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Pima County: Major Building and construction Plans
Project Blue 290-acre Data Center
Project Blue 290-acre Data Center
Project Blue 290-acre Data Center
Pima County recently approved the sale and rezoning of land needed to support Project Blue, a $3.6 billion data center, on a 290-acre campus, slated for construction southeast of Tucson. (Thank you District 3 Supervisor Jen Allen and the District 5 Supervisor Andres Cano for their "No" votes!)
However, for the project to begin, the City of Tucson must annex the land into city limits so that the Tucson Water utility can provide water.
That means the Mayor & City Council must approve the plan as well, and the ball is now in their court.
This controversial plan to build a large campus of data centers (a total of three county wide) for an undisclosed big tech company raises many red flags. For one, why is the “big tech company” undisclosed? Secondly, the Project Blue team has not revealed how much water or electricity will be used.
When asked for additional details and specific information, elected officials can’t get good answers, and they are bound by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by sharing much of what little they do know.
Click any link below to learn more!
Project Blue: An Analysis - Google Docs
Tucson Mountains Association: Project Blue Energy and Water Use Alert.
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection Project Blue: The facts and our concerns.
Watershed Management Group | Working together towards sustainable solutions
City of Benson’s Aluminum Plant
Project Blue 290-acre Data Center
Project Blue 290-acre Data Center
The +200-acre, 170,000sf industrial building plant is planned for AZ Highway 80 across from 7th street in Benson and extends to the San Pedro River.
The 24/7 plant projected to process 300,000 tons of aluminum annually. Aluminum production has significant environmental impacts, primarily due to the energy-intensive processes involved in mining bauxite and refining it into aluminum, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, mining can lead to habitat destruction, water pollution from runoff, risk of human contamination, air pollution, loud industrial traffic, and noise.
To get an idea of how the plant could impact the area and a community, watch this video.
This is no joke folks! It must be stopped.
- Click here to learn how the citizens of Benson are rallying to overturn this project.
- Click here to sign a petition to SAVE Our Health & Our River from Industrial Harm in Benson, AZ.
- Click here to view local residents voice their concerns during Herald Review interview.
Public Meeting Scheduled
An AZ Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) informational meeting is scheduled for Monday July 28 6-9pm at the Benson School District cafeteria/ community room located at 360 S. Patagonia Street, Benson.
ADEQ Air and Water staff who will answer your questions in real time.
Please attend, ask questions, and express your concerns. Support our neighbors and friends in Benson!
Linda Vista 52 Annexing
Project Blue 290-acre Data Center
Private Airfield expansion: Marana
The Linda Vista 52 Annexation Plan includes three parcels intended to bring:
- 13 three-story apartment buildings (306 units)
- 142 single- and two-story houses as noted in the above photo.
This high-density development threatens the important Riparian Area (IRA), natural Sonoran Desert wildlife, and essential watershed, including a large wash in a mostly designated floodplain, located in the Tortolita Fan—just over a mile from the Santa Cruz River. Nearby parcels are protected for pygmy owl habitat.
Since the proposed annexation threatens water, flora, and wildlife in the area, the LDA feels this is an important issue that needs to be shared throughout our community, so everyone is aware. Regardless of where we reside, when our environment is threatened, and a community needs support, we all need to act.
The actual vote for the annexation is sometime in August, but De Bray and others in the area are attending scheduled council meetings until then to pressure the council to vote NO. They are asking residents in surrounding communities to attend and support them as well.
This is more than just an annexation—it’s a battle for environmental preservation. We need urgent support to oppose this destructive plan. Please share this information.
Write to Marana Town Council ask them to vote NO on this annexation!
Council Bios - Town of Marana, AZ
Pima County Review and Comments
Private Airfield expansion: Marana
Private Airfield expansion: Marana
Private Airfield expansion: Marana
410 Acre Private Airfield Construction proposed north of Manville Rd. in Marana.
On Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, more than two dozen neighboring property owners and other interested community members attended a public meeting presented by Lazarus & Silvyn, P.C. (LSPC).
The meeting was scheduled to share information about Marana Tactical Flight, LLC’s, intent to construct a private airfield on approximately 410 acres of undeveloped land on property located north of Manville Rd., in Marana. According to the LSPC meeting notice, the airfield would be built to serve as a "backup facility for the parachuting instruction and training program serving U.S. and allied military, currently occurring at Marana Regional Airport."
The after presentation, Q&A lasted well over an hour as residents’ voiced concerns over noise, traffic, flights per day, environmental impact, flood plan impact, hours of operation, future growth, trespassing by parachutist blown off course, night operations, military personal and equipment operations near and on private property, emergency preparedness/response, and much more.
LSPC did their best to answer questions, but many times were vague, non-committal, and/or unsure. They promised to investigate each concern and provide reference to each in a revised plan.
Next steps are as follows (conditions and events can change any of these dates):
TYPE III CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) PROCESS:
- Conditional Use permit (CUP) Submittal (estimated mid-July 2025).
- Staff Review (July - September 2025).
- Aviation Review Committee (July – September 2025).
- Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (estimated September/October 2025) Public opportunity to review in advance, to attend and speak at this meeting.
- Board of Supervisors meeting (estimated October/November 2025). Public opportunity to review in advance, to attend and speak at this meeting.
Click here to review the LSPV Power Point presentation.
Click here to review LDA's June 26th newsletter containing additional information and community insight.
Additional Information:
Christina Mc Vie, President of the Community Water Coalition of Southern Arizona, shares her concern that the entire parcel lies within the Conservation Lands System area and within a flood control resource / flood hazard area. Mc Vie raises important issues that need to be vetted as part of any plan to develop this area.
Click here to read her entire response.
Ironwood Forest Nat'l Monument
Private Airfield expansion: Marana
Santa Rita Mount. Open Pit mine
For 25 years, this stretch of 129,000 acres of the Sonoran Desert north of Tucson, Arizona, has been protected as a haven for scientific research, and a buffer against the expansion of existing or new mines to the area. But the monument’s protections may be reduced in size to make way for more development and extraction due to copper mining interests in the area and the lack of protection by the current federal administration.
Ironwood Forest—named the Ironwood tree that’s famed for its centuries-long lifespan and vital importance to the Sonoran Desert ecosystem— must be protected.
On April 28, 2025, Friends of Ironwood Forest (Ironwood Forest), in collaboration with Archaeology Southwest and the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, issued a press release addressing alarming news reports that the current administration is preparing to reduce the size of several national monuments, including Ironwood Forest National Monument.
Although no official action has yet been taken, they believe it is critical to act swiftly. Friends of Ironwood Forest is working to raise public awareness and send a clear message to decision-makers: "Ironwood Forest National Monument is an irreplaceable ecological and cultural treasure, vital to the health of the Sonoran Desert and deeply valued by the community.
We are committed to ensuring that Ironwood Forest remains protected for future generations."
Read the press release here.
The Living Desert Alliance will work closely with environmental organizations such as the Friends of the Ironwood Forest to stop any action that would reduce the footprint of this amazing desert forest.
Santa Rita Mount. Open Pit mine
Private Airfield expansion: Marana
Santa Rita Mount. Open Pit mine
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is currently reviewing a permit from Hudbay's Copper World mining complex. This project is for the construction and operation of an open-pit copper mine (26 square miles) located in and around the pristine Santa Rita Mountains in Pima County, Arizona.
This 20-year “Copper World-Rosemont” open pit mining plan, if approved, will destroy the Northern Santa Rita Mountains changing, its majestic appearance forever and contaminating surrounding environment and communities. Approximately 2.5 miles of the mountain top will be removed forever as well as surrounding land, leaving tons of poisonous tailings, a contaminated water table and unhealthy air quality lasting generations.
Click below to learn more:
Save the Santa Rita Mtns | Living Desert Alliance