Commission forwards data‑center zoning rules to supervisors, narrowly recommends moratorium hearing

The Cochise County Planning & Zoning Commission voted March 11 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt a staff‑written zoning text amendment that defines data centers, requires special‑use authorization and adds operational standards — and separately voted to ask the Board to publish notice for a hearing on a possible moratorium on new data‑center applications.

Staff emphasized that the amendment establishes a predictable review framework, not approval of any particular project. Planning staff laid out provisions requiring applicants to submit site layout, utility‑capacity documentation, water‑use plans if water‑based cooling is proposed, fire protection information, hazardous‑materials containment, and decommissioning plans. "This item establishes the rules the county would use to evaluate a proposal if one were submitted in the future," staff said.

Public comment was extensive and heavily weighted toward opposition. Amanda Glover warned that even a "medium‑sized" data center could consume tens of millions of gallons of water annually and called the county’s thresholds "unreachable," saying, "There should never be a data center approved in Cochise County, ever." Christine Acheson and other speakers urged enforceable verification and baseline testing for water and soil and questioned whether special‑use review alone is adequate to mitigate chemical, noise and generator emissions. Several commenters and environmental groups urged a temporary moratorium to allow further study; Cheryl Knott asked for a "grace period" to develop stronger standards.

Commission debate divided along precautionary and pragmatic lines. Commissioner Benedict moved that staff publish the statutory 30‑day notice to schedule a public hearing on a potential 120‑day moratorium; the motion as framed (a recommendation to the Board to publish notice) passed 5‑4. Commissioners who opposed the moratorium argued it likely would be overturned by the Board and that adopting minimum guardrails now provides immediate protections in case an application arrives.

The primary motion — to recommend approval of the text amendment (Exhibit A) — passed unanimously. The amendment adds a definition of "data center," requires special‑use review in specified zoning districts, and allows the county to require detailed water‑use, energy and decommissioning plans and to request studies where warranted. Staff and commissioners underscored that the code change does not authorize any facility and that future applications must still demonstrate compliance with standards and, where required, state water‑adequacy determinations.

Both actions are advisory recommendations to the Board of Supervisors; the board will consider the code amendment and the moratorium issue at upcoming hearings.