By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

A city-initiated rezoning to high-density multiple family residential has been proposed for 151 and 183 N. Palo Verde Drive.

The Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission recently directed city staff to proceed with a corrective rezoning of the properties.

“We’ve had several of these properties that we have discovered to have incorrect zoning,” Planning Manager Rudy Esquivias said at the commission’s April 14 meeting.

“We looked at the little four-plex next door and discovered that one is also incorrectly zoned, so we are simply asking ... for your direction to proceed with the city corrective rezoning for these two properties,” he said.

The properties are already developed --- they have either four- or eight-plexes on them, he said.

“Small properties, small multifamily developments. No new development proposed, just simply asking to correct the zoning,” Mr. Esquivias said.

“You’ve got my vote,” Commission Chair Tess Nesser said.

The properties being considered in the rezoning are just north of Apache Trail, on the west side of Palo Verde Drive, according to a memo to the commission from Nicholas Leftwich, planning intern.

Prior to 2014, the zoning designation for the two parcels was multiple-family residence, which allowed for the apartments that were built on these properties, he said.

“However, when the city adopted a new zoning ordinance and zoning district maps in 2014, the subject properties were incorrectly given the new zoning designation of medium density single-family detached residential, which is an incompatible zoning designation due to its single-family residence requirements,” Mr. Leftwich said in the memo.

“This zoning conflict was recently brought to the attention of the staff and creates potential problems in continuing the current and formerly authorized usage of this property,” he said.

Due to concerns over COVID-19 exposure and in accordance with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only Chair Tesser was at the dais with other commission members meeting by phone. The City of Apache Junction had asked that residents view meetings by means of Mediacom channel 11, CenturyLink Prism TV channel 8017 or by livestream at ajcity.net/livestream.

The next meeting of the commission is 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, in the City Council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.