CPA2024006 BOS REPORT_11-5-25PART-33.PDF
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This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook Fw: BNSF Train traffic and 303 Grand noise From Debra Lesko <Debbie.Lesko@maricopa.gov> Date Tue 5/27/2025 7:51 AM To Bill Leal (DOT) <Bill.Leal@Maricopa.Gov> 2 attachments (3 MB) IMG_0358.jpeg; IMG_0324.jpeg; Bill, Send this man my BNSF response and forward his concerns to Planning and Development. Deb From: Bill Tunison Sent: Monday, May 26, 2025 8:32 PM To: Debra Lesko Subject: BNSF Train traffic and 303 Grand noise I’m appealing to all residents of Sun City West and The Grand to take a serious look at the Intermodal Facility that BNSF railroad is trying to put in east of Wittmann. This does concern you BIG TIME!! Imagine what a 4,200-acre rail hub facility would do to all the housing developments east and south of Wittmann and the surrounding areas such as Surprise, Sun City, and Sun City West? Traffic is a big concern on the 60, 303, 74 and even I17. Think about all those trucks on the road! Water contamination is another big question. Other concerns include air pollution, noise, crime, hazardous material spills, hazardous materials fires, a strain on emergency services, and declining property values. Please watch these videos and subscribe to their channel (Save Arizona Cowboy Culture on Facebook).Then send your objection letter to Debbie Lesko, your County Supervisor. This is all about greed by our state and county officials - they are not protecting their constituents!! My response and input I live one street of of Grand just down from RH Johnson four years ago it was a couple of trains in the morning and a couple in the evening. Now it is 12 to 14 a day 7 days a week one will come in south bound and another will go North about 10 min later they will park with 3 to 4 engines running from 30 min to up to 3 hours the floor vibrates and I have new cracks in the patio and inside the home. My hearing aids if I’m outside shutdown to protect my hearing or that what VA is telling me. They turned off that feature. Don’t get me wrong I like trains and if they roll on the tracks it’s not long before a can hear again but they are using track as a yard to park trains and when the air pressure tanks release air pressure my dog freaks out. This wakes the entire household at 3 or 4 am. When the lights charge to green on Grand it’s like the Indy 500 everyone racing to the 303. The traffic at the 303 grand intersection is poor plans and a mess the backups are ridiculous at best. To make it livable they need to make grand a freeway and put noise control at least as good as the 303 lower the train tracks and but overpasses at Meeker , RHJohnson the two lights north of the 303 and improve the 303 Grand 60 intersections I know this does not help out the build out up north but to keep commerce running and the buildout from buckeye and the new direct link from the shipping yard in San Diego and another ship yard in LA to direct containers from ship to Phoenix they must improve Vibration and noise for higher density population areas. If not the governments and transportation company’s better lawyer up with what will hit them . They need to work with your community and make things right for you. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook Fw: BNSF From Debra Lesko <Debbie.Lesko@maricopa.gov> Date Tue 5/27/2025 7:54 AM To Bill Leal (DOT) <Bill.Leal@Maricopa.Gov> Bill, please send Bob my response and forward email to Planning and Development. Deb From: BOB OEHLERKING Sent: Monday, May 26, 2025 3:18 PM To: Debra Lesko Subject: BNSF I would like to voice my opposition to the proposed railway yard in Whitman. I am a resident of Sun City Grand and believe it would be a detriment to our quality of life. The transportation system is already strained and the additional truck traffic would make it almost unbearable. Thank You Robert Oehlerking 18854 N Summerbreeze Way Surprise, Az. 85374 Sent from my iPad This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Wed 8/13/2025 2:56 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Bonita Sullivan Email saibay340@hotmail.com Phone 8166991917 Address / City / State / Zip 15503 W Coral Pointe Dr Please leave your comments or questions below: At your request, I am writing my opinion on the BNSF hub in Wittman, Arizona. I live in Sun City Grand and use the 303 intersection & Grand (Hwy 60) this will affect my personal safety. I believe the rail companies need to expand and modernize. I have lived for three years in the area and experienced The Arizona, City of Surprise and Maricopa County construction project that occurred with the small road widening job needed for the retail and housing around 163rd Ave, Pat Tillman Road and 303/Grand project. I can NOT imagine an additional 22,000 tractor/trailer daily increase in traffic as a result of this BNSF expansion. The back up on 303 attempting to exit onto Grand was so dangerous for those not aware of the stopped traffic on 303 waiting for the signal lights that I stopped using that exit and entrance until the current construction project was completed. How do you imagine these additional 22,000 tractor/trailer would be anything less than a total and complete boondoggle. I worked in Kansas City, Missouri for my entire career close to a smaller version of this type of railyard that assembled trains with their cars. It was very noisy, completely filthy environment with serious safety issues with traincars versus moderate vehicle traffic issues but it was NOT a tractor/trailer hub. The only way this could NOT BE A DISASTER is if the roads were constructed before the railway hub was completed and the 22,000 additional tractor/trailers showing up at the facility, maybe they need a dedicated exit and entrance onto the 303 interchange. This does not even address the residents in Wittman who are afraid of the hub but after reading your email I am worried for them also. Sincerely Bonita Sullivan Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Thu 6/5/2025 5:53 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Bonnie Angster Email ablstory64@gmail.com Phone 623-734-6877 Address / City / State / Zip 10824 W. Peoria, Sun City AZ 85351 Please leave your comments or questions below: As a resident in the West Valley I am opposed to the BNSF terminal to be buildt at the crossroads of Grand Ave and the 303. The opposition focuses on the welfare for the community surrounding that tract of land. i. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Sun 7/13/2025 7:05 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Bonnie Spark Email bonnie1000@yahoo.com Phone 707-456-0454 Address / City / State / Zip 14231 W Franciscan Dr., Sun City West Please leave your comments or questions below: NO to BNSF project. I moved here for the quality of life. The Surprise area didn’t have the amenities of the East Valley communities but I was encouraged with the Prasada development, possibly IKEA, expanding Arts & Culture, the Community Park, the future park at the Dam, possible improvements in public transportation, access to hiking in the area, among other things. I implore you to reject the BNSF project. It will ruin the area with the increased traffic, pollution, decreased property values, etc. It would reverse this as an up and coming destination. I do not want to move. Traffic is already heavy and if BNSF is approved, heavy traffic from 60 will mean Sun City West/ R.H. Johnson/Meeker will become alternative routes. Please vote no. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 8/11/2025 9:05 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Brenda Kenney Email brendakenney55@gmail.com Phone 6232021123 Address / City / State / Zip 13926 W Whitewood Dr Please leave your comments or questions below: I am opposed to BSNF being allowed to move forward with building this so close to our city! For countless reasons. Property values will plummet, air quality worsened, already overflowing with traffic and this will greatly add to that, the noise and overall destruction of residential life will suffer. Please do not zone this project here. ! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 8/11/2025 7:36 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Brenda Nelson Email junkmail4me2shop@yahoo.com Phone 6236407803 Address / City / State / Zip 15962 W Creedance blvd surprise az 85387 Please leave your comments or questions below: I have huge concerns with the BNSF project. This entire area has 2 ways in and out and to add 22000 more vehicle trips including Semi trucks will be horrible for many reasons I am sure you have been made aware of. Why do they insist on that location? There is so much raw land north of Wickenburg that is wide open, that can service kingman and beyond. They can also build a dedicated road for Semitrucks much further west of the proposed area to go around and up further North to get to the project out of the city. There are parts of west Surprise that have desert dwellers that will Never be developed. They really need to find a location that is bare land that residential development will never be at. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Sun 8/17/2025 8:37 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Brian Ascetta Email b4ascetta@verizon.net Phone 631-972-4378 Address / City / State / Zip 15690 N Lakrforest DR/ Sun City/AZ/ 85351 Please leave your comments or questions below: I am not so much against BNSF building there logistic center and adding more local decent paying jobs but state and local government needs to understand the impact of increased train traffic and automobile traffic will have along Route 60. Will over passes have to be built for cars to cross Route 60 in order that traffic on Route 60 is not backed up, and who is paying for that construction, BSNF should be paying for part of that cost whether its up front or additional taxes. It should not be local or state taxpayers footing all of that cost. Also an impact statement regarding water usage and rainwater reclamation and electrical power usage needs to be understood in order for those authorities that provide those services know if and how they can meet the new demand for that BNSF facility. I read where they are expecting 8000 employees per shift at the new facility that will mean widening roads in the Wittman area to handle this traffic to minimize congestion on Route 60. Who's paying for that? These questions need to be well understood before BNSF can start expanding their facility and no outdated law from the 1800's should be the guiding factor for what happens in the 21st century if so the state and local government in Arizona is doing a disservice to the people that live here. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 8/11/2025 6:42 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Bruno Raes Email z16bruno@gmail.com Phone 2067867511 Address / City / State / Zip 20176 N Painted Cove Surprise AZ 85387 Please leave your comments or questions below: Please vote NO on the BNSF project in Wittman. We do not want the extra traffic congestion nor the huge industrial complex. Please help the Wittman community from getting “Railroaded”. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Sun 8/17/2025 10:52 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Calandra Calandra Email calandrajan@gmail.com Phone 401-93-27654 Address / City / State / Zip 85351 Please leave your comments or questions below: I am DEFINITELY opposed to the BNSF project. We live near the railroad as it is and do not need any more noise or traffic. Also, it will take away our beautiful Arizona dessert and views. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook FW: Regarding BNSF Committee From District 1 <District1@maricopa.gov> Date Mon 7/14/2025 11:52 AM To Joel Landis (PND) <Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov> Kristy Dohnel Executive Communications & Outreach Manager Board of Supervisors - District 1 301 W. Jefferson St. 10th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003 O: 602-506-1776 E: [Andres.Martin@Maricopa.gov]kristy.dohnel@maricopa.gov Subscribe to District 1 Newsletter! [ Maricopa.Gov ] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn From: Carol Biggins <carolb713@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2025 9:47 AM To: District 1 <District1@maricopa.gov> Subject: Regarding BNSF CommiƩee To:District 1 Supervisor Mark Stewart. I am writing as a concerned citizen to strongly urge you to oppose the proposed BNSF Intermodal Hub near the community of Wittmann. If approved, this project would become the largest of its kind in the ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd To:District 1 Supervisor Mark Stewart. I am writing as a concerned£citizen£to strongly urge you to oppose the proposed BNSF Intermodal Hub near the community of Wittmann. If approved, this project would become the largest of its kind in the nation and pose serious, long-term threats to the health, safety, environment, and overall quality of life for residents across the West Valley—including Wittmann, Sun City West, Sun City, Surprise,£El Mirage,£The Grand, Corte Bella, Peoria, Wickenburg, Morristown, and surrounding communities£… as well as to the entirety of the Valley of the Sun. £ BNSF has purchased 4,400 acres of Arizona State Trust land around Wittmann, currently zoned RU-43 (rural residential), not industrial.£In order for£construction to proceed, Maricopa County must approve a significant zoning change that would directly conflict with existing land use plans and protections. The scale and scope of this project—estimated to cost over $3 billion and cover more than 4,300 acres with 18 million square feet of concrete£(just for the structures … roads and parking lots will require additional concrete)—require a more comprehensive and transparent review. £ Key Concerns £ 1. Infrastructure£and Traffic Overload £ BNSF projects that£its hub will£generate over 7,200 additional vehicle trips per day by 2028, rising to 22,000£per day£by 2038. These figures represent a dramatic increase in traffic on rural and suburban roads not designed for heavy freight and constant commercial use. Local roads such as US Route 60, SR 74, and 211th Avenue are already in poor condition, with ongoing damage from£heavy traffic congestion,£current construction traffic and minimal county maintenance. RH Johnson Blvd in Sun City West,£along with other major thorough streets,£will likely become bypasses£for congested roads, creating serious risks for our senior residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, and golf cart users. £ 2. Public£Health and Safety Risks £ Many area residents rely on well water, which is at risk from diesel fuel and hazardous chemical spills. Yet, BNSF has no known£plan£to manage environmental disasters in£the West£Valley. The 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment remains a stark reminder of the consequences of industrial rail activity in residential areas. The Rose Fire in June 2024, caused by BNSF maintenance, destroyed 15 structures and burned 266 acres, damaging homes and air quality. This project would significantly increase such risks. £ 3. Environmental£Impact £ 18 million square feet of concrete will disrupt natural drainage toward the Hassayampa River, increasing flood risk during Arizona’s monsoon season.££ Nowhere does BNSF address the “HEAT ISLAND” effect of this project The Valley’s Air Quality Index continues to deteriorate, and this facility will exacerbate the problem with increased emissions from diesel trains and heavy trucks. Constant industrial lighting will compromise our dark skies, impacting residents, wildlife,£natural vegetation£and migratory birds. £ 4. Community£and Lifestyle Degradation £ The proposed£90-foot warehouses will block views of our natural landscape, permanently altering the rural character of the area. Noise, vibration, and light pollution will reduce the quality of life for thousands of nearby residents and may negatively affect livestock and native wildlife. Increased traffic and air pollution threaten the health of Sun City West’s elderly population, many of whom suffer from compromised respiratory systems. £ 5. School£and Child Safety Concerns £ The hub's proximity to£Nadaburg£Elementary School raises serious concerns about noise, air quality, and traffic safety. Children should not be exposed to industrial pollution and dangerous truck traffic near their schools. £ 6. Economic Concerns £ Approval of this rezoning will£likely result in£declining property values and may impact all outside activities£(due to worsening air pollution,£especially in£the£nearby£retirement communities, a major source of economic exchange. £No one wants to play golf or pickleball if the Air Quality Index£is in the unhealthy ranges. £It is also conceivable that increased air pollution will£result in£professional baseball training camps,£golf£tournaments and other major£events£being£relocated to other, healthier parts of the country.£Snowbirds and vacationers will simply choose to go elsewhere. £ A Call for Responsible Planning BNSF is the “COST CAUSER”£for this project, NOT£the surrounding communities.£ BNSF should bear£all of£the financial burden of this creation, NOT THE TAXPAYER. Although Maricopa County does not require an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT in matters of Zoning, it is inconceivable that one£not be£completed due to the gravity of this development and its negative impact on the surrounding communities. There are alternative locations better suited for a project of this scale—areas that are zoned for industrial use and located near existing interstate infrastructure. It is negligent and irresponsible to force such a development into a rural residential zone surrounded by established, vulnerable, residential£and urban£communities£with literally millions of residents. £ I respectfully urge you to: £ Deny any zoning changes requested by£BNSF. Commission a full environmental and infrastructure impact assessment before any decisions are£made. Seek community input through public hearings to ensure transparency and accountability. Please stand with the residents of the West Valley£and Valley of the Sun£to protect our land, water, air, and way of life. This is a matter of long- term public health, environmental preservation, and responsible governance.££Don’t build the largest intermodal rail hub in the country in the city with the 4 th£most polluted air in the country! £ Sincerely, Carol A. Biggins Sun City West Resident This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook BNSF Committee From Carol Biggins <carolb713@gmail.com> Date Sun 7/13/2025 9:50 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> To:District 4 Supervisor Debbie Lesko I am writing as a concerned£citizen to strongly urge you to oppose the proposed BNSF Intermodal Hub near the community of Wittmann. If approved, this project would become the largest of its kind in the nation and pose serious, long-term threats to the health, safety, environment, and overall quality of life for residents across the West Valley—including Wittmann, Sun City West, Sun City, Surprise,£El Mirage,£The Grand, Corte Bella, Peoria, Wickenburg, Morristown, and surrounding communities£… as well as to the entirety of the Valley of the Sun. BNSF has purchased 4,400 acres of Arizona State Trust land around Wittmann, currently zoned RU-43 (rural residential), not industrial.£In order for£construction to proceed, Maricopa County must approve a significant zoning change that would directly conflict with existing land use plans and protections. The scale and scope of this project—estimated to cost over $3 billion and cover more than 4,300 acres with 18 million square feet of concrete£(just for the structures … roads and parking lots will require additional concrete)—require a more comprehensive and transparent review. Key Concerns 1. Infrastructure£and Traffic Overload BNSF projects that£its hub will£generate over 7,200 additional vehicle trips per day by 2028, rising to 22,000£per day£by 2038. These figures represent a dramatic increase in traffic on rural and suburban roads not designed for heavy freight and constant commercial use. Local roads such as US Route 60, SR 74, and 211th Avenue are already in poor condition, with ongoing damage from£heavy traffic congestion,£current construction traffic and minimal county maintenance. RH Johnson Blvd in Sun City West,£along with other major thorough streets,£will likely become bypasses£for congested roads, creating serious risks for our senior residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, and golf cart users. £ 2. Public£Health and Safety Risks £ Many area residents rely on well water, which is at risk from diesel fuel and hazardous chemical spills. Yet, BNSF has no known£plan£to manage environmental disasters in£the West£Valley. The 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment remains a stark reminder of the consequences of industrial rail activity in residential areas. The Rose Fire in June 2024, caused by BNSF maintenance, destroyed 15 structures and burned 266 acres, damaging homes and air quality. This project would significantly increase such risks. £ 3. Environmental£Impact £ 18 million square feet of concrete will disrupt natural drainage toward the Hassayampa River, increasing flood risk during Arizona’s monsoon season.££ Nowhere does BNSF address the “HEAT ISLAND” effect of this project The Valley’s Air Quality Index continues to deteriorate, and this facility will exacerbate the problem with increased emissions from diesel trains and heavy trucks. Constant industrial lighting will compromise our dark skies, impacting residents, wildlife,£natural vegetation£and migratory birds. £ 4. Community£and Lifestyle Degradation £ The proposed£90-foot warehouses will block views of our natural landscape, permanently altering the rural character of the area. Noise, vibration, and light pollution will reduce the quality of life for thousands of nearby residents and may negatively affect livestock and native wildlife. Increased traffic and air pollution threaten the health of Sun City West’s elderly population, many of whom suffer from compromised respiratory systems. £ 5. School£and Child Safety Concerns £ The hub's proximity to£Nadaburg£Elementary School raises serious concerns about noise, air quality, and traffic safety. Children should not be exposed to industrial pollution and dangerous truck traffic near their schools. £ 6. Economic Concerns £ Approval of this rezoning will£likely result in£declining property values and may impact all outside activities£(due to worsening air pollution,£especially in£the£nearby£retirement communities, a major source of economic exchange. £No one wants to play golf or pickleball if the Air Quality Index£is in the unhealthy ranges. £It is also conceivable that increased air pollution will£result in£professional baseball training camps,£golf£tournaments and other major£events£being£relocated to other, healthier parts of the country.£Snowbirds and vacationers will simply choose to go elsewhere. £ A Call for Responsible Planning BNSF is the “COST CAUSER”£for this project, NOT£the surrounding communities.£ BNSF should bear£all of£the financial burden of this creation, NOT THE TAXPAYER. Although Maricopa County does not require an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT in matters of Zoning, it is inconceivable that one£not be£completed due to the gravity of this development and its negative impact on the surrounding communities. There are alternative locations better suited for a project of this scale—areas that are zoned for industrial use and located near existing interstate infrastructure. It is negligent and irresponsible to force such a development into a rural residential zone surrounded by established, vulnerable, residential£and urban£communities£with literally millions of residents. £ I respectfully urge you to: £ Deny any zoning changes requested by£BNSF. Commission a full environmental and infrastructure impact assessment before any decisions are£made. Seek community input through public hearings to ensure transparency and accountability. Please stand with the residents of the West Valley£and Valley of the Sun£to protect our land, water, air, and way of life. This is a matter of long- term public health, environmental preservation, and responsible governance.££Don’t build the largest intermodal rail hub in the country in the city with the 4 th£most polluted air in the country! £ Sincerely, Carol A. Biggins Sun City West Resident This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook I OPPOSE ZONING CHANGE CPA2024006 and Case Z2024072. From Carol Burnett <lady.carol.burnett@gmail.com> Date Mon 5/19/2025 6:16 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> I OPPOSE ZONING CHANGE CPA2024006 and Case Z2024072. Begin forwarded message: From: Carol Burnett Madame, I beg of you to not allow BSNF to ruin our way of life. It is bad enough we have allowed residential build up in this community. I personally live by someone who built a horse arena right next-door, which has damaged my house and land (land movement has cracked my walls, and her drainage goes right into my backyard). When it rains, we can’t leave our home because the flooding waters block half of the population from getting out. There are a lot more issues in Wittman that need to be addressed before some facility comes in with no plan for infrastructure. Not to mention the fact that our schools are going to be located right next to this giant facility. Why Are we not protecting the children? Whatever else that we can do to get this atrocity to go away, please let the people know. I have spoken to many neighbors not one person wants BSNF here. The state should’ve never sold out the land. This land should be protected for the wildlife that lives there. Please please please do not allow this to happen. I am all about change but in the right direction. Add some stores at a gas station build some fire stations and police stations great. The railroad needs to go to downtown Phoenix, where these types of facilities should be not in rural Arizona where we like dark skies and quiet nights. Thank you for taking the time to listen. Mrs Carol Burnett 22636 W Desert Vista Trl Wittmann AZ Sent from my iPhone This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 8/11/2025 8:43 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Carol James Email carol@caroljjames.com Phone 6613106777 Address / City / State / Zip 18913 North Hawthorn Drive Please leave your comments or questions below: I think it would be terrible for the are and for Grand near the 303 in particular. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Wed 8/13/2025 12:02 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Carol Miller Email carolmiller2222@gmail.com Phone 530 908-3371 Address / City / State / Zip 13402 West Crown Ridge Dr. in Sun City West, AZ Please leave your comments or questions below: The thought of what it would be like to have this project move ahead and become the monster and thorn in the side of the people living in this area is serious. It would affect my daily life and future. My area has not been master planned for this kind of impact. The roads in my area are already a problem due to traffic jams and more traffic than they already can handle. It would also reduce the value of my home and property. Consider the people you represent. I don't know of anyone here that thinks it would be a good idea or even be slightly considered. Thank you for your consideration. Carol Miller Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook BNSF Railway From Carolyn Gelazela <cgelazela@outlook.com> Date Thu 7/10/2025 6:46 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> I have always found you to be insighƞul and logical so I don't think it's necessary for me to recount all the reasons we should oppose the BNSF railway rezoning. I must menƟon however the suspicious fact that BNSF has ALREADY purchased all the land. Why would an ouƞit buy land if rezoning for it was not cerƟfied already. Has a deal already been cut??? Yes, I know you normally need to own the property before applying for rezoning BUT you can apply for rezoning with just a wriƩen agreement with the current owner allowing you to apply for rezoning. BNSF bought the land from AZ State Land Dept at aucƟon. You beƩer believe there was much discussion about rezoning BEFORE BSNF bought it. I am thrilled that you are in the posiƟon to impact this issue; I can TRUST you to do right. ( You always fought for Trump!) Mrs. Carolyn Gelazela 623-521-6216 16421 W. Boulder Vista Dr. Surprise, AZ 85374 This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Wed 6/18/2025 5:28 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Carolyn Oddo Email caoddo2@hotmail.com Phone 6235560693 Address / City / State / Zip 12827 W SHADOW HILLS DR Please leave your comments or questions below: The plans for an intermodal hub by the BNSF railroad would be extremely harmful to the citizens of the West Valley. This hub will cause pollution, noise, raise taxes for the cost of infrastructure, increase the already congested traffic on US60 and decrease our quality of life. Please vote no on this proposal. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 6/9/2025 2:09 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Catherine Email cmorrell36@yahoo.com Phone 4808591209 Address / City / State / Zip 85351 Please leave your comments or questions below: Debbie Lesko, I wish to add my thoughts and concerns regarding the zoning request of BNSF to build the rail hub and transfer center in Wittman. First, whose water are they going to be taking? Will the local wells dry up? The residents of Wittman and surrounding areas chose to live away from city noise and pollution. They can sense the quiet of the desert and feel the coolness of the night. They can see the stars at night. The rail yard will surround them with traffic noise and pollution. They will be surrounded by another heat island of cement and asphalt. This would also have a negative effect on Sun City and Sun City West. Grand Avenue and Bell Road will see more truck traffic. Where are all the workers going to be living? Not in Wittman or Wickenburg or even Surprise. They will be coming from the greater Phoenix area and driving right through Sun City on Grand Avenue or Bell Road. The noise will be loud 24/7. Please vote to preserve the open desert where you can see the stars at night and hear the quiet sound of nature. Please vote for the people of Wittman and surrounding areas. Support the rural lifestyle that is fast disappearing. Thank you for your service. Catherine Morrell Sun City, AZ 85351 Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook FW: Wittman vs BNSF From District 1 <District1@maricopa.gov> Date Wed 7/9/2025 11:47 AM To Joel Landis (PND) <Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov> Kristy Dohnel Executive Communications & Outreach Manager Board of Supervisors - District 1 301 W. Jefferson St. 10th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003 O: 602-506-1776 E: [Andres.Martin@Maricopa.gov]kristy.dohnel@maricopa.gov Subscribe to District 1 Newsletter! [ Maricopa.Gov ] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn From: Cathy Morrell <cmorrell36@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 11:37 AM To: District 1 <District1@maricopa.gov>; District 2 <District2@maricopa.gov> Cc: District 3 <District3@maricopa.gov>; District 5 <District5@maricopa.gov> Subject: WiƩman vs BNSF I wish to add my thoughts and concerns regarding the zoning request of BNSF to build the rail hub and transfer center in Wittman. First, whose water are they going to be taking? Will the local wells dry up? The residents of Wittman and surrounding ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd I wish to add my thoughts and concerns regarding the zoning request of BNSF to build the rail hub and transfer center in Wittman. First, whose water are they going to be taking? Will the local wells dry up? The residents of Wittman and surrounding areas chose to live away from city noise and pollution. They can sense the quiet of the desert and feel the coolness of the night. They can see the stars at night. The rail yard will surround them with traffic noise and pollution. They will be surrounded by another heat island of cement and asphalt. Soon they will not exist. This would also have a negative effect on Sun City and Sun City West. Grand Avenue and Bell Road will see more truck traffic. Where are all the workers going to be living? Not in Wittman or Wickenburg or even Surprise. They will be coming from the greater Phoenix area and driving right through Sun City on Grand Avenue or Bell Road and taking short cuts through the neighborhoods. The traffic noise and congestion will be 24/7. Please vote to preserve the open desert where you can see the stars at night and hear the quiet sound of nature. Vote to support the rural lifestyle that is fast disappearing. Please vote for the people of Wittman and all of us in the northwest valley. Thank you for your service. Catherine Morrell Sun City, AZ 85351 This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 8/18/2025 12:17 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name CHARLES LAMOTTE Email cljr85387@gmail.com Phone 2196706956 Address / City / State / Zip 18949 N ALAMEDA DR/SURPRISE/AZ/85387 Please leave your comments or questions below: To Debbie Lesko: My wife and I do NOT support the BNSF project. We are Neighborhood Representatives in Grand, are "represent" over 225 residents. The vast majority do NOT want BNSF building this project in the area. There is too much vacant desert within 50 miles that would be more suited for the tremendous congestion this project will bring. We do not want the pollution that based on prevailing winds, will bring much of the diesel pollution into our community. Additionally, there will be the light pollution caused by the many 30' light poles. Please, FIGHT THIS AT EVERY LEVEL! Thank you Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Sun 5/11/2025 11:53 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Charles Murphy Email chucktopo@gmail.com Phone 6232526116 Address / City / State / Zip 655 N Topeka Cir, Wickenburg, AZ 85390 Please leave your comments or questions below: Dear County Supervisor Lesko, My name is Charles Murphy and I am a Wickenburg resident. I respectfully ask that you and your colleagues vote NO on the BSNF expansion in Morristown. There are obvious reasons why this particular expansion does not make sense from a logistical and cultural perspective. You and your board colleagues actually need to visit the area to understand the undesirable impact. 1. The ONLY major vehicle access from the planned facility is US 60 which travels south approximately 16 miles through smaller communities before reaching the 303. Vehicles must travel even further through an increasingly congested US 60 to reach the 101 and I10. 2. The proposed BNSF facility does not have adequate and safe road infrastructure to support its operations. The only transit route heading north / west is US 93 and RT 60. RT 60 passes directly through the narrow streets of downtown Wickenburg. US 93 has several traffic circles and an inordinate number of accidents as it is a primary route to Las Vegas. It is NOT an interstate and was not constructed to handle large vehicles going at interstate speeds. All you need to do is check with AZDOT for accident reports. US 60 passes right through the heart of downtown Wickenburg. You actually must see this to understand how nonsensical it is to even assume that multiple trailer trucks would pass through these narrow streets. Further, US 60 from Morristown to Wickenburg is in need of constant repair. Ask ADOT about the impact of all the extra (heavy traffic) will have on that singular access to Wickenburg. Citizen Safety: The access routes mentioned above (93 & 60) have homeowner driveways and business entrances right onto these roadways. There is absolutely no way that inordinately increasing the amount of semi-truck traffic is in the best interest of the established communities. Again, check with ADOT and DMV. 3. The culture of the surrounding communities is based on a rural lifestyle, one focused on western culture, conservative views, and equestrian focused activities. This culture is no different than an endangered species. Once their habitat is contaminated, the inhabitants will leave. These communities derive an income from their western heritage and the elected officials representing them must understand this and protect their western heritage. This should be an easy call for a board representing the best interest of the community. A minimal amount of research will support the request to vote NO on the BSNF project. Please share this email with your board colleagues. Regards, Charles Murphy Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Fri 6/6/2025 8:47 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Charles Williams-Kirk Email C.williamskirk@gmail.com Phone 6232039750 Address / City / State / Zip 21129 W Dove Valley Rd, Wittmann, AZ, 85361 Please leave your comments or questions below: In my opinion the BNSF project should not be allowed to proceed. I have lived here for 27 years and have seen enormous growth just in housing alone which has caused enough problems with the increased traffic. This project would completely disrupt all the residents that would be nearly engulfed by the project. With already being on a truck route for every kind of dump truck out there the noise begins at 5 am Monday through Friday with the acceleration and Jake braking. To add locomotive and additional trucking would just completely destroy the peaceful life style we enjoy out here. I SAY NO TO THIS PROJECT. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 8/11/2025 3:07 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Charlotte Smith Email chareksmith@gmail.com Phone 6232522540 Address / City / State / Zip 15717 W. Huron Dr. Sun City West, AZ 85375 Please leave your comments or questions below: I strongly oppose the BNSF Railway project in Wittman if it means that much of the truck traffic will go through the Grand (HWY 60) and the 303 intersection. This intersection is already greatly over capacity due to the growth in new local residential housing. The 22,000 vehicle trips per day that you sight could not possibly be accommodated. Plus, with all the new housing coming into THAT SPECIFIC area of 303 and Grand and beyond it would not only clog the one main artery but it could also prove to be dangerous. There are ALWAYS spills/accidents on rail lines. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. June 5,2025 My name is Cherilyn Menezes. I live at 21206 W Caravaggio Lane Wittmann AZ. I am a very concerned homeowner that does not want an intermodal hub in my back yard on Cloud I moved to Wittmann years ago to get out of the city and to the peaceful desert. This massive intermodal hub is devasting for us that have chosen to move to the rural lifestyle. Where is the toƄic water goingϦ We are not allowed to Ʊll or reroute the washes if BNSF is going to build bridges or divert the water from all the monsoons. What about all the oil chemicals from the rail cars, trucks and trains that will be spilling out and going into our desert. We are all on a well in this remote area and with trains, depots, intermodal and logistics parks comes oil spills, toxins, and other pollutants that will be absorbed in the land and then contaminate the water Ʋows underground and getting into our wells. This leads to illnesses and lawsuits. Many of us also have livestock and horses who are often used to generate income for our families, rely on our livestock to stay healthy. Sick horses and cattle are not cheap. BNSF’s deep pockets, will they really pay for these standard problems and ensure that our environment, water and wildlife habitats are not harmed? We already have a heavy Ʋow of construction and gravel trucks, semi’s that travel up and down 211th Street as they make their way to the various construction sites. This will increase traƯic on 211which is crazy now and the crews that patch the roads can’t even keep up on them the road is a pothole mess. We have children that catch school buses and the construction gravel trucks in the mornings are putting our children in danger already, they speed out of control that we have many trucks that go way to fast and lose wheels and tires that go oƯ the road into our fences and cause property damage that is our responsibility to Ʊx that means extra money. The county needs to step in and do what’s right: please protect the residents of Wittmann, Morristown and other surrounding cities. Best regards Cherilyn Menezes This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Tue 8/12/2025 9:47 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Christine Bertrand Email chris@bertrandonline.com Phone 9259633991 Address / City / State / Zip 20040 N Cielo Ct Please leave your comments or questions below: No no no no no on the BNSF project. Understand your description of the railway rights. Please do whatever you can to keep this as small as possible. We live in a residential area, and our infrastructure will not support 22,000 extra vehicles a day on 60!!! And the noise…. Please no. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook BNSF Intermodal Rail Hub From Chris Couch <couchfam2@hotmail.com> Date Thu 7/17/2025 2:08 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Please do not approve the rail hub in WiƩmann. The ciƟzens around here do not want the heavy traffic and the changing of the one-house-per-acre zoning. It brings into this area a quality of life that we do not want. Thank you, ChrisƟne Couch (registered voter) 10620 W Brookside Dr Sun City AZ 85351 This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook FW: Opposition to Zoning Change CPA2024006 and Case Z2024072 From District 1 <District1@maricopa.gov> Date Mon 6/23/2025 9:30 AM To Joel Landis (PND) <Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov> Kristy Dohnel Executive Communications & Outreach Manager Board of Supervisors - District 1 301 W. Jefferson St. 10th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003 O: 602-506-1776 E: [Andres.Martin@Maricopa.gov]kristy.dohnel@maricopa.gov Subscribe to District 1 Newsletter! [ Maricopa.Gov ] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn From: Cindy Sandmaier <cindyosphr@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 2:36 PM To: District 1 <District1@maricopa.gov> Subject: OpposiƟon to Zoning Change CPA2024006 and Case Z2024072 June 20, 2025 Mark Stewart 301 W Jefferson 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 District1@maricopa.gov I am writing as a concerned citizen to strongly urge you to oppose the proposed BNSF Intermodal Hub near the community of Wittmann. If approved, this ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd June 20, 2025 Mark Stewart 301 W Jefferson 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 District1@maricopa.gov I am writing as a concerned citizen to strongly urge you to oppose the proposed BNSF Intermodal Hub near the community of Wittmann. If approved, this project would become the largest of its kind in the nation and pose serious, long-term threats to the health, safety, environment, and overall quality of life for residents across the West Valley—including Wittmann, Sun City West, Sun City, Surprise, El Mirage, The Grand, Corte Bella, Peoria, Wickenburg, Morristown, and surrounding communities … as well as to the entirety of the Valley of the Sun. BNSF has purchased 4,400 acres of Arizona State Trust land around Wittmann, currently zoned RU-43 (rural residential), not industrial. In order for construction to proceed, Maricopa County must approve a significant zoning change that would directly conflict with existing land use plans and protections. The scale and scope of this project —estimated to cost over $3 billion and cover more than 4,300 acres with 18 million square feet of concrete (just for the structures … roads and parking lots will require additional concrete)—require a more comprehensive and transparent review. Key Concerns 1. Infrastructure and Traffic Overload The hub is projected to generate over 7,200 additional vehicle trips per day by 2028, rising to 22,000 per day by 2038. These figures represent a dramatic increase in traffic on rural and suburban roads not designed for heavy freight and constant commercial use. Local roads such as US Route 60, SR 74, and 211th Avenue are already in poor condition, with ongoing damage from heavy traffic congestion, current construction traffic and minimal county maintenance. RH Johnson Blvd in Sun City West, along with other major thorough streets, will likely become bypasses for congested roads, creating serious risks for our senior residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, and golf cart users. 2. Public Health and Safety Risks Many area residents rely on well water, which is at risk from diesel fuel and hazardous chemical spills. Yet, BNSF has no known plan to manage environmental disasters in the West Valley. The 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment remains a stark reminder of the consequences of industrial rail activity in residential areas. The Rose Fire in June 2024, caused by BNSF maintenance, destroyed 15 structures and burned 266 acres, damaging homes and air quality. This project would significantly increase such risks. 3. Environmental Impact 18 million square feet of concrete will disrupt natural drainage toward the Hassayampa River, increasing flood risk during Arizona’s monsoon season. Nowhere does BNSF address the “HEAT ISLAND” effect of this project The Valley’s Air Quality Index continues to deteriorate, and this facility will exacerbate the problem with increased emissions from diesel trains and heavy trucks. Constant industrial lighting will compromise our dark skies, impacting residents, wildlife, natural vegetation and migratory birds. 4. Community and Lifestyle Degradation The proposed 90-foot warehouses will block views of our natural landscape, permanently altering the rural character of the area. Noise, vibration, and light pollution will reduce the quality of life for thousands of nearby residents and may negatively affect livestock and native wildlife. Increased traffic and air pollution threaten the health of Sun City West’s elderly population, many of whom suffer from compromised respiratory systems. 5. School and Child Safety Concerns The hub's proximity to Nadaburg Elementary School raises serious concerns about noise, air quality, and traffic safety. Children should not be exposed to industrial pollution and dangerous truck traffic near their schools. 6. Economic Concerns Approval of this rezoning will likely result in declining property values and may impact all outside activities (due to worsening air pollution, especially in the nearby retirement communities, a major source of economic exchange. No one wants to play golf or pickleball if the Air Quality Index is in the unhealthy ranges. It is also conceivable that increased air pollution will result in professional baseball training camps, golf tournaments and other major events being relocated to other, healthier parts of the country. Snowbirds and vacationers will simply choose to go elsewhere. A Call for Responsible Planning BNSF is the “COST CAUSER” for this project, NOT the surrounding communities. BNSF should bear all of the financial burden of this creation, NOT THE TAXPAYER. Although Maricopa County does not require an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT in matters of Zoning, it is inconceivable that one not be completed due to the gravity of this development and its negative impact on the surrounding communities. There are alternative locations better suited for a project of this scale—areas that are zoned for industrial use and located near existing interstate infrastructure. It is negligent and irresponsible to force such a development into a rural residential zone surrounded by established, vulnerable, residential and urban communities with literally millions of residents. I respectfully urge you to: Deny any zoning changes requested by BNSF. Commission a full environmental and infrastructure impact assessment before any decisions are made. Seek community input through public hearings to ensure transparency and accountability. Please stand with the residents of the West Valley and Valley of the Sun to protect our land, water, air, and way of life. This is a matter of long-term public health, environmental preservation, and responsible governance. Sincerely, Cindy Sandmaier Cindy Sandmaier 12807 W Paintbrush Drive Sun City West, AZ 85375 305-502-5478 -- Thanks, Cindy Sandmaier cell phone 305-502-5478 This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Mon 8/11/2025 2:06 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Clarence Dawson Email zgeist7@gmail.com Phone 5129483038 Address / City / State / Zip 16243 W MANZANITA DR Please leave your comments or questions below: Please oppose the expansion of the BSNF railroad! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook BNSF rail hub From couponclaudia@cox.net couponclaudia@cox.net <couponclaudia@cox.net> Date Thu 7/17/2025 2:07 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> I am not in favor of building a rail hub in Wittmann AZ. There is already enough traffic and congestion in that area. Claudia Cooley 18003 N Broken Bow Ct Sun City AZ 85373 This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook BNSF - Vote NO From Coley Frerck <coley@wrc-inc.net> Date Tue 6/3/2025 8:32 AM To Joel Landis (PND) <Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov> 1 attachment (1 MB) BNSF - Vote NO.pdf; I oppose the BNSF project CPA2024006 Coley Frerck 14949 W. Oberlin Way Surprise, AZ 85387 This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Thu 6/5/2025 8:44 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Connie Beckes Email davcon49@gmail.com Phone 9165081946 Address / City / State / Zip 17200 W Bell Rd #2355, Surprise, AZ 85374 Please leave your comments or questions below: My husband and I are opposed to the proposed BNSF Railway Project in Wittmann. There is plenty of land in the surrounding area where there are no homes. The people of Wittmann chose their location so they could be far away from development and noise; they were surrounded by BLM land which naturally made them feel secure with their location choice. Now the BLM land has been sold to the railroad with no notice to District 4 residents and at a below-market price. What the heck gives here? It all sounds pretty devious and suspicious. I do not live close to this proposed development but on a moral basis alone I believe this proposed project is wrong on so many levels. No small community should find itself totally surrounded by a rail yard that will ruin all they have built over the years. Wittmann will be destroyed if this project goes forward. Surely there are other locations the railroad could choose without irreparably damaging homeowners. Please vote against this railway project!!! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook Proposed BNSF Railway Depot From Connie Murdica <cmurdica@gmail.com> Date Tue 5/13/2025 10:58 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Louis & Connie Murdica 29510 N 224th Drive Wittmann, AZ 85361 lou@murdicaelectric.com & cmurdica@gmail.com 623 248-7002 home 760 275-6261 & 760 898-9790. Mobile Re: Proposed BNSF Railway Depot May 13, 2025 Maricopa County Board of Supervisors 301 W. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85003 Attn: District 4 Chairman Thomas Galvin Dear Supervisor Debbie Lesko, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, I am writing as a concerned resident of Wittmann, Arizona regarding the proposed construction of a major BNSF railway depot in our community. While I understand the potential economic and logistical benefits such a project may bring, I would like to respectfully raise several concerns about the possible negative impacts on our town and its residents. Noise Pollution: A large-scale rail yard will likely operate around the clock, producing consistent noise from engines, horns, and industrial activity that could significantly disturb the peace of our rural community. Light Pollution: Our beautiful night sky will definitely be effected by all the artificial lights needed to keep a facility such as this. Air Quality: The increase in diesel locomotive emissions and truck traffic could degrade local air quality, which may pose long-term health risks to residents, especially children and seniors. Traffic and Infrastructure Stress: Our local roads were not built to accommodate the volume of traffic a major depot would bring. Increased congestion and wear on infrastructure are almost certain. Water Use and Environmental Risk: In our desert region, water is a precious resource. A large industrial operation could stress our limited supply and introduce potential contamination risks to groundwater. Property Values and Community Character: Proximity to a major industrial facility may negatively affect property values. More importantly, it risks altering the rural character of Wittmann that so many of us cherish. Wildlife and Ecosystem Disruption: The area surrounding Wittmann is home to native wildlife and sensitive desert habitats. Construction and operation of a depot could disrupt these ecosystems in irreversible ways. I urge you to thoroughly consider these concerns and ensure that any decisions made reflect the interests and well-being of the residents of Wittmann. Community input, environmental assessments, and long-term planning should guide this process. Thank you for your time, attention, and service to our county. I appreciate your commitment to making decisions that balance growth with quality of life. Sincerely, Louis & Connie Murdica This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook FW: Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Date Fri 7/18/2025 10:18 AM To Joel Landis (PND) <Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov> From: noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Sent: Friday, July 18, 2025 10:07 AM To: District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Subject: Online Form SubmiƩal: Contact Us - District 4 Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Connie Tesar Email ctesar55@gmail.com Phone 3195514489 ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Connie Tesar Email ctesar55@gmail.com Phone 3195514489 Address / City / State / Zip 19608 North Tolby Creek Court 85387 Please leave your comments or questions below: You must vote NO on the BNSF rail yard. There is nothing positive about it. You must protect our children and nearby seniors. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook Vote NO on Z2024052 – Protect Our Community from the BNSF Freight Hub From Connor Hutchison <connor.hutch@hotmail.com> Date Sat 7/12/2025 7:27 AM To District 1 <District1@maricopa.gov>; District 2 <District2@maricopa.gov>; District 3 <District3@maricopa.gov>; District4 <District4@maricopa.gov>; District 5 <District5@maricopa.gov> Dear Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, My name is Connor Hutchison, and I am a resident of Sun City West, living at 13661 W Cavalcade Dr., Sun City West, AZ 85375. I am writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to£vote NO on zoning case Z2024052£regarding the proposed BNSF freight terminal near Wittmann. This project is a direct threat to the safety, health, and quality of life of our entire community. Sun City West was never intended to be next to a massive, 4,000-acre industrial freight hub operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The magnitude of this facility is staggering: • 1,800 diesel semi-truck trips per day—nearly 20 every 15 minutes—will flood our roads and local intersections, increasing traffic congestion and the risk of serious accidents. • Unfiltered diesel emissions£will severely affect air quality for thousands of residents, many of whom are seniors and particularly vulnerable to respiratory illness. • Constant train horns, light pollution, and vibrations£will fundamentally change the character of our peaceful retirement community. • This rezoning would convert£open desert land into a heavy industrial zone, with inadequate public transparency, limited studies, and no environmental impact report. BNSF is framing this as “economic development,” but the burden is falling squarely on surrounding residential communities, not on industrially zoned land farther west where this project should have been placed. Sun City West residents were never notified directly, and the County has failed to require the necessary community outreach and environmental impact assessments. This is irresponsible and unacceptable. Please vote£NO£on Z2024052 and stop this project before irreversible harm is done. We are not opposed to economic development—but not at the cost of our health, safety, and community integrity.£ Connor Hutchison This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Outlook Online Form Submittal: Contact Us - District 4 From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Wed 8/20/2025 9:40 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Contact Us - District 4 Your Information Please provide contact information in case we have any questions or need additional information from you regarding your inquiry. First and Last Name Constance LaPointe Email lapointe.constance@gmail.com Phone 6026848430 Address / City / State / Zip 16242 N Lasso Dr Please leave your comments or questions below: Re: RR transfer station in Whitman, all RR crossings along Hwy60 Grand Ave from the 303 to Greenway have the RR crossings computerized arms that close off entire intersections when trains come by. They blare their horns in a sequence of long and short bursts, not sure order of the bursts. We need them to all be Quiet Zones, for there are multiple residential areas all along HWY 60: The Grand SCW West Pt Towne Ct. The railroad company states that they want to be good stewards with the community and being that they have been building these stations across our country, they should be getting these Quiet Zones in place before hand. If not all of our home property values will be greatly affected Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook Rail yard in Wittmann AZ From Cory Ant <cory.wenzl@gmail.com> Date Fri 5/16/2025 10:02 AM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> As a resident of Wittmann I am writing to tell you my disapproval of the BNSF rail yard to be added to Wittmann or any surrounding areas near the Phoenix area. As a realist I understand the need for such a large facility for logistics and transportation of goods. However as a Valley fire fighter I have seen the damage the types of facilities can cause. Going through hazmat class we were educated on the many hazardous spills that have happened over the years and the effects they have on the surrounding areas. Impacting way of life for residents as well as the natural wild life. BNSF should be denied any permits to build this facility. They should focus building this facility in a very sparse and rural environment west of Agilla or south east of Gila bend. When Hazardous spills happens it creates the immediate dangers to the community, as well as causing hardships during evacuation, causing life long health issues, and costly medical bills, plus adding very little compensation for such a large inconvenience. As a voter who has voted for you Debbie Lesko I hope you will do the right thing and stand for me and my concerns as well as all the other residents who rely on you to support us as we have supported you. I understand the railroad has deep pockets, they always have and always will, but this financial hardships this will create for average Americans does not align with the benefits the facility offers at the proposed location. I look forward to hearing back from you and seeing how you respond to this matter as it will have a huge impact on future of this community, our state, and the way people vote moving forward. Thank you Cory Wenzl This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. Outlook Re: Rail yard in Wittmann AZ From Cory Ant <cory.wenzl@gmail.com> Date Fri 5/16/2025 6:30 PM To District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> I appreciate the response. However BNSF is not working with the community. Yes they are hosting town halls which they allow you write questions on paper. After I attended the last meeting I realized my attendance was a waste of time. They cherry picked the easy questions, and were vague answering those. They are just checking a box to say they are working with the community. How ever as a resident I’m informing you there is no attempt for them to work with anyone. I would invite you to travel down grand ave around the 303 and 163rd Ave. the traffic is horrible. With a rail yard and its added traffic it’s only going to create more accidents and road rage. The rail road won’t allow more roads into the area north of grand and 163rd. That’s just an easy example how they won’t work with the community. I know you are getting a ton of emails and the need for a generic response is necessary. But I really hope you or your staff are reading these emails to understand what’s at stake. On Fri, May 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> wrote: Dear Cory, Thank you for contacting me! I appreciate your email. Please see my attached response. Sincerely, Maricopa County Logo Supervisor Debbie Lesko District 4 Board of Supervisors O: 602-506-7642 [ Maricopa.Gov ] Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube | LinkedIn Subscribe to Newsletter: Maricopa.Gov/SubscribeD4 From: Cory Ant <cory.wenzl@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, May 16, 2025 10:02 AM To: District4 <District4@maricopa.gov> Subject: Rail yard in WiƩmann AZ As a resident of Wittmann I am writing to tell you my disapproval of the BNSF rail yard to be added to Wittmann or any surrounding areas near the Phoenix area. As a realist I understand the need for such a large facility for logistics and transportation As a resident of Wittmann I am writing to tell you my disapproval of the BNSF rail yard to be added to Wittmann or any surrounding areas near the Phoenix area. As a realist I understand the need for such a large facility for logistics and transportation of goods. However as a Valley fire fighter I have seen the damage the types of facilities can cause. Going through hazmat class we were educated on the many hazardous spills that have happened over the years and the effects they have on the surrounding areas. Impacting way of life for residents as well as the natural wild life. BNSF should be denied any permits to build this facility. They should focus building this facility in a very sparse and rural environment west of Agilla or south east of Gila bend. When Hazardous spills happens it creates the immediate dangers to the community, as well as causing hardships during evacuation, causing life long health issues, and costly medical bills, plus adding very little compensation for such a large inconvenience. As a voter who has voted for you Debbie Lesko I hope you will do the right thing and stand for me and my concerns as well as all the other residents who rely on you to support us as we have supported you. I understand the railroad has deep pockets, they always have and always will, but this financial hardships this will create for average Americans does not align with the benefits the facility offers at the proposed location. I look forward to hearing back from you and seeing how you respond to this matter as it will have a huge impact on future of this community, our state, and the way people vote moving forward. Thank you Cory Wenzl