A planned mixed-use development called Chandler Farms, planned for 18 acres on the SWC of Arizona Avenue and Queen Creek Road would include Modera Chandler—a 374-unit apartment development—and two small retail locations.
The area was originally planned for a mall in the late 1990s, but changing development patterns meant it never came to fruition.
In 2007, the property was zoned for a four-story building after a hotel project was approved as part of an office and retail plan that was never built because the area could not support the amount of accompanying retail.
Project representatives from Mill Creek Residential held a neighborhood meeting—the second so far—May 31 to acquaint residents with the new proposal and solicit input. The developer will be seeking a zoning change from Planned Area Development to Planned Area Development-Mixed Use and also requesting approval of the preliminary development plan, which they are currently working on with Chandler’s planning staff.
Modera Chandler is planned for one-, two- and three-bedroom units with market rate rents.
The developer made changes after the first public meeting. The original plan had all the buildings along Arizona Avenue at four stories. Now the two buildings closest to Arizona Avenue have been reduced to three stories. A four-story building, which will be the first on Arizona Avenue but not the first in south Chandler, remains part of the plan and is now situated in the center of the development, with three-story buildings surrounding it.
There were also changes to a planned parking garage. The garage is now planned underground, with the entrance at the four-story building.
Some attendees expressed displeasure at the four-story building. Project representative Brennan Ray of the law firm Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. explained the site is already zoned for four stories and showed renderings in which the four-story building is barely visible from Arizona Avenue and Queen Creek Road.
Residents also expressed concern about traffic. Representatives explained the project is expected to add approximately 3% to the total existing volume on Arizona Avenue and less than 2% to the volume on Queen Creek Road.
The last major concern presented was the small lack of retail planned for the site, which totals only 9.4KSF, including a drive-thru coffee shop. Representatives explained the area could not support more retail than that. There is a total of 773KSF of retail a mile to the south and 639KSF a mile to the north. Combined, there is 135KSF of retail space available for rent within one mile.
The developer is continuing to meet with planning staff and has said representatives will continue to meet with neighbors, including the option of one-on-one meetings if needed. (Source)
