Volta — the owner‑operator candidate — has projects in operation nationwide and has not recorded a fire at its sites since 2017.

Traffic, land‑use sequencing and fiscal impact. The applicant and staff said BESS sites generate little traffic once built; construction would create short‑term activity. Gillespie and staff provided town staff and planning‑commission review information and offered a projected property‑tax revenue stream the applicant described as new revenue to the town and taxing districts (the applicant estimated a town share of roughly $1.5 million over the life of the project and additional revenues to schools and other districts). Council members asked how revenues would flow and how incorporation or boundary changes in neighboring areas might affect long‑term funds; staff responded those are separate jurisdictional issues but said the project would generate new revenues where it sits.

Process and council action. The planning and zoning commission held hearings in June and forwarded a favorable recommendation. After public comment and council discussion about codes, setbacks and emergency access, the council took separate votes to approve the minor general‑plan amendment and the PUD amendment with the stipulations on setbacks and landscaping that appeared in the staff report. Roll call votes on both ordinances were unanimous in favor.

What’s next: The approvals change the town’s land‑use classification and PUD language to permit BESS at the site. Final design, site‑plan review, traffic‑improvement details and construction timelines will follow; the applicant estimated breaking ground around 2028 and bringing the project online around 2030. Council members said those future steps would trigger review of half‑width road improvements, site plan requirements and any additional mitigation measures the town and applicant agree are necessary.