By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Trilogy Investment Co. has proposed a 164-unit townhome development in Avondale on 13.4 acres west of the NWC of McDowell Road and Avondale Blvd.
The McDowell Villas site, which lies adjacent to the Avondale Commons master-planned mixed-use development, is currently zoned Agricultural. Trilogy is requesting a rezoning to McDowell Villas Planned Area Development.
Avondale’s General Plan targets a density of 20 units/acre for the site, and the proposed project density is 13.8. The project narrative states, however, that the development will create a community with an “alternative housing typology” that will serve as a transition between the surrounding area’s denser multifamily and low-density single-family offerings.
According to the narrative, “The townhomes will be oriented towards open courtyards with a series of interconnected landscaped walking paths providing pedestrian access to the front door of each dwelling unit. These paths connect each home to the various open courtyards and amenities across the site. These pedestrian paths also connect to three secured pedestrian access gates along the southern boundary of the site that provide access to and from the public sidewalk along McDowell Road, making this a highly walkable, pedestrian-oriented community with direct pedestrian and bike connectivity to the future commercial and employment opportunities at Avondale Commons, as well as recreational opportunities at Friendship Community Park and along the Agua Fria River corridor. Additional amenities within this community include community gathering nodes and seating areas, as well as a community center, swimming pool, playground, and dog park.”
McDowell Villas will offer 99 two-bedroom and 65 three-bedroom townhomes in two-story units clustered in three-, four-, five-, and six-unit buildings. Each unit will have a private two-car garage.
During the Nov. 15 meeting, planning staff reported the residences at McDowell Villas will initially be offered as for-rent townhomes but that the developer may ultimately transition units for sale.
Project representatives held a virtual neighborhood meeting in June. No members of the project attended, and planning staff reported it had received no public comments regarding the project. No one requested to speak at the Nov. 15 Planning Commission meeting, and the rezoning request was recommended for approval on a 4-0 vote.
Trilogy Investment Co. is the property owner and developer. Land planning and engineering services are provided by Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. Beus Gilbert McGroder PLLC is the project representative.
