Information from The Arizona Republic
Believing a long-vacant commercial corner near the Islands neighborhood in Gilbert may never produce a shopping center as originally envisioned, the town council this month approved a zoning change to instead allow 44 new homes at the southeastern corner of McQueen and Warner roads.
A Canadian company has since purchased the 11-acre parcel for $2.1 million and plans to begin development on a single-family community “in the near future,” according to land broker Cushman & Wakefield.
The controversial zoning case won council approval with a 5-2 vote Nov. 7, just weeks after the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce publicly expressed concerns over a trend toward converting commercial property to residential, reducing potential employment opportunities within the town.
Gilbert administrators, including the planning staff and economic development officials, made a formal recommendation against the zoning change, contending the opportunity for commercial development likely will arise as market conditions improve.
A majority of council members and a unanimous Planning Commission, however, felt the former landowner had waited long enough for a commercial user without success.
Mayor John Lewis, Vice Mayor Ben Cooper and Councilmen Petersen, Jordan Ray and Jared Taylor agreed and cast their support behind the zoning change and associated General Plan amendment.
Gilbert administrators, including the planning staff and economic development officials, made a formal recommendation against the zoning change, contending the opportunity for commercial development likely will arise as market conditions improve.
A majority of council members and a unanimous Planning Commission, however, felt the former landowner had waited long enough for a commercial user without success.
The former owner was Starwood Asset Management. The property was purchased by Genica Arizona, based in British Columbia.
“It’s been an area that has struggled with the commercial uses,” said Councilman Victor Petersen, who said he grew up in the Islands subdivision. “How long do we wait before we think that use is just not practical? I think it’s time to take some pointers from the market on what will work there.”
The undeveloped parcel wraps around an existing gas station, convenience store and car wash at the intersection of two major roads along the Gilbert/Chandler limits.
Mayor John Lewis, Vice Mayor Ben Cooper and Councilmen Petersen, Jordan Ray and Jared Taylor cast their support behind the zoning change and associated General Plan amendment.
“In a case like this where there’s such extensive retail vacancy within a couple miles and the parcel has sat in a challenging situation for a long, long time … I’m satisfied that making this change is appropriate,” Cooper said.
Ray said that while the council is sometimes criticized for seeming to approve every zoning request that it hears, there are far more potential developments that are shot down before they reach the public eye.
“For every one of these that is approved, there’s probably 20 at least that never even get this far because either town staff express concern or council members express their concern,” Ray said.
Councilwoman Jenn Daniels and Councilman Eddie Cook, on the other hand, said they were not ready to give up on the commercial property and voted against the zoning change.
Daniels said that while she has a history of supporting such changes to infill property, where land surrounding the site has fully developed, she felt differently about this one because of its proximity to Chandler.“I feel that if we give up this particular corner that has potential … we’re giving away an opportunity to our neighbor,” Daniels said. “As much as we’re happy when Chandler and other neighbors succeed, my first interest is Gilbert.”
If you’d like to discuss real estate matters, contact Rose Law Group founder Jordan Rose, jrose@roselawgroup.com
