A new poll shows most Maricopans support the future industrial park announced during a July 16 city council meeting — but more than 4 in 10 oppose it or remain unsure.

Approximately 57% of the 633 local residents who responded to the poll said they felt the so-called “industrial triangle” slated for the southeast corner of White and Parker Road and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway has benefits in store for the city.

This included Homestead resident Debbie Burt-Rowan, 66, whose street, Novak Lane, backs up to White and Parker. She noted the potential benefit of new local jobs reducing congestion on State Route 347.

“I think if people could work here and live here, it would alleviate a lot of the traffic on the 347 and make us a destination,” she said.

Nearly one-third of respondents said they did not think the industrial park was a good idea. Naysayers said they were concerned about pollution and whether there would be substantial job creation, as well as believing the city needs better infrastructure first.

About the Industrial Triangle

Chief Strategy Officer Rick Horst and Chief Economic Development Officer Christian Price last week announced two companies interested in planting roots in the Industrial Triangle.

Cleveland-based Envision Waste Services wants to invest $64 million for a mixed waste processing facility where materials are recovered for new product manufacturing.

Another firm, San Diego-based Prescott Composites, proposed investing $1.8 billion to produce waste-to-energy, plus graphite and graphene materials used in battery components. Jobs for both facilities are expected to top 2,600 by 2029, according to Price.

The land slated for the industrial park hinges on the passage of Proposition 482, a special ballot measure that would authorize the city to sell 728 acres of city-owned property. This includes 680 acres of land set aside for the industrial park. The special election for that measure is Tuesday.