Amkor Technology Inc. is moving forward with its $2 billion semiconductor packaging facility in north Peoria after filing its site plans. The project, located near Loop 303 and Lone Mountain Parkway, has sparked growing concern among residents of the nearby Vistancia community, especially as the facility's size doubled in recent months.

Last year, Amkor acquired 56 acres of land from the Vistancia Development community to build its advanced packaging campus, set to span roughly 2 million square feet. Once completed, the campus will create 2,000 jobs and support the growing semiconductor ecosystem in the region, including the nearby Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in north Phoenix. The facility will focus on testing and packaging microchips for data centers, smartphones, and eventually the automotive industry.

Amkor's development agreement with the city of Peoria and Vistancia stipulates that construction must begin by September 30, 2025, with employment targets set for the next decade, aiming for at least 850 workers by the time the facility is operational in 2034.

Amkor's Construction Plans

The project will be developed in two phases, with the first covering nearly 1.5 million square feet. This phase will feature a processing facility, utility buildings, a guardhouse, and other necessary structures. Additionally, parking areas along Peakview Road and Espial Avenue will be equipped with solar panels. Phase one will see buildings ranging from 15 to 118 feet in height, just shy of the 120-foot zoning limit.

Amkor's Senior Vice President, David McCann, noted that the facility's height would be comparable to the nearby TSMC campus, though Amkor's footprint will be roughly one-third of TSMC's. Construction for the second phase, an additional 1 million square feet, is unlikely to begin until around 2030, depending on customer demand.

Local Residents' Concerns

The expansion of the project has led to mounting frustrations among residents of Vistancia. Many claim they were misled about the project's size and scale. In recent city council meetings, several residents voiced their opposition, arguing that the change in plans—essentially doubling the facility's size—would have a significant impact on their community.

Amkor's initial design for the project was smaller and shorter than what is now being proposed. McCann explained that the need for a larger facility, driven by customer demand and competitiveness, necessitated the increased scale. “We have to have a large-scale facility to be competitive in the United States,” he said, referring to the decision to add a second manufacturing floor.

City's Role in the Development

The land where Amkor plans to build has long been zoned for mixed-use, commercial, and industrial purposes. Maricopa County approved the Vistancia master plan in 1999, and two years later, Peoria annexed the 320-acre commercial area where Amkor's campus will be located.

Amkor purchased the 56-acre site from Vistancia Development for $4.12 million in late November 2024. The development agreement includes provisions for 50 acres to be donated to Amkor, with the remaining 6 acres sold. Importantly, the project does not require any zoning changes, meaning no additional approval from the Peoria City Council is necessary.

City officials are now reviewing Amkor's site plans to ensure compliance with all zoning, architectural, and regulatory requirements. The plans will also be evaluated against Vistancia's Design Review Committee standards.

Next Steps

In response to community concerns, freshman councilmember Matt Bullock, representing the Mesquite District, will host a town hall meeting on February 27, 2025, to discuss the project and explore what aspects of it the city can influence. The meeting will take place at the Mountain Vista Club Gymnasium at 7 p.m.

As construction proceeds, the city and residents alike will continue to monitor the evolving project and its potential impacts on the surrounding community.