By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
In its Feb. 5 study session, the Gilbert Planning Commission will discuss an amendment to the Bella Storia Planned Area Development, along with plans for a new 367-unit apartment community as part of the Bella Storia Master Plan at the NWC of Power and Williams Field roads.
No action will be taken during the meeting.
According to the staff report, the PAD amendment seeks to update the approved development plan for a 13.07-net-acre portion of the site located at the NEC of Williams Field Road and Delatorre Drive. That location is already approved for a 304-unit development. Developer Vista Residential Partners is asking for an increase to 367 units.
The amendment will also allow redesigning of the location of the buildings on the site, as well as its open spaces and parking. Because of the changes, the project is no longer in substantial conformance with the originally approved development plan.
Under the second request, the Commission will discuss the site plan, landscaping, elevations, floor plans and other design elements for the revised Bella Storia Apartments development.
The report says, “Nine total residential buildings are proposed, with one three/four-story building along Williams Field Rd., two three-story buildings along the eastern boundary, five two-story carriage units with garages on the ground floor, and 4 residential units on the top floor along Haskell St. and one carriage building along Delatorre Blvd.”
According to the submitted project narrative, “Bella Storia Apartments will consist of 367 residential units divided among four primary residential buildings along the south, east, and west sides of the Property and a series of townhome clusters along Haskell Street on the north side of the Property. Consistent with the design intent of the Bella Storia PAD, the buildings along Williams Field Road maintain close proximity to the arterial street to provide a more urbanized feel – but with shorter building planes and a mix of 3- and 4-story buildings to provide greater visual interest, allow greater visual permeability into the site, and create opportunities for enhanced amenities.”
It goes on to say, “The north side of the Property, adjacent to Haskell Street and the single-family residential component of Bella Storia, is punctuated by a series of five separate two-story condo-style buildings.”
Parking will be in both surface areas and in a two-story structure behind the main buildings, which will be screened from view by the condo-style buildings. Only 571 spaces are required, but 607 are planned. A total of 12 bicycle parking spaces are required, but plans call for 20.
Amenities will include a courtyard and pool near the main building, a large open space near the eastern boundary with an event lawn, a plaza, a game lawn, two pickleball courts and a dog park. Open space makes up slightly more than 43% of the total site.
The proposed unit mix calls for 21 studios, 234 one-bedroom, 101 two-bedroom and 11 three-bedroom units.
The Bella Storia master plan site is owned by the Di Bella Family LLP. Vista Residential Partners is the developer for Bella Storia Apartments. The design firm is ORB Architecture. Collaborative-V Design Studio is the landscape planner. Engineering services are provided by Hubbard Engineering, and the project is represented by Withey Morris Baugh, PLC.
