City Council Memorandum Development Services Memo No. 26-011
Date:
April 6, 2026
To:
Mayor and Council
Thru:
John M. Pombier, City Manager Leah Powell, Deputy City Manager Kevin Mayo, Acting Development Services Director
From:
Taylor Manemann, City Planner
Subject:
PLH25-0028 The Bower Dobson Introduction and Tentative Adoption of Ordinance No. 5157
Request:
Rezone from Planned Area Development (PAD) for specialty retail to PAD for single-family residential
Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) approval for subdivision layout and housing product for a 23-lot single-family subdivision
Location:
Generally located ΒΌ mile east and south of the southeast corner of Dobson Road and Chandler Boulevard
Applicant:
Jon Gillespie, Rose Law Group
Proposed Motion:
Rezoning Move City Council introduce and tentatively adopt Ordinance No. 5157 approving PLH25-0028 The Bower Dobson, Rezoning from Planned Area Development (PAD) for specialty retail to PAD for single-family residential, generally located ¼ mile east and south of the southeast corner of Dobson Road and Chandler Boulevard, subject to the conditions as recommended by Planning and Zoning Commission.
Preliminary Development Plan Move City Council approve Preliminary Development Plan PLH25-0028 The Bower Dobson for subdivision layout and housing product for a 23-lot single-family subdivision, generally located ¼ mile east and south of the southeast corner of Dobson Road and Chandler Boulevard, subject to the conditions as recommended by Planning and Zoning Commission.
Background Data:
Zoned Planned Area Development (PAD) for specialty retail uses in 1986
Subject site approximately 4.13 acres
General Plan designates the site as Neighborhoods
Subject site currently vacant
Applicant is proposing 23 single-family lots totaling 5.57 du/ac
Surrounding Land Use Data:
North
Medical office, automobile services, and retail; then Chandler Blvd
South
Commonwealth Ave, then single-family residential and multi-family residential
East
Self-storage facility
West
Pennington Dr, then Chandler Elks Lodge and vacant land
General Plan and Area Plan Designations:
Existing
Proposed
General Plan
Neighborhoods
No Change
Proposed Development
Single-family Subdivision
Number of Lots
23
Building Setbacks (min)
Front: 10ft to livable and porches from property line 20ft to face of garage from back of sidewalk Sides: 5ft each Rear: 10ft to livable 5ft to patios and accessory structures
Typical Lot Size
3,120 sq ft - 4,894 sq ft 40ft x 78ft
Building Height (max)
30ft (2 stories)
Total Lot Coverage (max)
55%
Proposed Architectural Themes
Four (Desert Contemporary, Spanish Modern, Mid-century Modern, and Modern Prairie)
Number of Floor Plans
Three
Parking Provided
Each lot provides a two-vehicle garage and a driveway with sufficient space for parking two additional vehicles
On-street parking is provided on both sides
Review and Recommendation
The proposed development is a 23-lot single-family detached subdivision with a total density of 5.57 du/ac. This density is considered "medium-density residential" under the General Plan. Such density types can be considered for infill parcels in areas located between land uses of different intensities and may be located along arterial roads and adjacent to employment and commercial.
To the north, west, and east, the adjacent properties are primarily commercial in nature, including retail, medical offices, and storage uses. To the south, the land transitions to residential with established single-family residential to the southwest and multi-family residential to the southeast. The proposed single-family subdivision fits well within this setting and serves as a natural land use transition between the commercial corridor along Chandler Boulevard and the existing residential to the south.
The first iterations of the proposal included a private street with parking on only one side. Due to the proposed subdivision consisting of only 23-lots, staff encouraged the applicant to provide a public street to relieve the future homeowners of the financial burden of maintaining the internal road. The applicant was successfully able to rework retention areas to fit a public road constructed to city standards with parking on both sides. The applicant was able to achieve this without having to reduce the number of lots provided in the proposal.
The proposed development offers a "for sale" housing product that will bring more "missing middle" housing options to the market. Arcadia Communities is the developer for The Bower Dobson and is proposing housing product that consists of three floor plans with four different architectural styles including Desert Contemporary, Spanish Modern, Mid-century Modern, and Modern Prairie. Amenities are not required for the site due to its proximity to Maggio Ranch Park.
Staff finds that the proposed single-family subdivision is a compatible land use with the surrounding area and the General Plan Land Use designation. As such, the Planning and Zoning Comission recommends approval subject to conditions.
Public / Neighborhood Notification
This request was noticed in accordance with the requirements of the Chandler Zoning Code.
A neighborhood meeting sign was posted on the site and on social media via NextDoor.
A neighborhood meeting was held on January 29, 2026. In addition to the applicant and planning staff, a total of five (5) neighbors attended the meeting. Attendees initially had concerns regarding additional traffic and privacy concerns related to the 2-story housing product. The applicant provided additional information regarding the quality of site design which includes a public street with parking on both sides. Additionally, the landscape buffer on the south side of the proposal, combined with the width of Commonwealth Ave, will work together to provide separation between the proposed and existing residences.
As of the writing of this memo, Planning staff is not aware of any opposition.
Planning and Zoning Commission Vote Report
Planning and Zoning Commission meeting March 18, 2026 Motion to Approve
In Favor: 7 Opposed: 0
Recommended Conditions of Approval
Rezoning Planning and Zoning Commission recommends the City Council approve the Rezoning from PAD for specialty retail to PAD for single-family subdivision, subject to the following conditions:
Development shall be in substantial conformance with the Development Booklet entitled "The Bower Dobson" and kept on file in the City of Chandler Planning Division, in File No. PLH25-0028, modified by such conditions included at the time the Booklet was approved by the Chandler City Council and/or as thereafter amended, modified, or supplemented by Chandler City Council.
Completion of the construction of all required off-site street improvements including but not limited to paving, landscaping, curb, gutter and sidewalks, median improvements, and street lighting to achieve conformance with City codes, standard details, and design manuals.
The landscaping in all open spaces shall be maintained by the property owner or property owners' association and shall be maintained at a level consistent with or better than at the time of planting.
The landscaping in all rights-of-way shall be maintained by the adjacent property owner or property owners' association.
Right-of-way dedications to achieve full half-widths, including turn lanes and deceleration lanes, per the standards of the Chandler Transportation Plan.
Maximum lot coverage shall be 55%.
Minimum setbacks shall be as provided below and further detailed in the development booklet:
Front yard setbacks
10ft to livable and porches from property line 20ft to face of garage from back of sidewalk
Side yard setbacks
5ft each
Rear yard setbacks
10ft to livable 5ft to patios and accessory structures
Preliminary Development Plan Planning and Zoning Commission recommends the City Council approve the Preliminary Development Plan, subject to the following conditions:
Development shall be in substantial conformance with the Development Booklet entitled "The Bower Dobson" and kept on file in the City of Chandler Planning Division, in File No. PLH25-0028, modified by such conditions included at the time the Booklet was approved by the Chandler City Council and/or as thereafter amended, modified, or supplemented by Chandler City Council.
The same elevation shall not be built side-by-side or directly across the street from one another.
The site shall be maintained in a clean and orderly manner.
Landscaping (including for open spaces, rights-of-way, and other street medians) and perimeter walls shall be approved by the Planning Administrator.
The covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC & R's) to be filed and recorded with the subdivision shall mandate the installation of front yard landscaping within 180 days from the date of occupancy with the homeowners' association responsible for monitoring and enforcement of this requirement.
Sign packages, including free-standing signs as well as wall-mounted signs, shall be designed in coordination with landscape plans, planting materials, storm water retention requirements and utility pedestals, so as not to create problems with sign visibility or prompt removal of required landscape materials.
Each garage shall be pre-wired to provide 240V electrical capacity necessary to accommodate future electric vehicle charging equipment.
Preliminary Development Plan approval does not constitute Final Development Plan approval; compliance with the details required by all applicable codes and conditions of the City of Chandler and this Primary Development Plan shall apply.
