By Adrienne St. Clair for Arizona Builder’s Exchange
The City of Glendale Planning Commission has approved a request from Shea Connelly Development, LLC to build an apartment complex at the SWC of Alice Avenue and 67th Avenue.
The new Golden Lane Apartments will feature a contemporary design “with strong building forms, punched windows and flat roofs,” according to Glendale city documents. The development will consist of eight three-story buildings and a single-story community center. There will be 48 one-bedroom, 120 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom units — 192 market rate units altogether — which will vary from 690SF to nearly 1200SF. The project will also include gated entry, a clubhouse, fitness center and business center. There are plans for reserved covered parking, open parking and handicapped accessible parking.
The approximately 7.5-acre site is situated in an area already marked with residential spaces. North of the site is single-family residential space called West Park Manor, a single-family home and Morning Star multifamily senior housing. Glencroft Retirement Community is to the east. Paradise Groves — a manufactured home community — borders the site to the west, while two residential properties border the site to the south.
The site is currently zoned as R-5 (Residential) with a senior citizen overlay. According to the project proposal, a change in zoning isn’t necessary. However, the developer did request to remove the senior citizen overlay, as it is no longer necessary for the planned apartment complex. The developer is also requesting a slight amendment to the city’s General Plan designation for the property. The current GP allows for 20 units per acre, but the developer would like to increase the allowance to up to 30 units per acre. The project narrative promises that “the proposed development complies with existing R-5 standards.”
In June, the applicant mailed notification letters to property owners and other members of the surrounding community about a neighborhood meeting. According to city documents, the meeting was attended by almost 30 people and revealed that attendees’ major concerns were traffic and privacy. Both the high school and elementary school have confirmed they are equipped to handle the potential increase in student attendance from the new complex.
The request’s approval was issued by the commission in October.