By Jane Stewart for Arizona Builder’s Exchange
The City of Chandler may soon see a new light industrial development known as The Lotus Project. The concept, and a rezoning request, went before the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission for approval at its March 21st meeting.
The project site is approximately 52.7 acres located at the SWC of Frye Road and Roosevelt Avenue, north of the Loop 202 Santan Freeway and west of Kyrene Road.
The applicant, Sven Tustin with Conor Commercial Real Estate, made the request for “rezoning from Planned Area Development for Industrial to PAD (Light Industrial and General Office) with a Mid-Rise Overlay for building height up to 90 feet along with Preliminary Development Plan for site layout and building design for a light industrial and general office development.”
The project, to be completed in two phases, includes a mix of light industrial and general office uses. The first phase includes 31 acres and 463KSF of light industrial, while the second phase, “…includes 21 acres and 200KSF of general office. The Mid-Rise Overlay is requested on Phase II only to allow heights up to 90 feet for office buildings.”
No residents attended either of the two neighborhood meetings held as part of the Mid-Rise Overlay request.
The 52-acre parcel is currently owned by the City of Chandler and was originally intended as the site for a potential wastewater treatment facility. However, the City realizes there is no longer any need for such a facility at the location and has entered into an agreement with Conor Commercial Reals Estate to purchase the land.
The site is adjacent to the City’s water production facility, which will remain intact, and will include landscaping planned throughout the development and around the perimeter “to provide shade and an improved presence along the freeway.” The main entrance of the development “is tree-lined and highlighted with a surface-designed theme logo, a lotus flower, creating a sense of arrival.”
“Buildings range in size from 97.2KSF to 134.4KSF. Second phase includes two, two-story general office buildings at 100KSF each. The office use is strategically located along the freeway for greater visibility and allows for the light industrial uses to transition to existing industrial development. Phase I is intended for only light industrial uses. Phase II has the option of having office and/or light industrial uses with up to three buildings. Light industrial buildings may include ancillary support offices.” More than 1,400 parking spaces have been designed to accommodate the project’s parking needs.
“The final building designs will be reviewed and approved through an administrative process with Planning Staff. The building architecture incorporates features to break up massing and emphasize front entrances. Building designs would include contemporary styles with a mixture of roof styles, pronounced canopy designs, vertical elements, paint color blocking, and a mix of materials such as brick, stucco, block, metal, steel, (and) precast concrete.”
The Planning Staff supported the request and recommended approval with stipulations at their March 21st meeting.
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