A commercial condominium subdivision with 11 suites may be constructed near the southeast corner of Gold Drive and Apache Trail in Apache Junction.
The Apache Junction City Council was briefed during a Sept. 5 meeting on plans requested by Superstition Springs Holdings LLC, represented by Shantha Kumar, for the development.
The final-plat case is slated to be on the agenda for the Tuesday, Sept. 19, meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 57 E. First St.
The property was zoned in 2005 for a small medical clinic and two other commercial pads. In 2014, the city council approved rezoning the property to allow a medical and office complex on 1.6 acres, reserving 1 acre for a future commercial development, according to a city document.
“The site was then developed with infrastructure, driveways, pad sites; and one building was constructed,” Planner Nicholas Leftwich told the council. “The property owner has now applied for a commercial condominium plat so that the property may be subdivided and that suites of future buildings may be sold individually to different occupants.”
A separate commercial subdivision process is required should a developer desire to create units for individual sale after rezoning, Leftwich wrote in a memo to the council.
Staff has reviewed the final plat for substantial compliance with the requirements of the approved planned development ordinance city code and other regulations, he said in the memo.
The final plat shows 11 suites and each could be individually owned under the proposed condominium plat, Leftwich told the council.
Councilwoman Tess Nesser asked why it is called a condominium subdivision when it is commercial.
“There are subdivisions that aren’t condominium subdivisions and then when it is a condominium subdivision it changes some of the ownership details regarding the lot itself — the land underneath. And the condominium subdivision is specific like if you’re owning what’s above the land like a building itself or a suite,” Leftwich said. “A condominium is when you are dividing a building or something like that.”
Councilmember Bambi Johnson asked where the parking would be for the individually owned suites.
“Is that going to be enough parking for that many individual offices or businesses unless everybody is only going to be an office of one with no guest?” she asked.
“Staff has currently analyzed and assessed the current parking and with the proposed square footage of buildings on the preliminary plans that we have seen, it checks out and meets the code minimums,” Leftwich said.
Councilmember Peter Heck asked if only medical uses would be allowed.
“It’s generally proposed for that. It doesn’t have to strictly be medial offices. However, the planned development ordinance was catered to those sorts of uses on this lot,” Leftwich said. “Generally employment, office — mostly catered to medical. It’s not necessarily strictly only, absolutely medical, but generally that kind of use,” he said.
“And then there is still one pad that is not going to be developed. Am I correct with that?” Heck asked.
“So, you may be referring to the commercial site that is on the corner of Apache Trail and Gold Drive. That was part of the original rezoning ordinance. However, it is not part of this. That is still reserved for general commercial — whether it’s a restaurant or something like that. So that part is still excluded from this even though it was part of the original rezoning,” Leftwich said.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@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.
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