A small area on the outskirts of the Valley could see massive industrial growth in the coming years.
A 1,314-acre master-planned development comprised of state trust and privately owned land in Tonopah, a rural community located west of Buckeye, was once slated for mostly residential growth.
But with plans for multiple master-planned communities nearby, an Interstate 11 and limited water, most of the site, called Hidden Waters Ranch, could see commercial and industrial development, according to documents submitted to Maricopa County. The overall property is located between 339th and 351st avenues and I-10 and Buckeye Road in Tonopah.
In March, the Maricopa County planning commission recommended approval to redesignate and rezone about 200 acres of privately owned land from residential to industrial. The county said the items will be voted on by the Board of Supervisors on April 20.
Austin-based RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture applied for the redesignation and rezoning on behalf of landowner 339th & I-10 LLC, which is connected to Scottsdale-based Emmerson Holdings.
If approved, this would add to the 400-plus acres already zoned for industrial development within Hidden Waters Ranch.
The original master plan was approved by the county Board of Supervisors in 2007. The area mostly consists of vacant land, scattered homes and a truck stop, county documents said. It comprises 660 acres of state trust land.
In anticipation of I-11, which would run from Nogales to Nevada and be within 10 miles of Hidden Waters Ranch, RVi Planning said this sets up the area to become a major industrial hub for the West Valley.
“The current market in this part of Maricopa County is strong for large industrial users as it is primely located in the Phoenix metro with excellent roadway access,” documents submitted to the county said. “The current site provides the capability to serve both water and sewer more favorably to industrial users versus residential development.”
The proposed 37,000-acre Douglas Ranch community, which is slated for 300,000 residents if built, will also be located about 10 miles north of Hidden Waters Ranch.
Documents submitted to the city said Global Water Resources is installing major infrastructure like sewer and water along 339th Avenue through the master planned area, which is expected to stay within Maricopa County planning jurisdiction.
The county said it received one letter opposing any form of development in the area, while two others at a neighborhood meeting said they would like it to remain a rural area but expected development to reach Tonopah, RVi Planning said at the March planning commission meeting.
Tonopah has continued to attract land investors and developers in the past several years. Last year, Phoenix-based Vermaland started efforts to develop a 1,100-acre master-planned community in Tonopah, which will include 2,500 single-family homes, 500 multifamily units and commercial and industrial space.
Glendale-based Mangat Group also has plans to build at least 2 million square feet of industrial facilities on about 200 acres near 339th Avenue and Roosevelt Street and at least 1 million square feet of industrial space on about 150 acres near 355th Avenue and Van Buren Street.
Just west of Tonopah, Recurrent Energy is proposing a massive energy storage facility, which will be comprised of 2,800 acres and is expected to be fully operational by 2023.
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