By CJ Jorgensen for AZBEX
The City of Buckeye’s Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a minor General Plan amendment and rezoning for the proposed Ventana Ranch South master-planned development at its Oct. 8 meeting.
The minor General Plan amendment and rezoning requests were submitted concurrently with one another.
A 55.1-acre portion of the overall parcel will be changed. The land sits at the NEC of West Southern Avenue and South Watson Road. Prior to the amendment, the land was designated as Neighborhood.
The proposed changes would consist of approximately 11.2 acres remaining Neighborhood while approximately 43.9 acres change to Business Commerce.
Developers requested that the zoning be changed to Planned Area Development to diversify the property from strictly residential use.
Lennar Arizona, LLC’s property is currently undeveloped and is utilized for agriculture purposes. According to the rezoning request narrative, “The Business Commerce land use designation supports the proposed service, office and light-industrial uses planned for the SEC of the property.”
Documents claim the mixed-use area will support the existing residential while providing a positive economic impact and supporting the employment core to the south of Southern Avenue.
The 11.2 acres are intended to support residents and employees through the development of retail, restaurants and services. The 43.9 acres will provide office, light-industrial and more employment opportunities.
The documents reference the 1.7MSF Ross Distribution Center to the south of Southern Avenue. The proposed changes hope to create a buffer for the surrounding residents. This buffer will create a transition from the industrial site through business and commercial development.
Lennar plans for a 200KSF-450KSF building in the 43.9-acre portion to ease the transition.
Documents reference Buckeye’s “Reverse the Commute” initiative as the City wants to focus on providing more employment opportunities to residents within the city limits.
Lennar plans to use the parcel’s unchanged 92.9 acres to develop single-family and attainable/workforce housing for residents. Lennar also wants to provide a non-residential proposal along Southern Avenue, as there’s a “significant employment core,” to the south of the parcel.
The development team consists of Lennar Arizona, LLC as the owner; Tiffany & Bosco, PA as the attorney and Stantec as the civil engineer.
