By Roland Murphy for AZBEX –BEXclusive
As large development areas become more scarce in the Great Phoenix area, the far West Valley continues to grow in appeal for companies looking to build new multifaceted projects.
Tait Development is proposing the I-10 Innovation Center II on 30 acres southwest of the SWC of I-10 and 91st Avenue in Tolleson. Through its entity Tolleson 70, LLC, the company has submitted a Planned Area Development rezoning request to the City of Tolleson. The site is currently zoned for agricultural use.
Ten acres of the site have I-10 frontage and the other 20 front 91st Avenue and Latham Street.
A semi-truck dealership is the intended primary user. Other potential uses include medical, retail, office and light industrial. Development will be constructed in phases as determined by market demand, according to the submitted narrative, and buildings could be a mix of both single- and multi-tenant. At least two phases are planned.
As the project progresses, each component will have a final development plan submitted, which will be subject to administrative review and approval. “As the Project develops, the development plan for the yet undeveloped portions of the Project may need to be updated to reflect changes that alter the character of the Project as outlined in the PAD. Major amendments to this PAD shall be conducted through the typical PAD amendment process requiring City Council approval, or, if the process is modified in the future, the prevailing process at the time of the amendment. Minor amendments to this PAD plan will be reviewed and approved administratively,” according to the submitted request.
The proposal lists 14 specific permitted uses, including:
- Commercial (including restaurant and retail),
- Wholesaling and warehousing,
- Other industrial and manufacturing,
- Multifamily residential up to 35 units/acre in density, and
- Other, similar uses as determined by the zoning administrator.
Maximum building heights will be 150 feet for elements north of Latham Street and 50 for those to the south. A final development plan will be submitted for each parcel prior to construction.
According to the development agreement between Tait and the City, Vanguard Truck Center (Vanguard Holdings LLC) will be a primary user and will buy approximately 12 acres of the site to build a 50KSF-65KSF Volvo truck dealership.
Tait and Vanguard have entered into a purchase agreement, with escrow scheduled to close no later than July 10. The development agreement requires Vanguard to apply for a building permit within 160 days after closing. A substitute user may be submitted if the sale does not happen or if the building permit application is not received in time.
Tait Development is the developer and applicant. The architect is Balmer Architectural Group. Beck Consulting Engineers, Inc. is the engineering firm, and the project is represented by Gallagher & Kennedy.
Tolleson City Council is expected to meet and consider the PAD and development agreement Feb. 28.
