The Gilbert Planning Commission held a study session earlier this month to discuss the current design for the long-planned Trax at Cooley Station multifamily community.
The development by Frankel Family Trust is planned on nearly 20.25 acres at the SWC of Williams Field Road and Verde Drive next to the Cooley Station retail and commercial center.
The site is zoned for multifamily under the existing master plan. Total planned density is 22.61 units/acre.
Plans call for 10 buildings of between two and five stories in height. The planned unit mix is 245 one-bedroom, 218 two-bedroom and 105 three-bedroom apartments.
The units will be served by 1,102 parking spaces, and nearly 45% of the site is planned as open space, exceeding the Town’s requirement of 40%.
Planned amenities include two swimming pools, a “tot lot,” a sand volleyball court, two pickleball courts, one tennis court, two dog parks and multiple ramadas, among others.
The two-story clubhouse will include a fitness center, a conference room, two indoor pickleball spaces, other sports facilities and a lounge with a sauna.
Staff commented positively on the highly amenitized scope of the plan.
During the meeting, Commissioners expressed concerns about fire department/fire truck accessibility, portions of the color scheme, water use, density and absorption, and traffic management.
The development team is working to revise the layout of parking canopies to ensure fire trucks have ready access, and the offending components of the proposed color scheme will be revised.
Commissioner Louis DeGravina asked if there were any assurances the area would be able to absorb the number of planned apartments.
Senior Planner Keith Newman said the Town does not request vacancy studies during the planning review process. Those studies can be requested, however. It will be the developer’s responsibility to provide them should the need arise.
Newman also explained staff is reviewing a traffic impact study for the development and the surrounding roads.
A traffic signal is proposed at Somerton Blvd. where it will connect with Williams Field Road, according to Town staff, which will eliminate the need for a signal at the community’s main entrance.
Vice Chair William Fay said he had no concerns about the planned use, since it is already entitled under the multifamily zoning. (Source)
