By BEX Staff for AZBEX
Acacia by Diamante Homes, a proposed 129-unit townhome development on 8.29 acres at the NEC of Acacia Road and Southern Avenue, has received a recommendation for approval from the Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission.
An area news outlet reported Diamante Homes has requested a rezoning from the current mixture of designations for the eight-parcel site to High Density Multiple-Family Residential by Planned Development, as well as a new planned development overlay and a minor General Plan amendment.
Surrounding uses include residential and commercial/event space to the north, residential to the south, vacant commercial property to the east and both vacant and developed residential properties to the west.
The site has buildable space of 7.96 acres, giving the planned development a density of approximately 16 units/acre.
The gated townhome community will be comprised of for-sale properties developed as a platted subdivision. A homeowners association will own and be responsible for common area maintenance and landscaping.
Planned amenities include a clubhouse, a swimming pool, a pickleball court, a trail system, a playground, parks and green space. The green space will serve double duty for drainage and retention.
The article quoted some Commission members speaking in favor of the for-sale model proposed for the Acacia development, saying it would add to housing diversity and homeownership in the area.
This point was repeatedly addressed in the submitted project narrative, which said, “The amendment benefits the broader community by providing needed housing diversity and does not solely benefit the landowner, as it creates housing opportunities for future residents and supports the City’s housing diversification objectives. The General Plan’s Community Profile specifically identifies housing diversification as a critical need, noting that ‘63% of the city’s residences’ are manufactured/recreational vehicle homes, and ‘only 27% of the city’s housing stock is considered single family development.’”
No traffic study was required, and traffic impacts were a point of discussion during the meeting. Representatives made the point the residential development will probably generate less traffic than would be created if the site were developed under the current zoning, which includes commercial.
Several items of concern were raised about impacts on Acacia Road. A condition was added, which the developer said it actually preferred, to consider relocating the primary entrance from its currently planned location on Acacia Road over to Starr Road.
The Apache Junction City Council is scheduled to discuss the requests in an April 6 work session and hold a public hearing and vote April 21.
Diamante Homes is the project owner. The design firm is Atmosphere Architects. NPS Global, Inc. is the civil engineer, and Campbell Collaborative is the landscape architect. The project is represented by Ray Law Firm.
