As January unfolds, one of Winslow’s most significant ongoing stories continues to be the proposed Winslow Commerce and Industrial Park, a multi-phase development project from Atlas Global Development Group. Even though the development reaches a size of 4,000 acres or more, the current plan is just a 1,449-acre Planned Area Development (PAD) that is slowly taking shape near the Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport.
While the land was originally zoned exclusively for industrial use, Atlas Global is now requesting PAD zoning, which permits a mix of industrial and light industrial activities alongside additional tailored guidelines. For both city officials and residents, this path promises greater oversight and flexibility than what would come from keeping the previous zoning, but it also brings heightened scrutiny as Winslow seeks to balance economic expansion with quality of life concerns.
A core feature of the PAD approach is the inclusion of both heavy and light industrial zones, each governed by specific rules. According to Winslow Planning and Zoning Officer Jason Sanks, the project’s geography has been carefully designed to push the heavier industrial activities away from more populated neighborhoods like Southside and Coopertown. Instead, a “commerce park” area is slated for indoor-oriented businesses and manufacturing, with any loading docks required to face away from residential areas to mitigate noise and visual impacts. Sanks noted that Winslow’s current code wouldn’t normally demand such conditions, but PAD zoning allows for additional custom requirements, ones that Atlas Global has voluntarily accepted to garner more support from residents and officials who will be affected by the plan.
This shift came after significant public outcry over initial plans to position heavy industrial zones directly next to homes. In early 2024, dozens of residents showed up at council meetings to voice their concerns. The dialogue has been a key driver in shaping the regulations and guidelines within the PAD, which Sanks says align with Winslow’s newly adopted general plan.
The city’s stance is that if Atlas Global wants PAD approval, they must adhere to these community-informed standards for noise abatement, visual aesthetics, and traffic management. During this time the residents were also imperative to developing the city’s general plan, which will act as an aerial view of the city’s development and inform future decisions.
The 1,449 acres that make up this PAD lie west of Highway 87, south of Coopertown, and north of Winslow’s prison complex. Although the developer plans to add more acreage near Southside in the future, such expansions would fall under the same PAD guidelines, ensuring consistency across the entire development. That consistency could prove vital as Atlas Global moves into deeper design and engineering phases.
Alongside zoning considerations, Atlas Global has published detailed design guidelines for the project, addressing lighting, drainage, building design, and traffic flow. These guidelines, which are shaped by both city requirements and public feedback, will function as the structural “rules of the road” for every building permit and utility plan going forward. Once the preliminary PAD is approved, Atlas Global can progress to more detailed site planning, where specifics like grading, landscaping, and lighting designs become clearer. Any departure from the framework established in the PAD would trigger additional scrutiny and possibly more public hearings.
A central component of the development’s feasibility is the Lindbergh Parkway, a proposed bypass that would connect Interstate 40 to Highway 87 without funneling heavy traffic through Winslow’s core. Winslow Economic Director Jack Fitchett confirmed that the city is actively seeking grants to fund the Parkway, given traffic projections as high as 61,000 additional daily vehicle trips once the park reaches full build-out. Sanks emphasized that if the city cannot secure funding for the roadway in time, Atlas Global must “revise their PAD and take on responsibility for developing it themselves,” ensuring no stalemates occur that leave Winslow burdened by unmitigated traffic.
While road infrastructure is one major focus, water usage stands as an equally pressing issue. Data centers and hydrogen manufacturing, two significant water consumers, could eventually occupy 25% or more of the park’s footprint. Residents have expressed alarm over the potential strain on the region’s underground aquifer, a critical water source for surrounding neighborhoods. In an effort to assuage fears, Atlas Global principal Dan Lupien made a public promise to cover the cost of deepening residents’ wells if the development’s water draw negatively impacts them.
This approach to accountability is emblematic of the heightened level of public scrutiny the project has received. With a more detailed PAD now on file, Winslow officials and reporters can begin conducting deeper assessments into water demands, stormwater management, and utility capacities. These studies will feed into subsequent council hearings, where community members can continue voicing concerns or asking for modifications before final permits are issued.
From its original conception, the Winslow Commerce and Industrial Park has been presented as a transformative, multi-billion-dollar investment that could reshape the local economy through jobs, infrastructure upgrades, and increased tax revenues. Yet public confidence hinges on transparency and adherence to community-influenced guidelines. According to Sanks, additional outreach sessions and public hearings are expected in the months ahead, ensuring that residents are kept informed about everything from traffic impact studies to environmental assessments.
Ultimately, the project’s success or failure will hinge on meeting the community’s expectations for responsible growth. By forging a path that incorporates public input, adheres to a strict phased approach, and maintains accountability through binding guidelines, Winslow aims to welcome new industrial and commercial activities without sacrificing its charming small-town appeal. In 2025, this plan enters its third year of development.
