By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Casa Grande Planning and Zoning Commission will hear two new proposed master plans this week. One proposal features multifamily, commercial and industrial, while the second will add commercial, single- and multi-family residential.
Casa Blanca
South of Cottonwood Lane and west of I-10, Industrial Capital Ventures is requesting a rezoning from Urban Ranch to Planned Area Development for 273.28 acres. The proposal carries with it a minor General Plan amendment for 120.9 acres from Commerce & Business to Community Corridor.
If approved, the developer plans to build light industrial, commercial and both medium- and high-density residential on the site.
According to the land use summary accompanying the PAD request, the overall development would feature:
- 120.9 acres of medium-density multifamily with a maximum density of 12 units/acre,
- 36.1 acres of high-density multifamily with a maximum density of 36.1 units/acre,
- 17.7 acres of commercial development, and
- 86.6 acres of light industrial.
The industrial component features seven buildings divided into phases. Phase I would provide three buildings of 419,776SF, 155,328SF and 174078SF, for a total of 749.2KSF. The four buildings to come later would be 136,608SF, 167,808SF, 119,448SF and 148,048SF (571.9KSF total).
Regarding the industrial uses, the narrative says, “This Industrial Park is intended to attract a mixture of light industrial, logistical users, warehouse/distribution, light manufacturing, and multi-tenant business park uses in a campus setting with high-quality architecture and site improvements. The orientation of industrial buildings to the freeway is an important feature for potential users seeking an effective marketing window to the high volume of interstate traffic.”
The residential uses will be constructed by a variety of home builders, and the PAD looks to establish design guidelines to ensure the various portions are compatible with each other. The medium-density residential components “represent both attached, clustered, and detached single family homes with densities that may range based on the product type that will have a maximum of 12 Du/Ac…”
The narrative continues by saying, “The homebuilder will likely phase the development based on the type, density, and common area amenities. These homes could be designed as clustered patio homes, zero lot lines, ‘Z’ lots, or other similar product type such as a duplex, where smaller individual lots facilitate a lifestyle for first time home buyers, or those residents seeking to reduce yard maintenance.”
Only one parcel – located in the SWC of the PAD area – is planned for high-density residential. Permitted uses could include all the types available under the medium-density use, as well as single family detached, three- and four-plex units, townhomes or condominiums, and multifamily buildings of more than five units.
The development team consists of developer Industrial Capital Ventures, architect Ware Malcomb, land planner and landscape architect Gilmore Planning & Landscape Architecture, civil engineer CVL Consultants and traffic engineer United Civil Group.
Vista Ranch
An ownership team make up of Cardon Hiatt Companies, Cardon Bowden Investments and LeSueur Investments is requesting a major amendment for the Vista Ranch Planned Area Development near the SWC of Korsten Road and I-10.
The 318.5-acre PAD was originally entitled for 792 single-family, 320 multifamily units and a 60-acre commercial area. The request would reduce the commercial area to 24.58 acres, relocate the planned location for Henness Road—a principal arterial roadway, allow for an east-west collector road, and change the residential allocations.
The staff report describing the request says, “In the location where much of original commercial area existed, a 40-acre high-density multi-family area is proposed, allowing up to 45 dwelling units per acre. Originally, a 20-acre multi-family area was planned in the southeast corner of the PAD which allowed for up to 320 units. Since CAWS (Certificate of Assured Water Supply) was assigned for this multi-family area, those units could be individually sold as townhomes or condominiums (16 dwelling units per acre).”
It goes on to say, “Multi-family land use is still planned in this area but can be up to 24 dwelling units per acre. An additional 25 acres of multi-family at 12 dwelling units per acre is proposed within the PAD, southwest of this location. The large remainder of the PAD continues to be for single-family residential, but reduced from 240 acres to 209 acres. The density proposes to increase, however, from 3.3 dwelling units per acre to 4.5 dwelling units per acre.”
According to the accompanying narrative, single-family lots will range in size from 5.5KSF to 6.5KSF and have a maximum density of 4.5 units/acre.
The multifamily areas will have varying densities, depending on parcel size and area designations under the General Plan:
- Commerce/Business Area: Up to 40-acre parcels; 45 units/acre;
- Neighborhoods Area: Up to 20-acre parcels; 24 units/acre;
- Neighborhoods Area: Up to 25-acre parcels; 12 units/acre.
The proposed open space within the residential areas increases from a minimum of 15% to 20% under the request, and the reduced commercial area will be developed as neighborhood retail and services.
The project owners are Cardon Hiatt Companies, Cardon Bowden Investments and LeSueur Investments. EPS Group is serving as the land planner, civil and traffic engineering firm.
Planning staff has recommended Planning and Zoning recommend both projects to the City Council for approval.
