By John Dobberstein, Editor
Broken Arrow officials said Thursday they have been approached by a site locator about a data center proposal on the city’s east side.
City officials were notified about a request from a site selector for a pre-development meeting with city planners about a potential data center on 51 acres of undeveloped property at 8521 S. 209th East Ave., between the Creek Turnpike and State Highway 51.
The city said a pre-development meeting could happen in the next couple of months where the site selector and company representatives can ask questions of city staff and learn more about the city’s zoning, development standards, and building regulations.
City Manager Michael Spurgeon said the meetings are internal working sessions between the developer and city staff and not open to the public, “and have never been.
“They are intended to facilitate an initial exchange of information and ensure a clear understanding of applicable requirements before any application for the site plan review or building permits is submitted. Most importantly, no approval of any part of a potential project is authorized during a pre-development meeting.”
Spurgeon said it’s very early in the process and there aren’t a lot of details. But he added that neither himself, City Council members or city staff have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and they would not be doing so.
“We do recognize the significant interest in data centers and the concerns citizens have about the potential impacts related to noise pollution, utility usages including water and electricity, and the environment,” Spurgeon said in the city’s statement today. “I assure Broken Arrow residents that as soon as we learn details, we will share them accordingly.”
Spurgeon said the prospective company of the data center is unknown and neither himself, the City Council or city staff have met with the prospective company.
At this point, no incentives or assistance from the city for the project have been discussed, requested or agreed to, Spurgeon said, and no economic development agreement for the project has been discussed or signed.
If the project proposal moves beyond the pre-development meeting, requests of the city to approve applications related to the project, such as rezoning, would be made during open meetings.
The city and Broken Arrow Economic Development Corp. will begin a due diligence process to review infrastructure needs to support the proposed project, coordination with the electric service provider regarding potential electrical impacts, coordination with Rural Water District No. 4 regarding water service capacity, “and evaluation of all relevant considerations, including infrastructure capacity, environmental factors and public safety,” he added.
Spurgeon said a request to rezone the land to industrial light would be required and presented in a public hearing at before the Broken Arrow Planning Commission meeting.
If the Planning Commission recommended approval of any plans, the City Council would hold a public hearing and have the final say.
“As is the case with every potential and formal development proposal presented to us, our number one priority is the health, safety, and wellness of our citizens,” Spurgeon said Thursday.
“The City Council, myself, and my leadership team are committed to being your advocates and ensuring this potential proposal, like all proposals, meets or exceeds the requirements of our ordinances and engineering design standards, and would be a benefit to our community and the tremendous quality of life we enjoy in Broken Arrow.”
The city said updated information about the potential project would be posted to its website when it’s available.
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