PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to deny a request from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to develop thousands of acres near Wittmann.

During a board meeting on Nov. 5, the supervisors unanimously rejected a proposed change to the land use north of the U.S. 60 between 211th and 235th avenues. BNSF had wanted to develop about 4,000 acres in this area into a freight rail facility.

BNSF previously told 12News the facility would generate lots of new jobs and amount to a "$3.2 billion investment in Arizona."

But residents around Wittmann had expressed concerns that such a large facility would change the landscape of this rural section of Maricopa County. The City of Surprise had previously voted to oppose the proposed BNSF project.

BOS Chairman Thomas

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