In its Sept. 28 meeting, the San Tan Valley Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for a rezoning request that would allow for the development of a 27-acre commercial center near the SEC of Hunt Highway and Stone Creek Drive and denial of a separate rezoning request for a three-acre commercial center at Gantzel Road and Lone Star Lane.
The request recommended for approval was called Hunt Highway & Stone Creek Drive Retail in the submittal documents. Diversified Partners “anticipates developing this Site with a commercial development that will be a viable and sustainable use and will add much needed commercial services to the area,” according to the submitted narrative. “The proposed development aligns with good planning principles for coordinated physical development that meets present and future needs while ensuring efficient use of public resources. Diversified’s plans introducing a commercial use that does not presently exist in San Tan Valley, an area experiencing significant population growth.”
The site had previously been approved for a 153-unit Build-to-Rent community with a roughly nine-acre commercial component. That project was never developed due to market changes.
The property to the west has a fully developed commercial center. The north and east feature farmland owned by the Arizona State Land Department and planned for a 3,200-acre master-planned community.
The conceptual site plan shows a large single building and a fuel center, along with parking, landscaping and potential stormwater management areas. The staff report notes the proposed uses as, “Large retail anchor, wholesale retailer, drive-thru establishment, and multi-pump fueling station.”
A local news outlet reported the Commission voted unanimously to recommend the requested rezoning from Multifamily Residential to Community Commercial.
Diversified Partners is the owner. The civil engineer and planning firm is Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. Legal representation is through Ray Law Firm.
The second request covered 3.3 acres currently in unincorporated Pinal County that are in the process of being annexed by the Town of San Tan Valley. The current Pinal County zoning is Suburban Ranch. The corresponding San Tan Valley zoning will be Rural Development. The request sought to rezone the property to Community Commercial District upon annexation to enable development of the property, which would feature two commercial buildings of 9.5 KSF each.
The developer behind Gantzel & Lone Star Commercial, Lone Star Partners, LLC, also requested approval of an alternative landscape plan to reduce required landscape buffers on the site.
According to the staff report, “The rezoning aims to facilitate a small-scale neighborhood commercial center consisting of a mix of retail, service, healthcare, restaurant, and professional office uses. The property is located at the southwest corner of Gantzel Road and Lone Star Road.”
Staff made no recommendation for or against the request. A total of 13 resident statements of opposition were reported. Several residents presented extensive lists of concerns about the potential project, including impacts on the surrounding Suburban Ranch properties and residents, noise from commercial operations, traffic impacts, road capacity and other construction impacts.
According to the article, commissioners ultimately voted to recommend denial based primarily upon the potential traffic impacts.
Lone Star Partners, LLC is the owner. The design firm noted on the conceptual site plan is Sixty First Place Architects. Withey Morris Baugh PLC is the legal representative.
