By Melissa St. Aude | Casa Grande Dispatch
An improving economy could mean new life for what’s been dubbed one of Casa Grande’s “zombie” subdivisions.
Thursday, the Casa Grande Planning and Zoning Commission approved preliminary plat plans for Arroyo Grande, a subdivision that was approved in 2006 but has sat idle and undeveloped for seven-plus years.
“This is an effort to breathe new life into a zombie subdivision,” Keith Newman, city planner, told the commission.
In 2006, Scott Communities planned to build 312 homes in Arroyo Grande, near Trekell and McCartney roads.
Walls were erected, water retention work completed and some infrastructure such as water, wastewater and electric lines installed. Plans were approved by the City Council that year and some rough grading completed for streets and lots.
But, as with several other developments in Casa Grande, when the recession hit, plans for the 103-acre subdivision were pushed aside. Roads were never finished, homes never built and the infra- structure began to deteriorate.
The developer now wants to restart the project and divide it into four phases based on the original design.
Building in four phases reflects today’s economic and housing conditions, Newman said.
In the first phase, 100 homes would be built beginning near the eastern boundary.
The second phase is to have 45 lots, the third 70 and the final phase on the western boundary would have about 92 lots.
With 307 homes, new plans for the Arroyo subdivision mean about five fewer homes than originally anticipated.
The extra space is to be used for expanded drainage retention facilities.
Some commissioners raised the issue of traffic on McCartney Road.
