Kingman Crossing, Rancho Santa Fe interchanges, airport development in the works
KINGMAN – Various preliminary approvals came Tuesday for three major projects that Kingman officials hope improve transportation and stimulate economic development that will increase tax base and brings jobs for the future. Two of the initiatives gaining early stage thumbs up from the Kingman city council are proposed Interstate-40 interchanges, situated less than two miles apart.
The council approved the rezoning of four parcels proximate to the proposed Kingman Crossing, an interchange effort spearheaded by Kingman Regional Medical Center. A cluster of retail development is envisioned on both sides of the freeway, including more than 140 acres of developable, city-owned property to the south.
The proposed Rancho Santa Fe interchange includes arterials; one pushing south toward Hualapai Mountain Road and another extending north to provide a second entrance to the Kingman Airport and Industrial Park. Industrial development is expected along the parkway corridor leading to the airport.
The council voted Tuesday to adopt the Rancho Sante Fe Gateway Master Plan as well as approve rezoning requested for Sunbelt Development, JBS Investments and Lee and Gail Bruno. The holdings on 25 acres comprise just under 1,250 acres.
The third project involves the City effort to have the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) release 748-acres of publicly-owned property desired for additional development adjacent to the Airport Industrial Park. City Manager Ron Foggin explained the City’s consultant expects the FAA to convey the acreage to Kingman by next April.
While the FAA can sign over the property to the City, Manager Ron Foggin noted Kingman will need voter approval before selling any of the land to developers because of a state legal requirement to do so when the asset is valued in excess of $1.5 million. Foggin is suggesting that the City act quickly to seek voter approval in the November general election so Kingman could essentially market the land before taking control of the property next spring.
“The number of calls that we’ve received in the last 2 1/2 months with regards to want or need of industrial property from companies has just skyrocketed,” Foggin told Council members. “There was one day where we actually had different companies looking for industrial property in Kingman.”
That the projects are gaining simultaneous traction after years of effort prompted expressions of enthusiasm.
“All of these things that we’re doing are really foundational and it’s changing the course of the future for Kingman,” said Vice Mayor Travis Lingenfelter. “You think about how in the future how powerful we are going to be with all of this industrial land right off the interstate. We could really be a powerhouse,” Lingenfelter said.
Council member Jamie Scott Stehly agreed.
“This is really exciting,” Stehly said. “All these pieces that are just falling into place to start bringing in new industry to Kingman and to bring new jobs here.”
The Council approved a staff recommendation to declare the 748-acres as surplus to the City. Foggin said that sets the stage for staff to prepare a resolution the Council must approve July 21 to place the necessary question on the November 3 election ballot.
- Dave Hawkins
I live in Rancho Santa Fe, and I will be so happy to be able to get to town and to I 40 without having to circle around Hualapai mountain rd. I hope that maybe a Costco and a Harbor Freight store will be interested in a site here. even a new grocery store for shopping. We will be happy to see progress start as soon as possible.
I agree with the first poster, Jon. I too live near Rancho, in the Hualapai Foothills neighborhood. My husband and I are very excited with the new development and to not have to circle all around to Eastern or Hualapai Mountain Rd.