Plans for the nearly 300-acre master planned Gila Foothills development in the Laveen area of south Phoenix have received new updates and are readying for the first round of the approval process before the City.
A resort component that had been removed from the original plan has now been added back in. Other components for the site near 51st Avenue and Estrella Drive include an auto mall, a hospital, apartments and single-family homes.
The property lies within Phoenix but borders a swath of unincorporated Maricopa County land. Some area residents, particularly in the Maricopa County portion, have raised concerns about the development and are expressing their opposition.
The anchor component for the development is an 80-acre auto mall. Most of the test drives for the auto mall would likely take place on the nearby Loop 202 freeway, but residents are concerned about the impact on surface street traffic as well.
The auto mall portion could house between eight and 10 dealerships, and project representatives say it could generate as much as $52M in sales tax revenue annually for Phoenix. Concerned residents say that even with a planned reliever street as part of the development proposal, traffic is too complicated and congested in the area and call the auto dealership component of the plan among its least palatable elements.
Project representative Reid Butler, who is also owner of Butler Housing Company, says the developers understand the proposal is a major change for the area and that they are committed to working with residents to minimize impacts.
Another concern causing opposition is the density of the residential component. Much of the existing development, particularly in the unincorporated area, is large-lot single-family and horse properties. Unincorporated resident John Bzdel, who is a contractor specializing in the design of large custom homes, said while he supports the addition of commercial development in the area, he would like to see the large-lot residential zoning remain in place for area under consideration for new apartments and single-family homes to minimize density and retain the established character of the area.
Another point of contention is the hospital planned as part of Gila Foothills. Opponents say it could be too close to the hospital Banner Health may one day plan to build at Baseline Road and 63rd Avenue. Banner bought the site in 2020 but has not proposed or built anything on it to date.
The Gila Foothills plan calls for a hospital with a height of up to 150 feet. Representatives say an undisclosed operator is planned for the site.
Several hearings and reviews are still needed for the proposal. The Laveen Village Planning Committee will hear the plans on Jan. 8. They will then probably go to the Planning Commission in February and the City Council in March.
Representatives say the auto mall would be the first portion to start construction and that 2025 is the earliest likely start. (Source)
