DJ Greg Brummer
Keeping Sun City Informed: Next Steps for Review of Massive Rail Hub
SCHOA recently sent an email to alert Sun City residents about a proposed BNSF Railway Intermodal Rail Hub with several links to details and ways to share your voice. You can read that email in full here.
Railway operates the railroad tracks that run through Sun City on Grand Avenue. The company purchased about 800 acres of land in 2004 in Wittmann, an unincorporated community in Maricopa County located just off of Grand Ave./US 60 northwest of Sun City. Since, they have acquired 3,500 more adjacent acres of land to build what would reportedly become the hub the largest in the nation. As an 'intermodal' station, it would facilitate the transfer of commerce between trains and semi-trucks which would use local roadways/highways in addition to the railway routes to and from the region.
As your advocate, we feel it's important that we share information about this project with our members to empower and inform you.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet on August 20, 2025, to consider approval of the Comprehensive Plan for the original 800 acres. This is a crucial first step that lays the foundation for future development and zoning, and approval requires a 3/5 majority vote. If you would like to share your opinion with the County Supervisors - including our own District 4 Supervisor, Debbie Lesko, the contacts are below:
District 1 Supervisor Mark Stewart
District 2 Supervisor Thomas Galvin
District 3 Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee
District 4 Supervisor Debbie Lesko
District 5 Supervisor Steve Gallardo
In addition to review of the Comprehensive Plan, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will review requests for zoning changes for the rest of the BNSF property, which includes requests for designations for large warehouses and industrial uses - a sharp contrast to the current zoning of one house per acre. As of now, it is uncertain if this zoning case will be included on the August agenda. There are several factors that could impact the process and next steps after the county meets.
In addition to writing to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, you can reach out to state officials to share your voice. Our County Supervisor Debbie Lesko has suggested the following:
Put your comments in writing—emails or letters must include your name and address to become part of the official public record.
Send your opinions to your elected officials:
Rep. Beverly Pingerelli: bpingerelli@azleg.gov
Rep. David Livingston: dlivingston@azleg.gov
Sen. Frank Carroll: fcarroll@azleg.gov
Click here to read our prior email with more details about the following links:
Details and Opposition Petition: Click here.
West Valley/BNSF Railroad Forum Facebook Page: Click here.
Save Arizona Cowboy Culture: Click here.
Both Facebook pages are public and can be read without logging in to Facebook
The Lost Cowboys Videos
BNSF FAQ's
BNSF has published its own page featuring the project FAQ's here.
Got a question, comment, or suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Get in touch with SCHOA via phone, email, or social media.
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