By Jane Stewart for Arizona Builder’s Exchange
Gilbert may soon be home to another car dealership. Autobahn Properties, LLC, through Nationwide Reality Investors, LTD, recently sought approval from the Planning Commission/Design Review Board on the site plan for a new car dealership at the SEC of Gilbert and Pecos Roads.
The site, located within the 250-acre mixed-use development, Rivulon, is adjacent to another vacant site where the Volvo Cars Gilbert dealership has been planned and approved, but not yet constructed.
On 4.59 acres, “The site is currently zoned Regional Commercial with a Planned Area Development overlay.” The showroom, which is designed to face Gilbert Road, will be a 35.7KSF, two-story building and includes the typical amenities of a car dealership with a sales area, customer lounge, administrative and conference space, a service department with parts and storage, and 14 service bays. Also designed is a 2KSF accessory building with a car wash/detailing facility located in the rear of the site.
“There are 245 vehicular parking stalls onsite, 187 of which serve as display and inventory parking areas. Additionally, there are 27 customer spaces primarily located along the west elevation near the main entrance, 11 service parking spaces located near the service entrance on the south side of the building, and 20 employee spaces are located in the gated rear lot on the south and the north side of the site,” according to the planning documents.
The building’s design is masonry and stucco with steel awnings over most of the windows. Colors range from warm earth tones to lighter neutrals and grays stone interiors. “The architect’s focus is on a silver precision-cut perforated corrugated metal panel with a distinctive hexagonal honeycomb pattern that is installed over a gray corrugated metal panel, which he states, ‘…creates an intricate layered modern expression that embodies the precision of luxury car design.’ Staff notes this proposed design should blend well with the Volvo Dealership in close proximity to the south.”
The site plan went before the Town’s Planning Commission/Design Review Board’s special session meeting on December 6. A few concerns were expressed, mainly about parking issues, but for the most part the design was well-received. After the Town’s concerns were addressed, the Planning Commission approved the site plan at its January 3, 2018 meeting, and construction is planned to move forward in March.
NOTE: Paid subscribers receive additional project details in our twice-weekly PDF publication, including project stakeholder information and valuable project bidding leads. Find out more about AZBEX subscriptions or contact Rebekah Morris at rmorris@azbex.com or (480) 709-4190.
