The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit for a 26-bed assisted living and memory care facility in the unincorporated San Tan Valley area. The decision clears the path for construction of the Emerald Glenn South project on a vacant parcel located south of Queen Creek. San Tan Valley is about 7 miles southeast of Queen Creek.
The board granted the permit for the facility as proposed, subject to 15 specific conditions the developer must satisfy. The approval followed a public hearing where one resident addressed the board and no objections were recorded. The board moved forward with a voice vote, and no supervisors opposed the measure.
The facility will occupy a roughly 2.1-acre site at the southeast corner of East Empire Boulevard and North Wild Horse Drive, near West Hunt Highway. The land is currently undeveloped and falls under direct Pinal County governance rather than the Town of Queen Creek or the Town of San Tan Valley. The building will encompass approximately 19,000 square feet.
Senior planner Tanya Bedward presented details to the board, noting the design aims to help residents remain close to family and their community as they age. Developers Patrick and Jennifer Tona of Gilbert described the structure as X-shaped, featuring four short hallways intended to reduce walking distances for residents and allow staff quicker access to call buttons.
Jennifer Tona, who identified herself as a nurse, explained the home is designed to support residents through end-of-life care. Features include on-site meal preparation, showers without raised lips for easier access, and larger rooms at the ends of hallways to accommodate couples.
During the hearing, San Tan Valley resident Karen Mooney expressed neutrality regarding the project. While she described the facility as beautiful, she raised concerns about a second entrance onto Empire Boulevard near a traffic light on a busy road. Mooney requested that the entrance be restricted to right-in, right-out access only, preventing drivers from crossing traffic.
