A long-awaited multi-use project in North Peoria is nearing approval, but it is getting some opposition from nearby neighbors.
The project, known as The Trailhead, is proposed for commercial, multifamily residential and a religious facility.
Some residents are opposed to the three-story multifamily component, expected to bring 336 units, as well as feel the project would bring unwanted traffic.
Some residents of the nearby WestWing community said they believe the apartments will bring down property values in an area home to the city’s most expensive houses.
This project was delayed in 2019 and since then the proposed multifamily use was added.
WestWing resident Laura Basey said it is unacceptable that the apartments were added.
There have been at least 98 letters of support for the project and 40 letters of opposition.
“I think that is great that it is happening. I just object to the apartments. If we want high-end restaurants here, we have-high end homes in the neighborhoods and all the surrounding neighborhoods — 336 apartments isn’t going to change anything and those people are not the kind of people who are going to be able to afford their rent and go spend money at a high-end restaurant. I just don’t see it,” she said. “Why not condos where people have pride of ownership? Which have a less transient community.”
Of the 336 units: 152 units will be one-bedrooms, 157 will be two-bedrooms and 27 will be three-bedrooms.
Price points were not available but lawyer Paul Gilbert, who represents applicant Pedersen Group, said they will be in the mid-range cost. He said the muiltifamily is hard to price because of rising materials costs, but the applicant is committed to the mid-range cost.
Apartment amenities include a centralized pool, bike storage, clubhouse, fitness center, dog park, thematic pedestrian trail access points, outdoor workspace, community barbecues and ramadas, as well as lawn game areas.
Gilbert said the apartments are integral to this project because Arizona needs more housing.
“This is a very challenging, difficult piece of property, both to assemble, to put together, and to bring it forward as a project,” Gilbert said. “We couldn’t make it happen a couple years ago and the project won’t work today if all three components aren’t approved.”
Those components need to be approved in order for the project to move forward.
First, the southern boundary to the Aloravita Planned Community District needs to be changed to allow for the multifamily component of The Trailhead.
Second, the applicant is asking to amend the City of Peoria General Plan Land Use Map for approximately 26 acres from Traditional Residential (2-5 du/ac) to Mixed-Use Main Street to align with the remainder of the proposed development to facilitate the project containing commercial, multifamily residential and a religious facility.
Lastly, the applicant is requesting to rezone the site from the existing General Agricultural, Suburban Ranch 43, and the Aloravita Planned Community District zoning districts to the proposed Trailhead Planned Area Development.
The Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended these cases to the city council, March 31, who will have final approval, April 19.
City Planner Cody Gleason said the proposed case is an assemblage of five property ownerships, with the parcels sharing access points, amenities and ultimately design features into a Planned Area Development.
“The PAD is intended to create a more cohesive development and a more viable site — a site that functions together,” Gleason said. “With that, it has taken time in order to coordinate with those various property owners.”
Upper West Side PHX founder Katie Roe said The Trailhead has been a big topic of interest and discussion for four years on her Facebook page, which has nearly 15,000 followers. She said the apartments will bring needed foot traffic to the area and if the The Trailhead is not approved, it will have long-term implications for Peoria.
“If we say no to this, that we’re not willing to have this great mixed-use development and move things forward and that we are not for progress, then that tells The Sam Foxes and the Postinos and everyone else that we want to come here, that we drive across the city for, that Peoria is not open to this. We’ll get passed over. They are going to go to Surprise, they are going to go to Glendale, and the tax dollars will go there. This is our chance,” she said. “For four years I have been fighting to get these top tier restaurants here. We know how wonderful our community is. We have the numbers to back it up. We have the income. We have all of it. But they don’t want to come without guaranteed foot traffic. Can we support them? Absolutely. Can we support Fox Restaurants, Postino and everything else? Yes. But they are not coming if you don’t give them guaranteed foot traffic. It’s that simple.”
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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