Z250007 PZ Handout Memo

Maricopa County — Planning & Zoning (2025-07-24)

Extracted text (via pymupdf) 15765 characters

DATE:
July 22, 2025
TO:
Planning & Zoning Commission
From:
Joel Landis, Planner
SUBJECT:
Z250007 – Sierra Luna BESS Facility
Agenda Item: 3
Since the publishing of the staff report for this item, staff has received an additional letter of
support from a neighboring resident of the proposed facility, which is attached to this memo. The
total support and opposition for this item is as-follows:
5 in support
0 in opposition
Attachments:
Support Letter and Affidavit (14 pages)

April 15, 2025

Maricopa County
Planning and Development Department
301 W. Jefferson Suite 170
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Re:
Letter of Support for Case No. Z250007 (Located North and East of Avondale
Boulevard and Broadway Road)

Dear Planning and Development Department,

Please accept this letter of support for the Zone Change with Overlay Case No. Z250007 regarding
the proposed battery development located north and east of Avondale Boulevard and Broadway
Road, Maricopa County Parcel Nos. 101-23-012E, 101-23-002F, 101-23-012D, and 101-23-012C.
We own the properties located at 11230 W. Broadway Rd and 4123 S. 113th Avenue, Tolleson,
AZ (Parcel Nos. 101-23-007B and 101-23-007D) which are located adjacent to the east of the
proposed rezoning site and battery facility. We have been in contact with Stuart Coles with Plus
Power, who has continued to provide information regarding this rezoning case and
development. We were able to get our questions answered regarding the proposed development
and after review of the request, and we are in support of rezoning this property from RU-43 to
IND-2 with an IUPD (Industrial Unit Plan of Development). I also am grateful for the setbacks
provided by Plus Power so that the closest battery is at a minimum 150 feet away from the
buildings on my properties. Mr. Coles and his team have ensured this will be a compatible
development for the area.

Very truly yours,

Lorenzo and Tracy Gonzalez

Tracy Gonzalez
Lorenzo Gonzalez

One Renaissance Square
Two North Central Avenue
Suite 600
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-2322
602-229-5200
Fax 602-229-5690
www.quarles.com
Writer's Direct Dial: 602-229-5683
E-Mail: Benjamin.Graﬀ@quarles.com
AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLIC OUTREACH
My name is Ben Graff with the law firm of Quarles and Brady LLP. Quarles represents Sierra Luna Energy
Storage LLC (“Applicant”) in their request to rezone the 18.5-acre site located North of the Northeast corner
of Avondale Boulevard and Broadway Road, Maricopa County Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 101-23-012E, 101-
23-002F, 101-23-012D, and 101-23-012C (the “Property”) from Rural-43 to Light Industrial with an
Industrial Unit Plan of Development Overlay (Case No. Z250007), for a battery energy storage use.
The two closest neighboring property owners are Lorenzo Jesus Gonzalez (4123 S 113th Ave Tolleson
85353) and Jaime and Maria Martinez (11402 W Broadway Rd Tolleson 85353). See Attached at Tab A.
The purpose of this affidavit’ is to detail and attest to the outreach efforts made to the Martinez and Gonzalez
families.
On February 5th, 2025 and on March 28, 2025, a notification letter written in both English and Spanish was
provided to all owners within 300 feet of the Applicant’s Property, including both the Martinez and Gonzalez
families. See Attached at Tab B. A neighborhood meeting was held in the Avondale Ballroom of the Hilton
Garden Inn on the evening of Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the project with all
interested parties. The Property has also been posted, and additional public hearing notices went out.
In addition to the above outreach efforts required by Maricopa County, the Applicant flew out to Avondale
and met in person with Ettien Martinez (son of Jaime and Maria Martinez, representative for the family,
and current resident in the southern property) on:
•
April 7, 2025
•
June 17, 2025
Additionally, the Applicant also had numerous phone calls with the Martinez family to provide project
updates and key information. The Martinez family was also invited to the Sierra Luna neighborhood
meeting on February 20, 2025, but did not attend.
Lastly, Applicant had several meetings with the Gonzalez family, which has resulted in a support letter that
was submitted and is included in the case file for Case No. Z250007. See Attached at Tab C.
I, ___________________________, being the authorized agent for the Maricopa County planning case
referenced above, do hereby affirm that the above information accurately reflects the outreach efforts made
by applicant to certain property owners named above that are within 300 feet of the subject planning
case/project.
___________________
Benjamin Graff
Quarles & Brady LLP
Benjamin Graff

TAB A- Aerial Map with Martinez and Gonzalez Property Labeled

TAB B- March 28 Public Notification Letter

TAB C- Gonzalez Family Letter of Support

TAB A

LABELED AERIAL MAP
Sierra Luna
Project
Martinez
Family
Gonzalez
Family

TAB B

QB\95389255.1
Plus Power Services LLC
1780 Hughes Landing Blvd, Suite 675
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
P: 480-685-9811
pluspower.com
1
March 28, 2025

Re: Sierra Luna Energy Storage LLC (“Applicant”): Zone Change with Overlay Case No. Z250007 Located
North of the Northeast Corner of Avondale Boulevard and Broadway Road.

Dear Property Owner or Neighborhood Association Representative:
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that a request for a Zone Change with Overlay on behalf of
Sierra Luna Energy Storage LLC, (“Applicant”), a subsidiary of Plus Power LLC (“Plus Power”), was filed for
an approximately 18.5-acre site located North of the Northeast corner of Avondale Boulevard and
Broadway Road, Maricopa County Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 101-23-012E, 101-23-002F, 101-23-012D, and
101-23-012C (the “Property”). The request is to rezone the Property from Rural-43 to Light Industrial with
an Industrial Unit Plan of Development Overlay (“IND-2 IUPD”) (Case No. Z250007), for a battery energy
storage use. See Vicinity Map below.
As required by the Maricopa
County Zoning Ordinance,
this notice is being sent to
provide
you
with
an
opportunity to be introduced
to our team and provide a
means
to
ask
us
any
questions
regarding
the
proposed rezoning case and
development.

The purpose of the rezoning
case is to allow a 150-
megawatt/1,200-megawatt-
hour
standalone
battery
energy
storage
system
(“BESS”) development with a proposed Point of Delivery at the existing 230-kilovolt Rudd Substation co-
owned by Salt River Project (“SRP”) and Arizona Public Service. The BESS facility, referred to as “Sierra
Luna Energy Storage”, will contract with and serve SRP and is anticipated to begin construction in 2028
with a planned in-service date in 2029.

Sierra Luna Energy Storage will be a low-profile BESS facility with stand-alone storage housings utilizing
advanced technology batteries and control systems to deliver more reliable energy to Arizona customers.
Each housing will contain battery modules and associated equipment, including power conversion, a
battery monitoring system, required fire prevention technology, and metering. The project will include an
8-foot masonry wall around the site (similar to walls in nearby residential areas) shielding interior

QB\95389255.1
2
enclosures from view from Avondale Boulevard and Broadway Road along with providing enhanced site
security.

The Applicant is working with Maricopa County, Rural Metro Fire Department, and the City of Avondale,
to ensure multiple safety and planned maintenance measures are incorporated into the development and
operations. The Sierra Luna Energy Storage is essential to the stability of the electrical grid in the West
Valley as it increases local area capacity for electrical system reliability and provides SRP and local
residents continuous access to a cleaner, more reliable energy mix.

The Maricopa County Planner assigned to this case is Joel Landis and can be reached at
Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov or via phone at 602-506-8358. Mr. Landis can also answer your questions
regarding the County’s review and hearing processes as well as the staff position once the County’s report
is complete. You may also make your feelings known on this case by writing to the Maricopa County
Planning and Development Department at 301 W. Jefferson St. #170 Phoenix, AZ 85003, referencing the
case number Z250007. Your letter will be made part of the case files.

Please be advised this is not a notice of a public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission and
Board of Supervisors. Specific meeting and hearing dates have not yet been set. You will receive a
subsequent notice identifying the date and location of the meeting/hearings when they have been
scheduled.

Again, we would be happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding this proposal. You may
reach us by contacting Ben Graff at Benjamin.Graff@Quarles.com or via phone at 602-229-5683.

Attachments: Aerial and Zoning Map

QB\95389255.1

Plus Power Services LLC
1780 Hughes Landing Blvd, Suite 675
Los Bosques, Texas 77380
Teléfono: 480-685-9811
pluspower.com

28 de marzo de 2025

Re: Sierra Luna Energy Storage LLC ("Solicitante"): Cambio de Zona con Superposición Caso No. Z250007
ubicado al norte de la esquina noreste de Avondale Boulevard y Broadway Road.

Estimado propietario o representante de la asociación de vecinos:

El propósito de esta carta es informarle que se presentó una solicitud de Cambio de Zona con
Superposición en nombre de Sierra Luna Energy Storage LLC, ("Solicitante"), una subsidiaria de Plus Power
LLC ("Plus Power"), para un sitio de aproximadamente 18.5 acres ubicado al norte de la esquina noreste
de Avondale Boulevard y Broadway Road, Parcela del Tasador del Condado de Maricopa Nos. 101-23-
012E, 101-23-002F, 101-23-012D y 101-23-012C (la "Propiedad"). La solicitud es para rezonificar la
propiedad de Rural-43 a Industrial Ligera con un Plan de Desarrollo de Unidad Industrial Superpuesto
("IND-2 IUPD") (Caso No. Z250007), para un uso de almacenamiento de energía en baterías. Ve el mapa
de vecindad a continuación.

Como
lo
requiere
la
Ordenanza de Zonificación
del Condado de Maricopa,
este aviso se envía para
brindarle la oportunidad de
ser presentado a nuestro
equipo y proporcionar un
medio
para
hacernos
cualquier pregunta sobre el
caso
y
desarrollo
de
rezonificación propuesto.

El propósito del caso de
rezonificación es permitir el
desarrollo de un sistema de
almacenamiento de energía
de batería independiente ("BESS") de 150 megavatios/1,200 megavatios-hora con un punto de entrega
propuesto en la subestación Rudd existente de 230 kilovoltios, copropiedad de Salt River Project ("SRP")
y Arizona Public Service. La instalación de BESS, denominada "Almacenamiento de Energía Sierra Luna",
se contratará y prestará servicio a SRP y se prevé que comience a construirse en 2028 con una fecha de
entrada en servicio prevista para 2029.

Sierra Luna Energy Storage será una instalación BESS de bajo perfil con carcasas de almacenamiento
independientes que utilizan baterías de tecnología avanzada y sistemas de control para entregar energía
más confiable a los clientes de Arizona. Cada carcasa contendrá módulos de batería y equipos asociados,
incluida la conversión de energía, un sistema de monitoreo de baterías, la tecnología de prevención de

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incendios requerida y medición. El proyecto incluirá un muro de mampostería de 8 pies alrededor del sitio
(similar a los muros en las áreas residenciales cercanas) que protegerá los recintos interiores de la vista
desde Avondale Boulevard y Broadway Road, además de proporcionar una mayor seguridad al sitio.

El Solicitante está trabajando con el Condado de Maricopa, el Departamento de Bomberos de Rural Metro
y la Ciudad de Avondale, para garantizar que se incorporen múltiples medidas de seguridad y
mantenimiento planificadas en el desarrollo y las operaciones. El almacenamiento de energía de Sierra
Luna es esencial para la estabilidad de la red eléctrica en West Valley, ya que aumenta la capacidad del
área local para la confiabilidad del sistema eléctrico y proporciona a SRP y a los residentes locales acceso
continuo a una combinación de energía más limpia y confiable.

El Planificador del Condado de Maricopa asignado a este caso es Joel Landis y puede ser contactado al
Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov o por teléfono al 602-506-8358. El Sr. Landis también puede responder a sus
preguntas sobre los procesos de revisión y audiencia del Condado, así como la posición del personal una
vez que se complete el informe del Condado. También puede mandar una carta para dar su opinion
sobre este caso escribiendo al Departamento de Planificación y Desarrollo del Condado de Maricopa
en 301 W. Jefferson St. #170 Phoenix, AZ 85003, haciendo referencia al número de caso Z250007. Su carta
formará parte de los expedientes del caso.

Tenga en cuenta que esto no es un aviso de una audiencia pública con la Comisión de Planificación y
Zonificación y la Junta de Supervisores. Todavia no hay fechas específicas para las reuniones y audiencias.
Recibirá un aviso posterior que identificará la fecha y el lugar de la reunión/audiencias cuando se hayan
programado.

Estaremos encantados de contestar cualquier pregunta que pueda tener con respecto a esta propuesta.
Puede comunicarse con nosotros comunicándose con Ben Graff al Benjamin.Graff@Quarles.com o por
teléfono al 602-229-5683.

Adjuntos: Mapa Aéreo y de Zonificación

W. BroadwayRoad
Sierra Luna
Mapa de Ubicación
Límites de la rezonificación
del condado IND-2 con IUPD
S. 113thAvenue
Instalación de
agua existente
S. Avondale Boulevard
LEYENDA DE MAPA