Project Details and Application
The Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission held a work session on July 17, 2025, to discuss Project Midway, a proposed data center development that would transform approximately 215 acres of rural land into an employment-generating facility. Withey Morris Baugh PLC submitted the application as legal representative for property owner Selma and Midway LLC, with IDM Companies serving as the developer.
The proposal requests a major comprehensive plan amendment to change the land designation from Moderate Low Density Residential (1-3.5 dwelling units per acre) to Employment. The property, currently zoned General Rural (GR), sits at the southwest corner of Selma Highway and Midway Road, north of Interstate 8 in unincorporated Pinal County.
Location and Surrounding Area
Senior Planner Glenn Bak presented the project to the commission during the work session. The property lies within the extended planning area of the City of Casa Grande, placing it under the municipality’s future growth considerations.
The surrounding area consists primarily of undeveloped and agricultural land. To the west of the property, General Rural zoned land remains largely vacant. To the south lies Project Bella, the 480-megawatt natural gas power generation and 440-megawatt battery storage facility that received unanimous commission approval on July 7, 2025, on a 7-0 vote for rezoning to I-3 with PAD overlay. North and east of the property, undeveloped parcels carry various zoning designations including CAR, MHP, CR-2, and SH. The project sits in Flood Zone X, which indicates minimal flooding risk.
Vice-Chairman Robert Klob noted the project’s proximity to the recently approved development: “This is just north abutting the Project Bella that was approved last, in the last hearing.”
Power Infrastructure and Regional Development
The discussion revealed concerns about the substantial infrastructure requirements for data center operations. One of the commissioners questioned the power provider for the area, noting that “data centers, if it truly is a data center, it would require a lot of power, right?”
Klob responded, emphasizing the scale of utilities needed: “A lot of power, a lot of water.”
The commissioner speculated about regional development patterns: “Hence, maybe why we’re seeing a lot of solar go in the area, maybe. I don’t know. Possibility.”
Bak suggested a potential connection between projects: “It may be a symbiotic relationship.”
The conversation continued with the commissioner observing: “It makes sense to kind of see how this is all coming together.”
Klob confirmed the relationship to the previously approved project: “It looks like Project Bella is what it is piggybacking on.”
One staff member remarked that, to their understanding, the City of Casa Grande has always envisioned this corridor west of their jurisdiction along I-8 as an employment and industrial area. “I don’t know about the emphasis towards solar or energy generation, but it’s definitely been an industrial corridor in their future planning,” the staff member said, adding “so I think this is in keeping with it.”
Interstate 8 Corridor Development
The commission discussed the transformation occurring along the Interstate 8 corridor. Klob observed significant changes in the area, noting that the corridor used to be “desolate, desert for years and years and years, and now there’s a lot coming in.”
The vice-chairman also addressed coordination with neighboring municipalities, responding to Commissioner Karen Mooney’s question about outreach to Casa Grande. Staff confirmed they had notified the city as part of the agency mail-out and outreach process and were expecting comments back from them. Staff noted that the deadline for comments was August 9.
Klob emphasized the importance of regional compatibility, explaining the county’s goal of being “a symbiotic neighbor” with local cities. He noted that compatible uses like industrial and solar developments can work together, but warned that mismatched land uses such as “high density residential versus high intensity industrial” could create problems.
He noted potential future complications as communities expand and “end up absorbing what could be issues down the road.”
The discussion highlighted the convergence of multiple jurisdictions in the area. Klob explained that Casa Grande has potential for westward expansion while Maricopa’s general plan includes southward growth over Interstate 8, creating “a convergence of two communities potentially at some point.”
Future Proceedings
The work session represents an early stage in the comprehensive plan amendment process. Staff indicated that the comment period for reviewing agencies remains open until August 9, 2025. The project will require additional review and likely return to the commission for formal consideration after the comment period closes and staff completes its analysis.
