The plan for a massive freight rail facility proposed by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway in the northwest Valley hit a roadblock when the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted against a land-use change connected to the project. The controversial facility, slated to span approximately 4,300 acres near Wittmann, has been the center of contention among residents and officials wary of the project’s potential impact on traffic and the regional infrastructure.
According to a statement from Maricopa County officials, BNSF's request aimed to reclassify a section of land from Single Family Rural to Mixed Use Employment. The decision was seen as a victory by many locals. Laura Deaver, a Wittmann resident, expressed her relief, "I promised my daughter that I would save our home, and that's exactly what we're doing." Kirby Anderson, another local opponent, praised the democratic process, "It's encouraging that today in society, the voice of the residents can be heard, and the Board of Supervisors listens to the residents, listens to the masses and they do what they were elected to do. That is outstanding," Anderson told FOX 10 Phoenix.
On the flip side of the ongoing debate, a BNSF spokesperson, Lena Kent, suggested that the denial of the amendment was due to an error made by the county, and not the end of the project. "The decision today was really about a [Comprehensive Plan] amendment that should've been a minor amendment based on a mistake made by county staff," Kent said, claiming that the project is far from dead and will proceed through standard rezoning processes, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Supervisor Debbie Lesko underscored concerns about the already burdened traffic infrastructure, and the denial was partly based on these worries. "the additional traffic that this site is estimated to produce. [The] Grand Avenue and Loop 303 area are already near or at traffic capacity," Lesko told KJZZ. Despite the Board's decision, Susan Demmitt, an attorney representing BNSF, maintained a forward-looking stance on behalf of the company, "Either of those actions today does not stop the project from moving forward. It doesn’t create clarity for the community," Demmitt urged the board members during the proposal presentation.
