Wittmann residents celebrate recent vote rejecting BNSF’s attempt to rezone land for $3.2B railway hub BY SERENA O'SULLIVAN KTAR News Reporter and Editor PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors recently rejected a zoning change request made by a massive corporation seeking to create a $3.2 billion railway logistics hub in Wittmann, a rural community about 35 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix. The railroad operator, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, which is chaired by Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest men on Earth. The company sought multiple delays, but the board denied its latest request and held the vote on Wednesday, unanimously rejecting BNSF’s Intermodal Comprehensive Plan Amendment, which proposed changing the land use north of U.S. 60 between 211th and 235th avenues from single-family to mixed-use development. “I believe economic vitality depends on a shared commitment between taxpayers and business to strengthen and expand the community infrastructure needed for growth,” Thomas Galvin, the board’s chair, said in a Wednesday news release. “Without the necessary infrastructure in place, I cannot support a land use designation change at this time.” What does this mean for the BNSF railway hub project in Wittmann? The proposed 4,320-acre facility would have been the largest intermodal facility in the nation, according to Keep Us Rural LLC, a group of Wittmann residents who have long resisted the project. One member of the group, Kirby Anderson, celebrated the board’s vote at a local eatery. “What we’ve done in Wittmann today is protect the citizens for future generations,” Anderson told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “The significance of this vote today was that Debbie Lesko, Chairman Galvin and the rest of the Board of Supervisors heard the voice of the people.” MORE: https://ktar.com/arizona-business/bnsf-railway-hub-wittmann/5771051/
There were a few people on here saying this was a done deal. Gladly, there were many more speaking to our county supervisors against it. I'm not naive enough to think it is over for sure - but it's a good battle win.
