Rivian is planning to open a new service and delivery center in Scottsdale, Arizona, but the project is facing delays due to zoning permit issues.
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, land use attorneys for Mack Innovation Park — the site of the new center — plan to submit a rezoning application to the city to permit the facility within the complex.
The Park is located at East Bell Road in Scottsdale. Construction of the 305,400-square-foot facility is projected to be completed by April next year.
Rivian‘s service center will be located in one of the nearly finished buildings, which has 184,960 square feet, of which 65,566 square feet are planned to be the EV maker’s facility.
The park is currently zoned for light industrial, which does not allow vehicle service. The developer plans to downzone part of the park to general commercial.
If the proposal passes the pre-application phase, the developer will submit official documents for the city of Scottsdale to review.
The city provides feedback within a month, after which the city will schedule a hearing for the proposal, then deciding on it.
The service and delivery center will include repair and maintenance services, new offers and deliveries of vehicles ordered online or at Rivian showrooms.
Several residents of DC Ranch in North Scottsdale have raised concerns about plans to build an industrial park on the land, which was purchased at a public auction in early 2022.
Nearby property owners worry that the park could increase noise and lower property values.
Although the community council has no authority over the land, it stated that the plans are “not compatible with DC Ranch and the surrounding area.”
Similar opposition has been seen in Georgia, where Rivian is building its second plant. Construction there was delayed as citizen lawsuits over the factory’s zoning were fought in court by the state and Rivian.
The EV maker currently has a service center in Deer Valley, Phoenix, a Rivian Space in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a location in Tempe that features both services.
On Tuesday, the company opened a service center in Charlotte, North Carolina, expanding its network to 16 locations across the Atlantic States and 62 nationwide.
Of these, 47 are dedicated Service Centers, while 15 are Service plus Demo Centers.
Rivian’s Service + Demo Centers combine vehicle servicing with showroom displays and test drives.
While most US states have up to three Rivian Service Centers, the company currently operates 11 in California, where it is headquartered.
The EV maker’s services also include a network of showrooms across the United States, known as ‘Rivian Spaces.’ The brand has 30 facilities nationwide.
Rivian recently affirmed it will open its Rivian Adventure (charging) Network to all EV owners, with over 80% of more than 130 stations already supporting non-Rivian vehicles.
The charging map also features 29 upcoming stations. Of those, most are planned for the Pacific States, including seven in California and one in Arizona.
