Author: Brianna Johnson

Plans are underway for a 94-room Home 2 Suites by Hilton Hotels at 110 West Aero Dr. in Payson. The Payson Planning and Zoning Commission approved a requested height variance for a total of 56 feet, an increase from the code limit of 45 feet, as part of conditional use permit request discussion last week. The hotel will offer a 100-seat meeting area, indoor pool and other guest amenities. Stipulations attached to the approval include improving and widening West Aero Drive, adding a sidewalk and other features, and securing design review approval. According to documents submitted with the staff report,…

By City of Tempe Tempe could add more than 500 affordable apartments, live-work units and townhomes on city-owned lots along Apache Boulevard and is seeking input at a public meeting March 16. Concepts for the parcels, between Rural Road and just east of Price Freeway, include both rental and homeownership opportunities. Tempe is currently working with development partners on three of the parcels and seeking a new partner for the fourth parcel. Tempe is hosting virtual public meetings Wednesday, March 16, 8 – 9 A.M. and 6 – 7 P.M. The city is also offering a call-in option and access…

The Higley Unified School District will ask voters to approve a $77.2M bond request in the November 8th election. If approved, the money will be used for a new elementary school campus, computer equipment, security cameras and other improvements. Voters rejected a $95M request last November. A key component of the failed funding proposal was the retirement of two middle school property leases. A poll conducted after the measure failed cited that use as a contributor to its rejection, and that portion has been removed from the current proposal. If the new measure is approved, homes within the district will…

If all the proposed amenities currently proposed are included, the cost to complete the 272-acre Gilbert Regional and 115-acre Desert Sky parks could cost the Town a total of $237M. Budget Director Kelly Pfost informed Council at a March 3 retreat that projections for Desert Sky sit at approximately $73M and $164M for Gilbert Regional. Desert Sky’s final costs could be reduced by $10M with the application of park development system fees, however. Land sale monies that have not yet been spent could cut Gilbert Regional’s costs by approximately $9M as well. The Town may seek a park bond in…