The Chandler City Council unanimously approved a $50 million development plan for a new tech park during a Monday meeting in Chandler, Arizona. The project, known as The District Downtown, includes rezoning and data center zoning amendments aimed at supporting technology growth while addressing community concerns, officials said.
The Chandler City Council’s unanimous approval came during a Monday meeting and included ordinances on a consent agenda for data center zoning amendments and a downtown mixed-use development plan, city records show. The project, identified as The District Downtown, involves rezoning and a preliminary development plan intended to foster technology sector growth while addressing community concerns, officials said.
The city’s fiscal year 2023-24 adopted budget totals $1.66 billion, a 22.5% increase from the previous year, and reflects a focus on technolog
The data center zoning amendments clarify Chandler’s restrictions on data center construction. According to city documents, data centers are prohibited unless explicitly approved within a planned area development zoning district. Ancillary data centers that support a primary property use may be permitted under special circumstances. Operators or property owners must notify residents within a half-mile radius of their intent to build a data center. The city also requires two mandatory neighborhood meetings to discuss sound mitigation design, and data centers must incorporate measures to prevent excessive noise, officials said.
The council initially tabled the data center ordinance following a November 10 discussion after Cameron Carter, an attorney with Rose Law Group, raised concerns about ambiguity in the draft ordinance and the potential impairment of property owners’ development rights, according to meeting minutes. The ordinance was revised to address these concerns prior to its approval on Monday.
The Chandler City Council also approved adjustments to a major contract with Intel related to infrastructure funding near Intel’s Ocotillo campus expansion. Officials confirmed that the city may cover 20% of infrastructure costs in the area, with state participation expected to support the upgrades. This move aligns with the city’s ongoing efforts to support technology sector growth, according to council statements.
y investments under the “Innovation at Work” theme, city budget documents show. More than $40 million is allocated to maintain or enhance service levels, including new Community Safety positions. The budget also includes a 10-year, $1.96 billion investment in Capital Improvement Projects covering streets, parks, fiber, and utilities. The operating budget increased 23.8% due to inflation, personnel costs, and technology infrastructure expenses. Additionally, $73 million is committed to paying off the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System’s unfunded liability.
Chandler’s recent development activity includes industrial expansions, such as a 2.9-acre expansion at the FALCO Aluminum manufacturing campus at 1350 S. 56th St., completed by Primak Construction Group. This project involved paving, landscaping, and upgraded stormwater infrastructure as part of a Phase II development, according to company statements. While no direct $50 million tech park development had been publicly documented prior to Monday’s approval, these projects underscore the city’s active industrial and technology-related growth.
Regional construction activity remains robust, with projects such as Sunbelt Investment Holdings Inc.’s 363-unit multifamily development in Phoenix, and Gorman & Company’s $50 million rehabilitation of Tucson House funded by a HUD Choice Neighborhoods grant. In Mesa, Sun State Builders recently began work on the ATLAS Exchange Building D, a 40,000-square-foot build-to-suit project in the Eastmark Corridor, industry sources confirmed.
The Chandler City Council’s unanimous consent agenda approval demonstrates a strong consensus on development policies supporting technology growth while balancing community input. The city’s data center regulations emphasize resident notification and sound mitigation, reflecting efforts to address neighborhood concerns. The council’s actions follow prior discussions and revisions aimed at clarifying zoning rights and development parameters.
Officials said the next steps include finalizing development plans for The District Downtown and coordinating with stakeholders to ensure compliance with zoning and community engagement requirements. The city’s ongoing infrastructure investments and policy updates are intended to support Chandler’s growth as a regional technology hub, according to city planning documents.
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