BNSF Railway has started clearing and grading a slice of desert near Wittmann for its massive Logistics Park Phoenix project, even though Maricopa County has not yet signed off on the zoning changes the railroad needs for the full buildout. The early work, which BNSF says is limited in scope, covers roughly 350 acres along the southwest edge of its holdings near 235th Avenue and U.S. 60. The dirt work ups the ante in a months-long showdown between the railroad, county leaders and residents who are already on edge about traffic, water and the future of the rural northwestern Valley.
In a statement to The Arizona Republic, BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent said the company has begun initial grading while it continues to chase required approvals. The Republic reports that the activity is focused on the southwest corner of BNSF’s land near 235th Avenue and U.S. 60 and that the project still does not have county zoning approval in hand.
Project Scope And Timeline
BNSF’s project website describes Logistics Park Phoenix as a roughly 4,321-acre campus combining a 1,770-acre intermodal terminal, a 1,420-acre logistics park and a 1,131-acre logistics center, according to BNSF’s FAQ. The site says early construction activities were anticipated in late 2025, with initial operations targeted for 2028, framing the current grading as part of the front-end site work for the long-term build.
County And Local Opposition
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted in November to deny a comprehensive plan amendment tied to the project, citing traffic and infrastructure worries, as reported by KJZZ. Supervisors said Grand Avenue and Loop 303 are already near capacity, which became a central factor in their rejection.
The City of Surprise had already signaled its opposition. In October, the city formally came out against rezoning for the hub and passed a resolution warning of “substantial unmitigated risk” to services and quality of life, according to “substantial unmitigated risk” coverage. Neighbors have held meetings, circulated petitions and argued the hub would permanently alter Wittmann’s rural character.
Traffic And Preemption Questions
Project documents and outside analyses point to a big traffic footprint. Axios reported projections of about 22,000 daily vehicle trips, including roughly 6,600 truck trips, numbers that county supervisors highlighted as a major red flag. Axios also noted that BNSF and some legal analysts say federal preemption over rail operations could allow parts of an intermodal terminal to proceed even if local land-use approvals are ultimately denied.
Land Buys And On-The-Ground Moves
BNSF has been quietly expanding its footprint around the proposed hub. The Real Deal reported that the railroad bought about 56 acres in January and has spent more than $9 million on 14 parcels and several homes adjacent to its land. A BNSF spokesperson told the Business Journal that some of those purchases involved willing sellers whose homes were nearly surrounded by property the railroad already owned.
Legal Implications
Maricopa County’s public notice shows the comprehensive plan amendment request is moving through a formal hearing process and that the county remains the primary gatekeeper for land-use changes in unincorporated areas, according to the county’s official bulletin. At the same time, federal rail law and BNSF’s rights as a property owner raise hard questions about how far local governments can go in blocking rail-related activity, so the fight may ultimately unfold through hearings, appeals or negotiations that pull in state and federal regulators…