By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
One-third of a 60-acre site originally planned for single-family homes could be rezoned for multifamily under a proposal coming before the Coolidge City Council this week.
Project owner Coolidge AZ Apartments, LLC has requested a Planned Area Development – Major Amendment to rezone 20 acres of the larger Mesquite Manor PAD to allow the development of a 328-unit apartment community approximately half a mile south of the SEC of Coolidge Avenue and Skousen Road. The 60-acre site is currently established for 243 single-family units under a PAD adopted in 2006.
The planned multifamily development calls for 15 buildings on the northern portion of the site. The 328 apartments would replace 108 of the total 243 single-family units originally planned.
The development would ultimately yield 164 two- and 164 three-bedroom units. According to the project narrative, “The primary amenity area… features a clubhouse community building with fitness center, swimming pool with a large sun deck, ramada, and more. Secondary amenity areas include turf areas for sports, shaded seating areas, a playground, a dog park and more.”
According to the staff report originally prepared for the Coolidge Planning and Zoning Commission and also provided to City Council, “The site is currently zoned as a Planned Area Development (PAD) Zoning District which allows alternatives to those conventional zoning and development approaches and processes, as set forth to encourage innovation in the utilization and development of land characterized by the compatibility of surrounding uses. The Mesquite Manor, Planned Area Development – Major Amendment Application meets these provisions, as an alternative approach of utilizing the land and is an appropriate use and accordingly is consistent with the development area.”
Planning and Zoning recommended approval for the request at its May 8 meeting.
The Coolidge General Plan shows the Mesquite Manor site to be surrounded by urban neighborhoods, agricultural and industrial land uses. In justifying the requested amendment, the owners state, “Implementation of multi-family housing close to the downtown area and the City’s industrial/employment growth area will provide attainable housing opportunities for both current and future workers,” while adding to the diversity of residents and housing types in the community.
They also highlight the fact that placing the higher-density use along Skousen Road and away from lower-density residential properties to the south of the target area will help prevent future incompatible land uses and that development along the existing infrastructure corridors will help increase the efficient use of existing infrastructure and expand the utility service lines for other areas of the community.
The project owner is Coolidge AZ Apartments, LLC. The planner and project applicant is IPLAN Consulting. The design firm is ORB Architecture, LLC, and engineering services are provided by JMC Engineering.
