Retreat: Chandler Council briefed on recent econ, development obstacles

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

While a government for a city Chandler’s size would probably always have many priories, it’s important to narrow those and evaluate progress.

That’s what the City Council was doing April 29 when it held its biennial retreat at the Chandler Museum.

The agenda for the daylong set of work sessions called for presentations from Chandler’s economic development director, Micah Miranda, and the city’s director of development services, Kevin Snyder.

Other steps council was set to take at the retreat included a four-step work session on strategic framework, council topics and a closing exercise.

Miranda presented on what his team is doing to bring in and keep jobs in the city. He pointed out, in a recent interview with the Chandler Independent, that the vast majority of his team’s time is spent helping medium and smaller companies with projects within the city, rather than with large companies like Intel or Basha’s.

Council member Jane Poston reminded Miranda to reach out to council or other boards or staff if there are tasks they can take on to help with economic development.

“If there are things council can do to help make more sites closer to shovel-ready for investors, let us know what’s needed,” Poston said.

Later in the dialogue, Mayor Kevin Hartke said redevelopment is a challenge in the oldest parts of the city because of the power concerns and modifications needed locally in order to build taller and/or larger square-footage facilities.

Miranda echoed that sentiment.

“At one point, companies were asking about 5 megawatts of (electricity), and that eventually became 10 megawatts,” Miranda said. “It’s because nearly every company has so many computers and other electronics that use a lot of juice. Some places pretty much have their own data center on-site. So we need to have regular dialogue with SRP and the (Arizona) Corporation Commission to stay on top of what’s practical, now and going forward.”

Poston also pointed out that the city isn’t completely “built out,” especially when all the infill corners and other properties remain undeveloped.

Snyder mentioned, early in his presentation abut what changes lie ahead for development, that there are only 78 zoned-residential acres remaining among Chandler’s overall 714 undeveloped acres.

“When we get to full buildout, it doesn’t mean the party’s over,” Snyder said. “It just means it’s a different kind of party.”

Snyder said the numbers for growth in Chandler over the past 30 years are “stupefying” and include 250% population growth and 300%-plus employment growth. He said developers of large, multi-phase projects are quickly yielding to smaller project managers.

“A lot of the bigger projects of the past had whole teams of attorneys and architects and others who could solve all sorts of problems and obstacles,” Snyder said. “Now, and going forward, we’re seeing much smaller operations. So we’re not doing their work for them, but we’re having to do a lot more teaching on problem-solving.”

Snyder mentioned some proposed laws that appear to be dead n the Arizona Legislature in 2025, but could return for debate next year in some form. One example he gave was HB 2192, which would have permitted multi-family housing to be built on religious institution property within these single-family zoned areas.

One example Snyder gave of a recently enacted new state law is one that requires annual city housing assessments. He said he’ll likely have many more recommendations for council once a state-mandated housing study is completed later this year.

Snyder said Development Services and other departments already have a bead on what types of construction have never really happened in Chandler yet, on a large scale.

“‘Missing middle housing’ is a fancy way to say that we need more diverse types of housing products on the market,” Snyder said.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.