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Mesa council advances BESS zoning package, splits on residential setbacks
Summary
Mesa advanced two of four proposed battery energy storage (BESS) zoning items for introduction, with council divided over 400-foot vs. 1,000-foot separations from homes; industry and fire-safety experts urged adherence to NFPA 855 and a 100–150 foot operational setback, while residents warned of fire, noise and disposal risks.
The Mesa City Council on Dec. 1 advanced two zoning items governing battery energy storage systems (BESS) for formal introduction while deferring final decisions on separation distances from homes.
Residents, industry representatives and fire-safety experts delivered sharply contrasting views during a lengthy public comment and staff briefing. Resident Mary Mabinow said the newer lithium technologies “if they do catch fire, they are extremely difficult to put out,” and urged that large BESS installations be sited well away from homes because of fire, air-quality and noise risks. Developer and industry counsel Court Rich and attorney Jeff Crockett asked the council to set the items for discussion and vote on Dec. 8 and to reconsider a 1,000-foot separation as too restrictive for…
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