By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Two recent approvals from the Yuma County Board of Supervisors will allow development of a new inland port project north of Interstate 8 between avenues 32E and 33E along the Union Pacific Railroad line near Wellton.
The first request, submitted by Boyce Land Co., Inc. requested a change in land use designation for two parcels totaling 126.73 acres from Agricultural/Rural Preservation to Industrial. The second request, submitted by Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC, sought a land use designation change for 208.27 acres from Agricultural/Rural Preservation and Business Park to Industrial.
A third request that would have changed the designation of 30.61 acres abutting the rail line west of Avenue 36E From Rural Area to Heavy Industrial “to establish a regional transportation hub truck-rail consisting of truck parking, gas/diesel islands, sleeping areas, healthy and local restaurant options, fitness recreation center, mechanical shop for trucking repair, rail accessibility for bulk commodities as a Union Pacific rail served facility,” was denied due to the site’s proximity to and incompatibility with existing residential areas to the southwest, south and southeast, according to the staff recommendation.
The requested changes were sought for the development of an inland port along the rail line. The staff reports state: “An inland intermodal or multimodal facility directly connected by freight rail or highway to a seaport is known as a dry port. It operates as a hub for the shipment of sea cargo to inland destinations. Dry ports often include value-added services such as customs clearance, trans loading, warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, and/or facilities for the maintenance of rail and road cargo carriers.”
A neighborhood meeting was held in September with County planning staff and project representatives explaining the development plan to area residents. During the meeting, representatives said the inland port would primarily be used for the transfer of agricultural products—particularly hay—and that other uses, such as shipping aluminum cans for recycling, could also take place. Residents were assured there would be no hazardous waste uses associated with the port and that the property owners were long-term area residents who were not interested in a land speculation opportunity.
The staff report found the proposed land uses for the two approved requests to be compatible with the existing land uses and with the Yuma County Comprehensive Plan and the Yuma Regional Development Plan.
The report says, “The proposed amendment is considered an overall improvement to the Plan. The change will expand the supply of land for industrial development alongside the existing industrial cluster east of the Town of Wellton. The request to change the land use designation to I is compatible with existing adjacent and surrounding uses. Industrial land uses exist on the west and south as well as light industrial uses to the north, east, and south. The request to change the land use designation will allow an industrial park for an inland port.”
The approved projects received one letter in opposition from a landowner who has held his parcel since 2005 and was worried the port development would negatively impact his land’s value. Three other landowners offered letters of support for the requests, noting the opportunity for greater economic development and benefits to area agricultural operations.
