By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
A new, 193-unit, three-story apartment community could soon be added to the available units in Casa Grande.
Monument Development, LLC and owner Sterling Pratt have requested a major site plan review for their proposed site plan, landscape plan, building elevations and other documents associated with the plans to develop an 8.48-acre site at the SWC of O’Neil Drive and Center Avenue.
The mix for the O’Neil Apartments at Casa Grande is proposed as 94 one-, 94 two- and five three-bedroom units. Planned amenities include a pool, splash pad, clubhouse, pickleball courts, an on-site leasing office and available six-foot by eight-foot storage units.
The project narrative describes the community by saying, “The project is defined by a central entrance greeted with a Clubhouse and an open breezeway structure to invite potential residents with guest parking and proximity to the leasing office without interfering with existing residents. The open breezeway allows for great views of the pool and other amenities that are available to the residents of the community. The site will offer a pedestrian pathway, which integrates the landscaping as a feature as well as a gathering/pool area with a splash pad, shaded structure, BBQ, seating areas, and sports courts for pickleball. Site lighting is carefully placed to allow safe movement throughout the site.”
According to the staff report accompanying the proposal, the surrounding land uses include single-family residential, a mobile home community, an RV storage facility and a post office/self-storage facility. In the project overview, the report says, “This site is considered an infill site and would provide a good opportunity for infill multi-family development.”
The report also notes the site is already entitled to multifamily development and that as an infill site, it is served by existing infrastructure.
Traffic in the area is problematic, receiving an F rating for its level of service. The report says staff would not normally recommend approval to a development that would add to traffic under those conditions, “However, in this case, the Public Works Department has agreed to install a traffic signal at the O’Neil Dr and Pinal Ave intersection in conjunction with a future Capital Improvement Project. The proposed apartment development will pay an estimated $336,000 in Traffic Impact Fees (at the current rate) which will go towards these improvements. Public Works Capital Improvement funds would offset the rest of the cost.”
Engineering staff has reviewed the infrastructure for utilities and drainage/grading and found the plan to be sufficient. The planned open space is 29%, well exceeding the 10% requirement. Updates will be required to the landscape plan in conjunction with the development permit.
Monument Development is the owner. The engineering firm is Maxwell Engineering, PLLC. Woods Associates LLC is the design firm and proposal applicant. The Casa Grande Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hear the request March 7.
No resident statements have been submitted either in opposition or in favor of the project.
The request for O’Neil Apartments joins a wide range of developments added to the multifamily offerings in Casa Grande in recent years. According to the DATABEX project database, the city’s currently active multifamily development landscape—not including O’Neil—breaks down as follows:
- Design: 5;
- Design/Plan Review: 2;
- Design, Pending Procurement/In Negotiations: 1;
- Pending Procurement/In Negotiations: 1;
- Planning: 3;
- Pre-Construction: 2;
- Project On Hold: 4, and
- Under Construction: 7.
