San Tan Valley approves its first annexation and rezoning for a commercial project, overriding a planning board denial

San Tan Valley's Town Council has annexed and rezoned land for commercial use for the first time since the town incorporated, clearing the way for a small shopping and office center on Gantzel Road.

The council approved the requests at its Wednesday, Nov. 4, meeting, the Queen Creek Independent reported. The site covers about 3.3 acres of Pinal County land at the southwest corner of Gantzel Road and Lone Star Lane and was rezoned from rural development to community commercial.

What would be built

Developer Lone Star Planners LLC plans two multi-tenant buildings of about 9,500 square feet apiece, both facing Gantzel. Allowed uses include shops, restaurants, personal and professional services, and medical and dental offices. No tenants have been named.

The plans keep the buildings under 30 feet tall, put most of the parking away from neighboring homes and add a thick landscaped buffer on the west and south sides, where low-density housing sits. An EPCOR wastewater plant is to the east, according to the Independent.

Split recommendations

The town's planning and zoning commission had recommended on Sept. 26 that the council deny the annexation and rezoning. At the council's public hearing, some residents raised concerns about more traffic on Gantzel Road.

Supporters pointed to the prospect of medical offices closer to home and a broader tax base. One 19-year resident told the council he now drives to Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek to see doctors, the Independent reported.

Councilmember Brian Tyler, the council's liaison to the planning commission, called the project "a well thought out design" and said the applicant had answered residents' concerns, according to the paper. Adam Baugh of Withey Morris Baugh, who represented the developer, argued that the town's code is stricter than the county's and that the project would add jobs.

"The community spoke and the council listened," he said after the vote, the Independent reported.

The paper did not report the vote count.

Sources

yourvalley.net