Necessary zoning changes are pending for a company planning to develop three travel center and truck stop projects along Interstate 40 outside Kingman. Mohave County Supervisors will take up the requests from Petroleum Wholesale, L.P., of The Woodlands, Texas during their board meeting next Monday.
The county planning and zoning commission is recommending approval after considering the requests during its May 22 meeting.
Two of the projects are proposed 20 miles east of Kingman at Blake Ranch Road, both north and south of Interstate 40. The ten and eleven acre parcels currently designated as general commercial would be rezoned to highway commercial under the proposal.
County Development Services Director Tim Walsh said both properties are littered with abandoned commercial buildings and that it will be nice to see new development occur there. He said a company representative indicated that a fuel station, convenience store and restaurant mix are envisioned for the projects.
The other project is proposed west of Kingman in Golden Valley in the vicinity of I-40 and Shinarump Drive. Sun Development seeks rezoning from agricultural residential to highway commercial for the five acre parcel that is vacant.
Commission member Keith Walker said the upgrade of the highway through the Interstate 11 initiative has sparked interest in truck stop developments in northwest Arizona. He noted two projects are in different stages in White Hills and a couple more are planned outside Wickenburg.
Petroleum Wholesale Vice President Richard Osburn said the company does not expect to begin site preparation for any of the three projects until the middle of next year. He said they’ll enjoy economies of scale with simultaneous development of the three projects and that a 7-9 month construction timetable would likely see the new businesses open before the summer of 2022.
Osburn said the company has been in business for five decades and is very confident in transportation traffic and the fuel market in northwest Arizona.
“Absolutely. We wouldn’t be doing this if we weren’t very comfortable with the area,” Osburn said. “I think we pride ourselves on site selection. I just don’t think you can go wrong on that interstate right there in Kingman. In our minds, we have no hesitance at all.” Osburn said the fuel station at Shinarump will likely wear the Shell brand. He said both fuel stations at Blake Ranch Road will likely be Chevrons, though one might be a Texaco.
