Commission recommends approval for battery storage site after applicant enlarges buffer to 548 feet

The Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 9-0 Thursday to recommend approval of Z2024012, a proposed battery energy storage facility at the southeast corner of Olive and Cotton avenues near the 303 freeway in District 4.

Staff had recommended approval after the applicant relocated the proposed facility farther from a residential neighborhood and met concerns the commission and the Board of Supervisors raised in an earlier hearing. Nick, county planning staff, told the commission the new site gives the residences a “much further” separation and that staff was satisfied with changes; staff recommended adoption of a motion recommending approval to the Board of Supervisors subject to conditions A through H in the staff report.

Court Rich, an attorney with the Rose Law Group representing AIPA Power, told the commission the applicant acquired additional land north of the original location to enlarge the buffer. “We were a 75 feet. We moved it north to 500, not only 500 feet, but we’re at 548 feet now as far as the separation’s concerned,” Rich said, adding the new setback aligns with staff and supervisory direction. Rich also noted letters of support from Rural Metro and a letter from Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, and said the applicant had a small community petition in support and no known organized opposition.

The commission heard no public testimony in opposition on the record for this item. Following the applicant’s presentation, a commissioner moved to recommend approval; a second was recorded and the commission completed a roll-call vote with all nine members voting yes.

The commission’s recommendation now goes to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for final consideration. The staff report and conditions A–H are part of the permanent record for the case.