Buckeye approves 594 residential and commercial units despite traffic gridlock warnings

Welcome everyone. I call this meeting to order. Stand with me and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Will you please call role? Chair Burton present. Commissioner Puppy. Commissioner Ragstale here. Commissioner Cupsick here. Vice Chair Damasio. Commissioner Bassler here. Commissioner Trpiano here.

Alternate Hester present. Alternate Manuel here. Alternate Belshi, alternate McDonald here. We have alternate Manual seated for district 1 and alternate Hester seated for district 4. Thank you, Carrie. Next on the agenda number item number two are the minutes. I have a motion. I move that we approve the minutes of the April 8th, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting. I'll second that. All in favor? Any opposed? Mr. Cubs, what what was that? What was that? A That was a Yes, Mr.

Chairman. Thank you. Motion passes. All right, next item on the agenda is a I did that already. Uh we have the regular agenda which is item 3A Yuma and Apache multif family site plan case number PLZ SP-240031 presented by Mandy Woods principal planner All right. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Mandy Woods, uh, principal planner with development services, and tonight I'm going to be presenting, um, Yuma and Apache multif family site plan, PLZ SP24-000031.

Just for a brief project overview, the applicant on this is Mark Ready with RBI Planning and Landscape Architecture on behalf of Sage Creek Festival LLC who is the owner and Dominium who is the developer on the project. The location is southeast corner of Yuma and Apache Road and the request is for site plan approval of a 200 unit multifamily build to rent style residential community um on approximately 17 acres of property.

For site context, you can see the project site is outlined in red there. Um the current property right now is vacant. To the north is the Acacia Crossing residential community across Yuma Road. To the south is Desert Moon Estates, another residential community. Um to the east um it's currently vacant, but this will be the the future Sundance Apartments multif family project which is a relatively recent um site plan approval before.

And then um to the west is bungalows at Sundance, another build to rent project and the Furday RV resort. Uh both of those are across Apache Road. The general plan land use designation of the property is neighborhood. So the proposed development is consistent with the land use designation of the property.

The um existing zoning designation on this is um one of our obsolete zoning districts which is commercial center and um CC does promote or permit the proposed use which is multifamily residential and just to give a brief overview of some of the details on the site plan. Um it is 200 units um built- to rent style. There is um 100 three-bedroom units and then 100 fourbedroom units which we find to be a very unique rental product. Um it's exclusively these these bedroom counts.

So, this is a a really intended to be an affordable option more for families. And um the density proposed is just over 10 dwelling units per acre, which is compliant with the density that's allowed in the um zoning district, which it allows up to 14.52 dwelling units per acre. Um and then as far as buildings on the property, um it's comprised of 95 two-story duplex residential buildings. Um and then 10 one-story single unit accessible residential buildings.

And then there's a central amenity clubhouse um leasing office. Parking is compliant with all of our development code requirements. And now that I've given you the overview, this is the site plan itself. I did want to note that um this is rotated so that way north points right. Um fits better on the slide when it's oriented that way. Um so the primary access is um from Apache Road and that is shown with a green arrow right there.

Um there is an emergency access that's provided um there's a emergency access only easement that is along the southern edge of the property. Um and that is actually a shared access easement with the future Sundance apartments to the east. Um and it is only intended for emergency access. So that emergency access gate is right there. Um and then there is just another quick thing to highlight. Um a centrallylo community clubhouse and leasing office like I mentioned.

Um that also is the pool area and playground area just to kind of show where the the primary arrival experience is when people enter the site. Um and up on the screen is the landscaping plan. Again the note that uh north is to the right just like on the site plan open space provided is um 31% which exceeds our code requirements. Um our um amenitized open space is 15% which is also compliant.

Uh the the plant pallet is um low water use and um shade trees throughout the site generally kind of concentrated in sort of your amenity areas, your common areas along the perimeter. Um they have a lot of um shading along pedestrian pathways and within the private backyards. And I did want to note that each unit is provided a private rear yard that um appears to be over just over 10 feet in depth, each as wide as the unit.

Um just doing a quick area takeoff, it appears there around 350 square feet of um private open space averaged per unit. Is a great amenity for residents. Um and then this is just zooming in on um some of the the amenities that I've mentioned. So that's the center of the site there. Again, north is pointing right, but you have the the centrally located clubhouse and pool, two playgrounds, which I don't know if show this on here or not. Try this out. There.

So, that's one of the playgrounds and then that's one of the other playgrounds. They're designed for different age groups. Um, and then two secondary amenity areas to the north, the south, I guess that's south and north as well. Um, that provides over 4,000 square feet of natural turf. Um, and additional shade remodels for residents to use.

Um, and then throughout the the project site, there's also additional multi-purpose turf and lawn areas um for various purposes like lawn games or picnicking. And then um a private bus shelter um not shown on here, but that that's located just off of the primary entry off of Apache Road. Um, for the elevations that were provided, the the project does utilize a contemporary architectural style with a color palette that's mostly neutral grays and browns. Um, very complimentary to the desert.

Got some white um, which really kind of fits the contemporary feel and then some cool blue tones um, as well as some warm stone accents throughout. Um, movement, articulation, and material variety do meet development code requirements. Um, and there are three color schemes, um, and some varying roof lines to add some, um, visual interest throughout the project. Right here on the screen is the clubhouse design. And then, um, there are three building types um, for the actual units.

Buildings one and two are the one-story accessible units. There's only 10 of those. So, this is building one utilizing one of the color schemes. Building two, again, one of the accessible singlestory units utilizing a different color scheme. And then um the majority of the site, so 95 of the buildings, um are these these twotory duplex units, which really show um a lot of great movement as far as changes in plane and um color variation.

Um these I'll show these are just two two of the provided color schemes as well as um roof line variations provided on these these two twotory units. Street elevations were provided within the the site plan submittal just to ensure that there's variation in color scheme and roof lines um along the perimeters of the project. Um so the street streetcapes are not too repetitive. So these are um the views along each of the the streetscapes.

So the top two this is um a both of these are Apache Road to the north and to the south of the primary entryway and then this along here is along Yuma Road. That would be the view. Um and then in addition to the the streetscapes, uh a site plan indicating the color scheme distribution throughout the site was provided just to ensure there's not monotony internal to the site as well. And then um these are the the wall plan and provided details.

Um the the site perimeter does feature a theme wall design um that is broken up with some partial view fencing just to add some additional visual interest and articulation along the street front edges. Um and then I did want to highlight there's there's two pedestrian gate connections. See if I can point it out on this. There's one right there, one right there. There's two more along Yuma as well.

So there's good connectivity um to the perimeter streets far as pedestrian connections go for the project for utilities and infrastructure and other services. Um the developer will um be responsible for any water and sewer infrastructure improvements per the reports. The developer will construct um half streetet improvements. Um they do provide evenly distributed dumpster enclosures in a loop pattern throughout the project.

Um the project will also have to accommodate drainage in accordance with the provided drainage report. And then um property will be serviced by city, fire, and police. Um I'm not mentioning I wasn't mentioning school impacts by choice um simply because the use is allowed by right so they don't have to go through kind of the extra school facilities process here. But that said, the applicant does intend to to work with the school districts on impacts generated from this project.

With that, that brings me to the recommendation. Um, the recommendation tonight is to approve PLZ SP24-0031 subject to conditions A through Q for the following reasons. It furthers goals of the general plan. It conforms to code requirements and there are no outstanding issues from reviewing departments. I am happy to answer any questions and then I wanted to note the applicant and their um project team is here as well to help answer any questions. Thank you. You're welcome, Mandy. Excuse me.

Did the applicants want to speak? I do not have a presentation prepared, but they're happy to come up if there are questions that I cannot ask or answer. Thank you, Mandy. All right, let's starting off with uh Mr. Triano. Questions? Yeah, I know a little bit about the developer because uh the the like one of projects they try to get into Buckeye before didn't make it, but um this is a this is unique for Dominion, isn't it? Um usually they build multi-story. I cannot answer that one.

So if you step over to the podium or to my left Arizona that's why we've seen Good evening. My name is Mark Ready. Um I'm the applicant with RBI and Mark Laming is with the developer Dominium. So I'll let him respond to that question. Um yeah it is relatively new concept. Uh historically we've done threetory walk ups for family products and then seniors we would typically do a fourstory corridor building with elevators. Um we found that this is a really attractive product.

It kind of mimics the single family lifestyle where you can walk into your front door. Um you don't have to go up a flight of stairs. Um and then it also provides a backyard for each unit which is a lot more attractive than um a balcony would be. So, we've just found that we can make this type of product work and it's something that's um very livable. So, that's what kind of led us this route. Is the demographic going to follow the mo your other models? I'm just curious on that one.

Um yeah, with it being three and four bedrooms, uh it will definitely be family oriented. Um theoretically, single people could live there, but that's obviously a lot of house for one person. Um, so I'd imagine that the the number of heads uh in each household is probably a little bit higher than average. Okay. Um, and there's going to be on-site management, correct? Yeah. Full-time.

Um, at this size of project, we probably have two full-time um, leasing staff and then a half-time person and then two to three maintenance staff as well. Yeah, the design looks great. I I don't have a problem with the design. It's just I've heard some issues in the past with the company. So, I just wanted to get some questions answered. Okay. Uh can I Yeah, I mean we also we currently uh own Choya Ranch in Buckeye. Um so, I mean that seems like it's been going relatively well.

I don't know if there's other specific things that I can address more about some stuff back east, but it's that's not near here or there. So, right now understood. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bassler. Um, this project fits with the other projects that are along the south side of of Yuma, which is all multi- uh family homes. Um, so my concern is not particularly with this project. My concern is for the traffic engineer and the corner of Yuma and Watson.

This is another opportunity that is going to place more and more traffic on on Yuma. Uh this it's since it's down by Apache, I am assuming that some of that traffic will probably flow west to get out to Highway 10, but the majority will follow and go east. So, I'm not opposed to this project, but I think the city has got to take a very, very, very close look at the intersection of Yuma and Watson and figure out what they're going to do. It's already a disaster.

Somebody's going to get killed there trying to get from Fries over to Walmart across the traffic. So, something has got to happen to that intersection. This is going to add more traffic to that intersection. So again, I'm not opposed to this. It fits with the the the terrain and what's going on on the south side of Yuma, but it will create more and more of an issue with the traffic on Yuma. So that's my concern. Thank you, Mr. Esther. I would like to hear from our traffic engineer. I'm sorry.

I'd like to hear from our I was trying to save you time John chair um council members. Yes. As Mr. Bassler indicated and Mr. Hesser probably wants to know as well. We are aware that the intersection of Yuma and Watson is constrained traffic volumes. We are looking at trying to figure out a way to put dual eastbound lefts and westbound left so people going east and west on Yuma can make a left to go north south.

We know the existing left turn pocket out there today eastbound is extremely short and because of that left turning vehicles in there queue up into one of the eastbound through lanes. That's one of the things that also be resolved when we look at that intersection. We're also very familiar with the full medium break and Walmart that will also be addressed. It's all part of that one big large project. So we're looking at it.

I don't have the answer today to tell you that it'll be fixed by a a known date, but it's something in our CIP that we're going to evaluate and get taken care of. I'd like to say we're going to have it done before they're operational, but I can't dictate and predict timing completely. My question. Okay. No questions. No questions. It does look like a lovely project. Mr. Manuel, I have no questions. I I do like the way it looks. Thank you. Thank you. And hello. Hello. I said thank you, Miss Cubs.

Please, it's your turn. Thank you. Um my question is um similar to Mr. ambassadors. But what will this project warrant a light being put at Apache in Yuma? Seems to be a lot going on at that intersection. Mr. Willlet. So the intersection of Patchy Yuma, she's right, Miss Cupsick. This intersection is going this project on the hard southeast corner. There is a traffic signal coming in at that intersection.

It is a combination of the project across the street mark for uh the um the retail/commercial they're required to put it in as part of their project day one. Okay. Signal will be coming in soon to make this intersection operate a lot better. the signal. I can almost predict that will be in before development is in. Thank you. I appreciate that. Okay. It looks like a really nice project.

It looks like a project that we don't have with all those um it looks like it's going to fit a need for bigger families and I like that. Thank you very much. Thank you, Miss Cupsac. And I won't forget you again. Thank you, chair. All right, commission. What's your pleasure? Can I have a motion, please? I move that we um approve PLZP-24-0031 to approve the site plan. Can I have a second? Second. It's been moved and second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you.

Agenda item number 3B, Miller and I 10, planned area development major amendment case number PL ZZZ24 012. Miss Woods, you're up again. Good evening again, commissioners. Again, my name is Mandy Woods, uh, principal planner with development services, and I am presenting Miller and I 10 planned area development major amendment. Um, and this is case number PLZ 24-0012. The applicant is Carolyn Oper, um, on behalf of America Real Estate Company, which is the owner.

The location is the southeast corner of Miller Road and I 10. And the request, as I stated, is for a major amendment to an existing PD overlay on the the project site, um, which is about 29 acres in size. Um, just for some site context, uh, the project site is shown there outlined in red. Um, it is currently vacant. Um, to the north there's some property that's still under county jurisdiction, including some vacant land owned by the flood control district across I 10.

Of course, the south is vacant land, east is um a storage user as well as um some vacant land. And then to the west across Miller Road is the Miller Commerce Center, which includes some convenience uses, fuel centers, um hotel and service restaurants.

The general plan land use designation of the property is business commerce um which is intended for um some community and regional serving commercial development, professional offices and business parks um and also encourages access to to major roads um while also encouraging walkability and connections to adjoining neighborhoods. the proposed major amendment and the subsequent and anticipated development is consistent with this existing land use designation.

The zoning for the property is um general commerce GC, one of our obsolete districts um with an existing planned area development overlay that was approved in 2015 um case number PLZ 13 000071. Um, and this this previous PAD overlay limited the development of the site pretty substantially. Um, it took the the GC uses and condensed it down to a very short list. Um, limited to just commercial, retail, food service, hotel and lodging, automotive and transportation and multifamilymixed use.

So really the purpose of this major amendment to um the PD overlay is to modify this use list um removing the multif family residential component um and then um proposing a new land use plan with uses that really better suit what we see as a really um special commercial um gateway into the city. Um so these are uses that really better fit this property. Um and it is a major amendment just because permitted uses are being modified. This is the the land use plan that was submitted.

Um so there are there are two development units that are proposed as part of this land use plan. Um there is um a size range that's provided within the narrative. So, the Miller Road development unit is um primarily along Miller Road and this is really intended for those commercial users um things that are more customer interfacing um that can range from about 17 to 21 acres in size. Anything beyond that would um require an amendment to the PAD.

Um and then the Yuma road development unit is tucked away. Um it doesn't have the the frontage on Miller. It would be accessed from Yuma. Um and then of course has that that I 10 frontage for visibility. Um and this is expected to be 8 to 12 acres um intended for most likely mini storage. Um and then uses that are associated with that. Um as well as um so vehicle sales, rental um and some supporting retail sales.

Um and this those sizes are going to be locked in at the time of um subdivision submitt for kind of the overview of this this modified P8 overlay. So future amendments um they just follow standard minor major amendment procedures by code um except for the the sizing that I had already mentioned. Um uses and development standards are prescribed for each of the two development units that were on the land use plan.

um they use the base zoning district of general commerce as sort of a starting point um but tailor it um accordingly. Um there was some representative imagery that was provided within the PA a but I did want to note that this is more for a quality or a hypothetical purpose of you know what could develop here but it's not binding in terms of the architectural style that's going to be seen on the property.

future design reviews are still going to have to go um through um the normal normal process for site plan review and follow all development code standards and guidelines. So um for proposed uses, this is the the use chart that was included within um the revised or the the proposed narrative for this major amendment to the PD overlay. Um, and as you can see, it separates it out from the Yuma Road development unit and the Miller Road commercial development unit.

Um, so Yuma is um allows warehousing, retail, mini storage, um, and vehicle sales and rental. And then the Miller Road commercial development unit, office of varying types, retail, shopping center, potentially a hospital or animal hospital, health care, supporting uses, possibly a hotel, religious assembly, and then veterinary clinic. I said, art gallery, that was another one.

Um, the existing PAD overlay specifically prohibits um certain uses, and these are going to ma remain prohibited in this amendment. Um, and those include things like adult entertainment assembly yards, um, automotive junkyards, heavy industrial, heavy manufacturing, landfills, large dairy operations, large distribution centers, outdoor recycling, um, and waste and salvage yards. So again, that's carried over from the previous approval. They're going to remain prohibited.

And these these uses um are significantly shorter than what GC the the base zoning currently allows or currently but would allow if there was no overlay I should say. The um proposed development standards um just taking it one development unit at a time. Um the Miller Road development unit there are modified setback standards. However, these are unchanged um from the existing PAD overlay. There's no changes proposed there.

Um there is an increased height allowance for if there were to be a regional hospital user on the site and that can go up to 120 feet just based on what a hospital would actually need but that height allowance is strictly for hospitals only no other uses. Um there is a higher percentage of landscaping that's provided this time around. Um the previous open space requirement was 10% um for this development unit.

It is now 20% which is more closely align with our development code standards for commercial landscaping expectations. All remaining standards otherwise follow um the general commercebased district standards. Um Yuma road development unit is relatively similar. Um there's no hospital allowance necessarily for that one, but similar in the sense that there's some modified setback standards and height, but these are again unchanged from the existing PD overlay that's in place.

Um it retains the the 10% site enhancement landscaping, which fits the character of this development unit since it's not as commercially oriented. Um and then the remaining standards follow the the general commercebased district standards in place. Um and then the kind of the last thing that I wanted to point out differences wise um the existing signage standards within the um existing PD overlay. So it calls for two freel freeway pylon signs. Um these are 80 foot in height.

Um one was anticipated as a digital billboard with um potentially 672 feet of copy area. Um there was also um five tenant monument signs and an entry sign. um and they're very specific about signage locations and standards and conceptual renderings in spite of all of the kind of specificity. It still requires um a comprehensive sign plan. So um for simplicity and because um the expected site user is not necessarily intending to wasn't ready to provide all of this detail um this was dialed back.

Um, so there are still two freeway pylon signs anticipated in the revised um, amended version of this overlay. Um, but these are dialed back to meet our development code requirements for freeway pylon signs. So lower height, lower copy area, no off-site advertising, and they would be restricted to one per development unit. That way they are spaced out a little bit. Um, there's one fewer monument sign expected.

um still an entry sign expected, but there's not as many of like the renderings and stuff. All of that will be deferred to a comprehensive sign plan in the future, which is a a viable route to to take care of all of the the signage needs for the project and would be typical for a multi-user commercial development. For public participation, there was a neighborhood meeting held um on March 19th of 2025 at 6 PM the Buckeye Elementary School District administrative administration office.

So rather close to the project site. Um this did go out to the larger 500 foot um mailing area just because the size of the site and there were only um attendees were only the project team, city staff and then three council members um attended as well. We haven't heard um any other um public comment on this. Um and then noticing did follow all of the development code requirements required by um both code and statute. for future development and infrastructure.

Um there will be required um submittals and approvals of future site plan and subdivision applications. And at that time, that's when um staff will ensure that any proposed development is consistent with the proposed PD overlay and just features kind of the expected high quality design that meets our our current code requirements. Um there is no formal phasing plan that is prescribed by the P A narrative.

It's expected that um the the future user for the Yuma development unit is pretty eager to move forward. So that could happen. Um and then the developer is um required to complete transportation, water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure improvements as determined by any of those future site plan approvals. Um and then the property will be serviced by city fire and police. No school impact to consider because of course there's no residential uses that are included anymore.

And with that, the recommendation on this is uh we would do recommend to conduct a public hearing initially and then um recommend approval of the case to mayor and city council subject to conditions A through T um for the following reasons um in that it furthers goals of the Buckeye General Plan. It either conforms to code standards or proposes alternate standards that results in even higher quality development. Um and then there's no outstanding issues from reviewing departments.

And um with that, the applicant is here in attendance. I am also available to answer any questions. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Woods. I go to commissioners. Uh commissioners, starting do you have any questions? Starting with you, Mr. Manuel. I'm sorry. I have no questions. I'm I just think it's a good place to get developed. It's been kind of bacon for quite a while. Thank you, Mr. Ragsdale. I agree. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Cubsac. Thank you, Chair.

I I do have a question for for Mandy, please. Um the site the sign slide. Um, I think I remember why we approved the higher signage. Um because the freeway curves weird right there and the the smaller signs weren't going to be very visible from either side of the free, you know, coming from the east or coming from the west because of the Jones Ford stuff and then the development across the street was and I I think I remember that. I might might be wrong, but I think I remember that.

Is there a reason why they were dialed back then? So, I can't speak to the history um as to like what was considered at the time of the original approval, but it was the applicant's um proposal to to make them more compliant with our existing development code requirements. Oh, okay. That answers my question then. I know I'm all about the signs. I want people to know where our businesses are. Thank you. That's all I have. It looks nice. Thanks. Thank you, Miss Cupsac. Mr.

Hester, um the only thing I would bring up is is there any consern uh with the state with the I 10 Miller on and off seems to be it's like one lane and I think the more we're getting in there, is there any thought of Two lane off and two lane on. Commissioner Hester, I should have mentioned before, John Willlet, city traffic engineer. The northbound approach on Miller to I 10, if you've familiar with it, there actually does have two lanes to get on the freeway. It widens right there.

This project not be required to do any improvements to Miller Road. Their access to Miller is strictly through the Puma signal that's there today. It's already been set up to have a east leg in their development. Getting on the freeway, they just come out and make a right turn and they're already in a right turn lane. Basically, the the fourth lane going north basically starts just north of their the Pum intersection.

Do we think this is uh going to take some of the some of the traffic off of Yuma? Not not really. Sorry. So, Puma Street going through it. It was never back up a little bit. In the original agreement for all those parcels when Yuma was realigned several years ago, Puma Street was not supposed to connect directly between Miller and that north south what we now call 249th Avenue. It was not to do that because we didn't want cars to cut through this commercial shopping area.

You want them to stay down on the mil the Yuma Miller Durango connection all the way down to the Durango signal, then make the right and go north. Will they do it? Quite possible. Depends on how the the parcel's laid out and the driveway are set up and the parking field is there. They're not supposed to cut through to Puma. Can't guarantee it won't happen, but yeah. Don't go away. Spler, uh, can you put up the overhead again of the property?

I I I think in your discussion, you've probably already answered my question, but if Yuma could go across the north part of that property over to Miller, it was smooth traffic flow. The driver one, the top one, light. So, you're talking about right through here, right? Okay. So, little history. It used to do that. I know. I know. I used to live here when it did that.

And ADOT came in and said, "We can't allow an intersection at this location right next to a freeway interchange intersection." Okay. So, that's how this parcel was recarved or redone to come down here. I'm not draw driving very well. And then match it Durango intersection. Yeah. So, it sat out there for quite a while. In fact, when ADOT came in and built the interchange, they put the the westbound eastbound on-ramp right on Old Yuma Road.

And if you're kind of really familiar, this culdeac right here, sorry, I squirrel sometimes. This culde-sac immediately north of Burger King was put in at our request, right, to provide access to Burger King if they ever wanted in the future because they terminated the road slightly farther to the east. Again, they didn't want Yuma Road to connect to Miller right there. Okay. Oh, you're right.

If it was there, it would have leave some of it, but it then would create a really bad bottleneck at the Miller TI intersection. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Other I I think the change is is great. That's fine. Thank you, Mr. Tripppiano. First off, I'm surprised the Yuma one isn't a little bit more orangey.

Um, so, uh, but, uh, the the retail area is is the plan to put shops and stuff or I know it's not we're not working on the site plan, but something to draw traffic away from Watson because that could help by taking that store traffic, people shopping and stuff from Watson over to this area. Plus, Miller is supposed to be a corridor. So, just as long as it's in keeping with that, I I'm I see nothing wrong with the plan. So, let me clarify.

Are you asking retail on the Miller Road commercial development unit? So, there is no um proposed site plan for that one right now. So, I can't get too granular on what might occur there, but it' be nice. I'm just saying it would be nice. And the the sign plan that you put up there, is that per unit or is that overall? It's overall. So, one entrance sign for the whole entire thing. Both both units, correct?

It would be for the entire project and then the two I guess let me switch to the proposed the two pylon signs. It's one per development unit. And if they find out that it's really not enough signs, they can come back and we can do part they're going through a comprehensive sign plan as well. So okay that will delineate the for future requirements as well. One and three sign might be a little in my opinion might be a little light. So all right thank you. Thank you.

At this time I will open it up for a public hearing. Madam Secretary, do we have any requests? We do not. Thank you. I will close the hearing. May I have a motion? I motion that we approve PLZ-24-000012 with conditions A through T. I'll second that motion. Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Uh all those in favor I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Next agenda item is 3C pros verd site plan case number pl-24-000023. Mr. Galikica, planning manager. Good evening, sir.

Uh members of the commission, good evening, uh Commissioner Cupsick. Sad you're not joining us, uh here in person tonight, but we'll see you hopefully next time. Um I am presenting a uh site plan for a project called Pros Verado uh case PLZ SP240023. [Music] And you might know this um as the residential component of uh the zoning case that came before you not all that long ago called the Mix at Roosevelt.

Um the Mix at Roosevelt was uh a property that stretched from Roosevelt Street on the north to Filillmore on the south just east of Verado Way uh including a shopping center and a multifamily component. This is that multif family component. We did the site plan for the shopping center um not too long ago. So you can see the the two exhibits on your screen. Uh the aerial photograph has the property highlighted in yellow. It's a little over 17 acres.

Um it is within that Roosevelt makes it Roosevelt P A and of course uh the site is within the landing or uh what the general plan calls the gateway activity center. Um looking at surrounding properties uh this area is buzzing right now with with future development. So the mix shopping center with the sprouts is just to the north. Um Summit Church and the Verado High Street multifamilies located to the east.

And then Greenlight Verado which is a mixeduse project with more multif family as well as some commercial uh is to the south. Uh and then of course all the stuff going on currently under construction to the west side of Verado with Roosevelt Commons uh Buckeye Commons West and the Abrazo all commercial type of developments. Uh the proposal tonight uh is a 394 unit market rate uh apartment community. So um this is not a um affordable housing type of project.

So this will be something um you know you could expect to pay a fair sum for for your units uh by a company called Alliance Residential. Uh the project includes 16 three-story buildings um each with 24 units. Uh those are shown in kind of the burnt orange color. Uh also along the north edge of the site, uh five two-story buildings 28 ft in height. Uh those are firstf flooror garages.

will have a um I believe six garages on the excuse me, eight garages on the ground floor uh with uh two residential units above kind of like a town home almost. Uh seven singlestory garage only buildings without the residences above kind of mixed throughout the site. Uh and then right at the the primary entrance uh to the site, a one-story clubhouse.

Uh all the buildings here, particularly the three-story, um are increased in height purposefully um to create the more urban uh feel that the city is looking for within the landing, particularly out against Verado Way and Filmore Street. And I'll show you some some building elevations shortly. Uh the unit mix. So, uh you just heard a multif family project earlier tonight, which was really heavy on the three and four bedrooms, attractive for families.

This is much more uh geared to the uh empty nesters or young professionals. Uh mostly not mostly uh one and two-bedroom uh units only. So nothing uh nothing larger than that with again the total of 394. Uh and and in in addition to that increased building height um that I I mentioned um the architecture is pressed forward here.

So rather than having uh parking or even landscaped area, significant amounts of landscape area on the outside of the buildings between the buildings and the street, uh these press the buildings forward almost in a like a brownstone of concept uh to activate the streets, put people uh in the area walking to the adjacent commercial. Uh the primary access to the site um ingress and egress will be off of Filillmore um which um will be a two-way access here.

Uh there is a a signal plan for for Filillmore Street. There are also two cross accesses uh directly into the mix commercial shopping center. Um those will allow residents to enter and exit. Um visitors uh would not be able to enter. they wouldn't have the key, the RFID chip um to enter there. So, the visitors would have to come in through the main entrance. All the accesses are gated.

And uh in terms of vehicular parking, uh all the requirements for the city uh were exceeded by 23 uh% or 10 and some spaces in excess of what the code minimum is. So, um should not be any sort of parking shortage on this property. Uh shifting from vehicles to pedestrians, there is a uh comprehensive on-site pedestrian pedestrian circulation network that's provided. Um you can see here all the lines. U the colors just indicate the width of the path. So, just kind of ignore that.

Look at all these being the same. Uh all of these will be sidewalks. Uh, and you can see it's just a web uh of connectivity throughout the project connecting the buildings uh to the amenities such as the um pool area uh and the parking areas as well. Uh there are multiple connections to both the Vado Way and Fillmore Street public sidewalks which is again activating that uh that uh corridor that that we're really trying to press forward here.

uh and importantly and a requirement of the uh the PAD when it was approved uh three direct connections into the Mix at Roosevelt shopping center. So the residents in this community can walk directly through their project landscape shaded pathways uh into the shopping center without ever having to go out uh of the uh the residential project to the public rightway.

Uh the architecture of the project is contemporary, which is certainly befitting of of the landing, what we're looking for within uh the landing area. Um it's it's it's following a precedent set by some of other projects that have previously been approved. Um I think you'll notice uh these elevations are uh fairly um I don't know what the right word is. um timeless if you will in in terms of the colors, neutral earth tones, brick and metal accents.

Um this is not the type of building that will look dated uh when the the color palette uh shifts to to what's popular uh in 5 years from now. Uh all these facads are are significantly articulated um with uh depth in movement. So the the wall plane comes in and out. Um there the um accessory structures and project walls uh where they are provided are complimentary as well. You can see some of the examples down here.

Um and all the lighting which I don't have any pictures on the slide is dark sky compliant. So just to walk you through what I'm showing here. These are the threetory buildings. Um this these are the threetory buildings 24 units a piece. Uh the most this is the most u common building on the site. These are those twotory carriage unit buildings that I I mentioned. So you have the eight garages on the ground floor. Uh and then a a central entrance here to two residential units.

So one in the left half and one on the right. Um this is just the back of that same building. Uh this is the community clubhouse. You can see it shares the same architectural themes as the buildings themselves. Few materials. uh uses a a pretty cool we we went back and forth um on brick and didn't want to choose something that looked um a little historic. Um so we we tried to find something that that was as modern uh of a brick as possible and this is what we settled on.

So uh we think this is going to really um be a nice addition to the landing area. uh no feedback on this project. Um in the site plan stage uh even going back to the resoning stage uh very minimal feedback uh that we received. Just to summarize staff's uh uh opinion or um view of this project, it is in direct conformance with the general plan. Furthers a lot of the objectives that we have for development in the landing.

Um really what that mean when I say that what that means is this area has a huge uh potential in the future to kind of be one of the city's focal points from a commercial activity standpoint. Um retail restaurant office. Um but to to be able to support that type of uh of development, we need to have the rooftops uh in the area.

And this will add 394 more rooftops to the area which is so vital in attracting the the developers uh as well as the businesses themselves that that rely on those those numbers basically. Um this also achieves the desired urban aesthetic and active edge along Verado Way. I mentioned that a few times. Uh we feel that is very high quality architecture and landscape design uh vehicular and pedestrian access and connectivity as well as um you know actually did I miss the slide? That is so weird.

I had an open space slide in here but it didn't uh didn't seem to make the final cut. Um or is it hidden? Let me check something. Well, I apologize. Um, if if I had the slide, uh, what it would tell you is, um, the project exceeds the open space requirements um, by relatively significant percentage. Um, most of the, uh, amenities are are distributed throughout the site. The biggest amenities are the centralized pool area.

Um, we also have a, uh, dog park area here and a children's playground uh, here in this area. Um so kind of a range of amenities for different types of residents. Um all connected uh to one another uh in a in a really well well-connected fashion. I spent a lot of time coloring that landscape plan, putting circles on all the trees, and now it's not here. Is so frustrating.

uh developer will be completing all of the complete uh adjacent street and utility infrastructure improvements as is standard. The city does have a project for um some of the median in Verado Way. Um so if the city's CIP does that, they would be exempted out from from that particular requirement. But anything that we don't do, uh they will do.

And of course, as with any project that makes it to this point and comes before the planning and zoning commission, all of the reviewing departments have signed off. So with that, chair, um we do recommend approval subject to to conditions A through double E. Um Carolyn Overberholtzer and a team of others um representing the project are here tonight. I don't believe they have any sort of prepared remarks, but happy to answer questions, I'm sure, if if needed. Not as long as Mandy's. to you.

I like the way it looks. I think it'll be a good addition to the city. But my only concern, and I don't know, I guess it's like beating a dead horse, is that the increased traffic to get to the freeway. And people living there that has to go to Phoenix in the morning are not going to be happy if they've never been here before, you know. Yes. I know there's plans and we got to wait on AOT but yeah chair commissioner um it's a it's a fair assessment of the issue.

Verado itself um this you know not not the I 10 on-ramp um but Verado itself is actually improved uh and with this project would be improved um pretty much to its full capacity. It's just the problem is with the on-ramp. Um, so until that ADOT project gets worked out, we will have some temporary growing pains, but I know it's something you're working on. Commissioner Manuel. Yes. As Ken kind of alluded, the primary challenge is the interchange itself. It's it's a bottleneck.

I know in the mornings going trying to get on the freeway backs up and primarily because I 10 is backed up so we can't even get the people off the on-ramp onto the main line to get people off Verado onto the on-ramp. So we're working with ADA. There is a project to add a fourth lane on I 10 by some striping changes between Verado and Loop 303 that's proceeding. It should hopefully go to construction sometime this summer. I just can't tell you is that July 1st or is that August 31st?

I I don't know exactly when. It's it's out of my control. It's They'll advertise it. They'll hire a contractor to do the work. So, we will get some relief that way. Verado interchange is is is bottlenecked. We know it needs to be wider, but I really can't do anything with it until back TI is finished. I have a place to move cars to. It take a while. It's coming, but it's just going to be slow. Sorry. Thanks. I I kind of knew that already. But why did I come up here? I don't mind.

Just the uh I just felt like I had to talk about traffic on that road again because the backup sometimes is that goes all the way to Fillmore in the mornings. While you're there, while you're there, I have a question. Is there anything they can do when you're driving down the main street in Buckeye as well as the freeway? You can't see the lines. If the sun's shining, I just follow the car in front of me because I hope I'm in the right between the right white lines.

But if you look in the rearview mirror, all the lines are perfect. See all the lines in the rearview mirror? Uh, chair, Commissioner Rags, I suggest wash clean your windshield. No, I'm just kidding. Is it is it on Verado as well or some of the other ones? I know some of the other roads are really kind of bad.

And share commissioner, if I may, if we're getting a little off topic, if we can confine the comments and questions to this project and if you feel comfortable asking those questions offline after the meeting. Um, thank you. Okay. Afterwards. Okay. No other questions. Thank you. Thank you, Chester. Excuse me, Miss Cubse. Thank you, Chair. Um I um Ken, if you can go back to the sidewalk slide these Yes, ma'am. the the dotted lines that go it seems like it goes through the the buildings.

What I don't how does that work? But I don't Oh, that that's just showing a kind of an internal um hallway in the building. So, um it cuts through the the building and and then exits out on both ends. Okay. All right. I didn't know if it was like a skywalk or something like that. Probably not something that you would use for recreation, but it is part of the project's connectivity. Yeah. Okay. Okay. That that explains that it's a very nice project. I I do um I approve of it. It It's very nice.

It'll be a nice addition to our community. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cupsac. I'm not going to skip me this time. I'm going to get this in. We continue to build these three stories buildings with no elevators. I don't understand that. But I digress. Mr. For young people No, I have no questions. Thank you, Mr. Ed Bassler. Um, Filillmore Street, does it end at this project or will it continue to go uh to the east as a possible way to kind of clear some of the traffic out? Yeah.

Uh, Chair, Commissioner Vassler, um, it does continue past this project, but only only uh a little bit to serve this Verado. High Street project. So, of course, this is the property we're talking about tonight. This is the adjacent development which is approved. Um, it is Filillmore will end basically at this point.

It can't go any further east, at least at this point in time um because of the uh what you can't see here is the large flood control structure um Maricopa County Flood Control District um that basically uh prevents anything from from continuing east. Maybe in the future there's an opportunity to work with the flood control district on something like that, but it's not currently in the plans. They drive through the floods in Scottsdale. I don't know. Um, and you and another traffic light.

So, you're going to have a traffic light at Van Beern, Filillmore, and Roosevelt to get to the highway. Yes, sir. That's correct. Wow. Okay. I don't have a problem with the project. I think it's good. We need it. Thank you, Mr. Tripppiano. Yes. I'd like to say what we're doing here in this area is nice. It's conforms with what I've seen done back east. Um concentrating the apartments in that area. Um putting in the retail and all that stuff that we're putting in there.

It it's maybe something new out here, but it's very common back east and m the cities have multiple cores like that too that have these jobs and these people living there. So I agree with you, Ken. This is a a good mix, good good product that is going there.

Um, as far as the buildings go, um, our chairman already took care of the elevator thing, but uh, my thing is, uh, the with the internal corridors and it being three stories, it's going to get very, very hot in that upstairs corridor and people moving their furniture in and out during the summer. it's going to be real difficult for them. So, as long as we can maximize air flow through there, that's my only concern is getting the air flow through there.

I know it's not you can't air condition it, but some type of air flow through the corridors would be nice to have in this um since they're probably still in the design phase, but that would be my only concern. here. Uh, Commissioner, that's a that's a really good point. Um, both ends, if I showed the end, of course, I don't have it.

Um, are open, so there should be at least somewhat of a wind tunnel effect going through there, but um, we'll we'll work um to to identify any other, you know, is a fan necessary or something like that to uh to assist in that. That's a good point. And John doesn't have to come up for this one, but uh the last two days at Roosevelt and uh Verado, there have been accidents. Um and it's because of the backup on the I 10. And uh the same thing coming south southbound on Verado.

People turning left into the uh Costco gas station. There's a backup again there on Verado. And it's just the sooner we can get something done in this area, I know everyone agrees with this, the sooner we can get something done in this area, the better. So, thank you. Thank you. All right. May I have a motion on 3C, please? I move that we approve um PLZP-24-000023 Pro Verado site plan. Is there a second? I second. It's been moved and second. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion passes.

We will now have comments from the public. We do not, Chair. Thank you. Moving right back to my friend, Mr. Ken Galika. Thank you, Chair. You just talked an awful lot there. So, let me uh get quick with this. Um we uh we have an extra week between this meeting and the next um just because the the number of days in April. So, enjoy your little bit of of extra rest time.

We will be back on 513 May 13th um for the parks and recck master plan um which you will uh issue a recommendation to council on. So that's an exciting item. Um I think I mentioned I believe I mentioned at a previous meeting anyway um that we're looking at um a summer break of sorts cancelling the second meetings in June, July, and August. So, we would still meet on the second um the second Tuesdays of every month, just would would cancel the fourth meeting or fourth Tuesday of every month.

Um look for that to be on your agenda for next uh next meeting on the 13th. That is something that requires the commission's vote. Um so, that is all I have. Chair, thank you. All hearts and minds are clear. Oh, excuse me. Wait, I forgot. Thank you. Uh, anything, Mr. Manuel? I've nothing. Nothing. Thank you, Mester. Miss Cubsac. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Um, I just wanted to to briefly make a statement that regarding the I 10 widening there that the city has drafted a letter to the governor encourage her encourage her encouraging her to sign the bill that that got through the legislature and um the Buckeye Valley Chamber along with the West Valley Regional Chamber and the West Valley Chamber Alliance have all signed on to that agreement, hoping that that along with a lot of major businesses and other influential people to um encourage the governor to sign that bill.

So maybe we'll get stuff done. Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Hester. No, I don't have anything tonight. Mr. Bassor, no comments. Trivia, no comments. Thank you. Now if all hearts and minds are clear, meeting is ajourned. Thank you.