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Chairman Kish opened the public hearing at 6:02 pm. Principal Planner Christian Williams presented the request the rezoning of approximately 152 acres generally located along McDowell Road - west of Bullard Avenue, east of 150th Drive, north of Interstate-10 (Papago Freeway) and south of Encanto Boulevard - from Goodyear Planned Regional Center Planned Area Development (PAD) to GSQ Regional Center Planned Area Development (PAD). Under the current PAD zoning, the property is designated as Mixed Use Commercial and is intended for commercial uses. The PAD and subsequent development agreements contemplated an outdoor shopping mall, known as Estrella Falls, to be developed on the site north of McDowell Road. The 2025 Goodyear General Plan designated the land use for this property as Business and Commerce. A portion of the property is also located within a Village Center Overlay and the Transit Oriented Development Overlay. The proposal is consistent with the General Plan and Overlays. Commercial as well as High Density Multi-Family is also consistent with the Business and Commerce Land Use Area. The property is divided into six Land Areas (Land Areas “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, and “F”). Mr. Williams presented a brief summary of some of the permitted uses within the various Land Areas included to provide a sense of the variety of land uses that could occur within the PAD.
- Land Area A - The intent of Land Area A is to allow a transition between the existing Rio Paseo residential uses to the north into the higher density and intensity commercial and residential uses to the south. Land Area A could be Mixed-Use with Residential and Commercial uses. In addition to multi-family and single family attached residential, other permitted uses in Land Area A include such uses as self-service storage buildings, offices, banks, schools, surgery centers, hotels, restaurants, and bars.
- Land Area B - The intent of Land Area B is to allow for a higher density and concentration of retail and residential uses. As the district transitions towards Goodyear Way, the PAD intends for buildings and active open spaces to front Goodyear Way (the south end of the land use area). The intent is to allow for a vertical mix of uses and encourage taller buildings to be constructed, however, the PAD does not require this to occur and one-story stand-alone single-use buildings would be permitted. Land Area B could be Mixed Use with Commercial and Residential and will have a higher mix and intensity of uses. In addition to multi-family, other permitted uses in Land Area B include car washes (limited to one), gas stations (only one within entire PAD Property but it could be located in Land Area B), auto sale (no outdoor displays in excess of 5 cars), hotels, bars, microbreweries, entertainment venues, restaurants, restaurants with drive-throughs (limited to a combined total of 2 in Land Area B and Land Area E), offices, banks, schools, surgery centers, and veterinary hospitals.
- Land Area C - The intent of Land Area C is to be the core or center of the GSQ development. Goodyear Way runs adjacent to and through this Land Area. The PAD intends for buildings and active open spaces to front Goodyear Way. The PAD would allow for single-story and stand-alone single-use buildings or shop buildings to be constructed. The development pattern allows for Land Area C to be developed with a variety of non-residential permitted uses, which include offices, banks, restaurants, bars, microbreweries, and entertainment establishments.
- Land Area D – The intent of Land Area D is to function similar to Land Area B but act as more of a transition from the core of the GSQ development into a retail and big-box-oriented portion of the overall development. Land Area D could be Mixed Use with Commercial and Residential and will have a higher mix and intensities of uses. In addition to multi-family, other permitted uses in Land Area D include auto sales (no outdoor displays in excess of 5 cars), hotels, bars, microbreweries, entertainment venues, restaurants, offices, banks, schools, veterinary hospitals and offices, and surgery centers.
- Land Area E – The intent of Land Area E is to be focused more on retail and big-box-retail similar to the existing shopping centers found along McDowell Road and PebbleCreek Parkway. Land Area E can be developed with a variety of non-residential uses, which include auto sales (no outdoor displays in excess of 5 cars), gas station (only 1 for entire PAD Property) and car wash if accessory to a gas station, offices, banks, surgery centers, restaurants, restaurants with drive-throughs (limited to a combined total of 2 in Land Area B and Land Area E), bars, microbreweries, and entertainment establishments.
- Land Area F – The intent of Land Area F is to allow for the development of automotive dealerships, automotive services and/or develop in a similar manner to that of Land Area E. Land Area F can be developed with a variety of non-residential uses, which include auto sales, auto repair, tire repair and oil and lube shops, hospital, bars, microbreweries, gas station (only 1 for entire PAD Property) car wash (1 stand-alone and, if the sole gas station allowed within the PAD Property is constructed in Land Area F a car wash may be an accessory use to such gas station), colleges, banks, schools, offices, restaurants, 1 stand-alone drive-through restaurant, and hotels.
A maximum of one gas station will be allowed within the entire PAD Property and that gas station could be located in Land Areas B, E or F, and that gas station may include a car wash as an accessory use. In addition, one stand alone car wash is allowed in Land Area F. A maximum of three standalone drive-through restaurants are Permitted within the PAD Property. A combined total of 2 of those may be located in Land Areas B and E and the other may be located in Land Area F (two north of McDowell Road and one south of McDowell Road). In addition, restaurants, coffee shops and similar uses with a drive-through that are attached to or part of a multi-tenant shops building with three or more tenants by a plaza, trellis, or roofline are permitted, in Areas E and F. Self-storage is Permitted Conditionally in area A in the northwestern portion of the PAD. The maximum heights allowed under the GSQ PAD are substantially greater in Land Areas B, C, D, E and F allowing for maximum building heights of 200 feet. Mr. Williams also gave an overview of other design guidelines such as setbacks, density, open space, building coverage and parking. Commission asked if there was interest in a building that is 200 feet tall. Mr. Williams explained that he has not heard any today but the site is quite large and this site is being zoned to be a village center so the option would be available. Mr. Williams compared the area to Westgate and explained that a 200 foot building is about 18-20 stories tall. Ed Bull, representing the applicant, was available for questions. Resident Mark Pelletier spoke in opposition to the development, particularly the setback requirements especially on Goodyear Way. There being no further public comment, Chairman Kish closed the public hearing at 6:24 pm. |