Atlas Global has announced changes to the initial development plans for I-40 Tradeport project in Winslow, following significant community opposition. This move shifts the project’s Phase 1 development away from the Coopertown and Southside neighborhoods to a new 1,400-acre location west of Highway 87, addressing residents’ concerns about the impact on their communities.
The adjustments come in response to vocal feedback from Coopertown and Southside residents, who have been actively participating in council meetings and community events to express their opposition to the project’s proposed proximity to their neighborhoods. Dan Lupien, president at Atlas Global Development, detailed the company’s revised approach in a press release, emphasizing the importance of community input in the planning process.
“We listened to input from your mayor, council, and neighbors to come up with a smaller footprint that is well suited for employment uses. We now plan to submit for a Planned Area Development (PAD) on just 1,400 acres of land located mainly west of the 87 and all south of the levy. Importantly, we are no longer proposing any uses next to Southside or Coopertown as we heard feedback over the last several months from your elected leaders that the community would much prefer to begin employment use development further south.
“Through your elected leader’s guidance and after the many community conversations we have developed this plan that provides for jobs but does not interfere with any of the existing residential communities,” stated Lupien.
This is the second major change to Atlas Global’s plans in Winslow. Initially, the company revised its plans due to concerns over high traffic and noise from cargo planes at the nearby airport, which residents feared would disrupt the tranquility of Winslow. In response to these concerns, Atlas Global relocated the cargo plane aspect of the project to Kingman, addressing the community’s apprehensions about noise and disruption to daily life.
