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Commission finds Project Clydesdale tax‑incentive plan consistent with county comprehensive plan; plan envisions phased data‑center campus
Summary
The commission determined that Project Clydesdale’s tax‑incentive district plan, which proposes a four‑data‑center campus with 25‑year ad valorem tax abatements and pilot/community payments, conforms to the Tulsa County comprehensive plan and recommended county commissioners consider approval.
The Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted to adopt a resolution finding Project Clydesdale’s project plan in conformance with the Tulsa County comprehensive plan and recommended approval to the Board of County Commissioners.
Staff described Project Clydesdale as a multi‑phase data‑center campus on roughly 399 acres in the Cherokee Industrial District north of the Whirlpool manufacturing facility and east of Highway 75 between 70th and 80th streets north. The project plan proposes up to four roughly 200,000‑square‑foot data centers and would use tax incentive districts under the Local Development Act rather than tax‑increment financing.
Under the draft plan presented, the project contemplates a 100% abatement of ad valorem property taxes for up to 25 years for each incentive district, paired with substantial pilot payments and community betterment payments: roughly $1,500,000 per data center in annual pilot payments (distributed proportionally among affected taxing jurisdictions and indexed upward by CPI and annual increases) and an annual $500,000 community betterment payment to the county for roadway improvements during initial phases. Staff said the incentive districts require consent from affected taxing jurisdictions to include their levies in the exemption and that separate creation of each incentive district would be triggered when preconditions are met.
Jeff Sabin of the Center for Economic Development Law, counsel on the project, described the incentive structure and confirmed annual reporting requirements similar to those for tax‑increment financing would apply; he also said the pilot and betterment payments and annual reporting would provide transparency. Commissioners asked about safeguards, periodic reviews and termination provisions; staff and counsel said the incentive agreements would include continuing operation requirements and termination provisions should the end user abandon the project, and that taxing entities will be asked for consent during the statutory review period.
Commissioner Walker moved to adopt the resolution finding the project plan in conformance with the Tulsa County comprehensive plan and to recommend county approval; the motion was seconded and approved. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally.
