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Residents urge Mesa council to scrutinize large proposed data center over water and community concerns
Summary
Three residents told the council to slow or reject a proposed 2‑million‑square‑foot data center, citing water use, limited local jobs, health concerns and inadequate community outreach; no council decision on the project was recorded in the transcript.
Three members of the public told Mesa’s City Council on June 8 they are concerned about a proposed large data center (described in testimony as a seven‑building, roughly 2‑million‑square‑foot campus on about 170 acres) and urged the council to require more study and community engagement before approval.
Jim Beck, a resident of East Mark, said the development — which he said is owned by a Japanese company — would add to more than 4 million square feet of data centers already in Mesa and risk local water availability, municipal infrastructure and neighborhood character. "Before approving the project, a detailed study should be conducted and shared with the residents to better understand if this land could support other uses that bring more jobs, more revenue, and fewer long‑term risks to our neighborhoods," Beck said.
Nathan Taylor, a Mesa High School student, warned that large data centers jeopardize water security even with closed‑loop cooling systems, saying "millions of gallons can still be used up each year." He also questioned claims about job creation and called AI data center investment potentially speculative.
Braden Peters said data centers increase pressure on water and power, and noted the proximity of the proposed site to Legacy Sports Park, which draws large numbers of youth and family visitors. Peters and other speakers complained of limited outreach from the developer, citing a citizen participation report that they said notified only about 91 people and yielded minimal attendance.
There was no council vote or formal action on the project recorded in the meeting transcript; the comments were given during the citizen presentation portion of the agenda. Speakers asked the council to slow the process, require a full environmental and infrastructure impact assessment, be transparent about any tax incentives, and involve nearby residents earlier in decision‑making.
What happens next: The transcript records the public comments but does not show council deliberation or a zoning or approval vote on the NT data center during this meeting.
