A major BNSF rail development project in Arizona moved forward after receiving approval from the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission on November 7th. This is a significant step forward for the planned $3.2 billion Logistics Park Phoenix, which will span more than 4,300 acres. It will now be up to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to take the final vote, which is scheduled for Dec. 11, according to reports. ABC15.
The commission’s recommendations specifically seek amendments to 839 acres to address a previous planning oversight that inadvertently omitted this portion of land from the designated industrial area in the White Tank Grand Avenue District Plan. It is said that Following the supervisor’s vote, groundwork will continue with BNSF on another zoning case, with progress expected in spring 2025. ABC15.
Nevertheless, the project has drawn scrutiny from local leaders and residents, especially those within the Surprise area. The project aims to introduce an intermodal freight hub and logistics park with 18 million square feet of warehouse space, with concerns expressed over the anticipated strain on infrastructure, traffic congestion and potential stress on water resources. is causing. phoenix business journal.
In a written statement, Surprise Mayor-elect Kevin Sartor highlighted concerns about overwhelming existing transportation infrastructure. “While we recognize the potential economic benefits this facility could bring, we are deeply concerned about the strain it will place on existing transportation infrastructure that is already unable to meet the demands of a growing community.” he said. phoenix business journal. As expected, the BNSF project could see up to 22,749 trips involving cars and trucks by 2038, but the associated transportation study does not fully account for the region’s projected growth. has been criticized as such.
