Gila Bend council approves 1,380‑acre solar overlay for Longroad Energy with 12 stipulations

The Gila Bend Town Council on Jan. 13 voted unanimously to adopt a Solar Field Overlay Zone (SFOZ) on about 1,381 acres within town limits for the Southwest Bend project proposed by Longroad Energy, attaching 12 stipulations intended to manage access, environmental protection and coordination with state and federal agencies.

Community Planner Sandra Hoffman told the council the overall project site is about 1,721 acres but only approximately 1,381 acres lie inside the town boundary; roughly 340 acres are in unincorporated Maricopa County. Hoffman said staff found the request consistent with the town’s general plan and that two citizen review meetings produced no public attendees, although a few emailed comments were resolved before the hearing.

Applicant representatives said the proposal would place photovoltaic panels on single‑axis trackers across the site with a central substation, an operations and maintenance building and a battery energy storage system. Project representatives said the facility could generate up to 350 megawatts, would be remotely monitored 24/7 but would not be staffed around the clock, and the company expects a potential grid connection in 2028 or later. “We own and operate our projects long term,” applicant representative Fae Sowders said, adding the company does not typically divest projects after construction.

The council attached 12 stipulations to the SFOZ approval. Among them: coordination with the Arizona Department of Transportation and other agencies regarding access to State Route 85 and Old U.S. Highway 80 and a requirement to assess and restore pavement at construction access points; adherence to Arizona Game and Fish Department recommendations (including moving special‑status wildlife out of harm’s way within 0.25 miles into similar habitat and bird‑safe powerline design per Avian Power Line Interaction Committee standards); compliance with the Arizona Native Plant Law and measures to limit invasive species (equipment decontamination); minimization of fencing impacts to wildlife corridors; a required submission to the Department of Defense Siting Clearinghouse and compliance with any feasible FAA/DoD lighting recommendations; dedication of right‑of‑way where required along South Old US‑80; preservation or coordinated relocation of utility and access easements; and placement of a monument commemorating the historic Butterfield Trail prior to final building inspection.

Hoffman also noted a stipulation requiring the project to achieve “Commencement of Development” within one year of council approval, per the project’s schedule in the October 2025 narrative, and that building plans must meet the 2018 International Code Council and 2017 National Electric codes and State Fire Marshal minimums.

The council’s vote to approve ZON‑25‑001 was 6–0 (Mayor Tommy Sikes, Vice‑Mayor Chris Riggs, Councilmembers Fernando Fernandez, Will Sipes, Scott Swanson and Mary Vinzant), with Councilmember Donny Young absent.

The approval allows Longroad Energy to pursue site plan and construction reviews under the SFOZ framework and requires the applicant to coordinate further with state agencies, wildlife authorities and federal reviewers before construction. The town’s planner said the overlay is intended to provide a single, consistent zoning framework for the entire project area and to avoid future uncertainty about different portions of the site.