Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously September 18 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a 1,105-acre manufacturing development. Jordan Rose with Rose Law Group described the project as a facility “which will be one of Pinal County’s largest employers.”
Rose told commissioners the project would benefit from plans to reactivate the dormant Magma Arizona Railroad to serve both the manufacturing facility and Resolution Copper’s filter plant northwest of the site. The development will also trigger construction extending Skyline Drive to Highway 79.
Project Details
The commission recommended “Project Ranger” for approval, allowing Arizona State Land to change the property from rural residential use to industrial manufacturing. The land will be auctioned after final county approval, with proceeds benefiting Arizona’s public education system under the state constitution.
According to application documents, the project expects to provide at least 300 local jobs in its first phase.
Remote Location
The 1,105-acre site consists of vacant desert land south of the Magma Arizona Railroad and Skyline Drive. The property has only been used for state grazing leases and sits several miles from the nearest development.
A 600-acre property owned by Resolution Copper lies northwest across the railroad tracks. Resolution Copper plans to use that site as a filter plant and loadout facility. There, copper concentrate from their mine will be filtered and prepared for shipment to smelters by rail or truck.
The 300-megawatt Box Canyon Solar Project, spanning roughly 2,000 acres, operates south of the proposed manufacturing site.
Planning Supervisor Sangeeta Deokar noted the manufacturing site remains “landlocked by the Magma Railroad to the west edge of the site” and characterized by “natural desert landscape” with no surrounding houses.
Chairman Morris Mennenga noted the railroad is “basically closed off at 79.”
Access and Transportation
Currently, no public access exists to the property. Skyline Drive extends partway toward the site from the northwest but ends at a locked gate, preventing through traffic to Highway 79.
County approval will trigger construction extending Skyline Drive to Highway 79, creating the primary access route for employees and delivery vehicles.
Railroad Plans
Rose said the railroad will be reactivated to serve both the manufacturing site and Resolution Copper’s planned filter plant, once mining begins. “The rail line will be reopened and be utilized not only in this project, but in the project to the north,” Rose said. “Once that mine starts to produce, this railroad will be quite active.”
Both projects share critical infrastructure needs. Both require the Skyline Drive extension for road access, and both will benefit from railroad revival – Resolution Copper to ship mining concentrate outbound, and the manufacturing facility to move materials in and out of the site.
Rose emphasized the strategic advantages: “This is a very good area. It’s surrounded by vacant land” and positioned to take advantage of existing railroad infrastructure rather than requiring new transportation systems.
Stipulation Dispute
The commission struck Stipulation 7, one of 16 proposed development conditions, at Rose’s request. The stipulation required the applicant to “develop a planned regional multi-use trail corridor along Magma railroad” and dedicate the trail area to the county.
Rose argued the requirement was incompatible with the project design. “Putting a multi-use trail along a railroad track in the middle of industrial project is not super compatible,” she told commissioners.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend the project with 15 stipulations after removing the trail requirement.
Board Review Next
The applications advance to the Pinal County Board of Supervisors for final approval. Following supervisor approval, Arizona State Land Department will schedule the Project Ranger property auction. The successful bidder will be responsible for developing the manufacturing facility and creating the jobs promised for Pinal County residents.
