Long-time West Valley agricultural presence Rovey Family Farms has begun the process to bring a new master-planned development to the area of Northern and 83rd avenues that will cover two cities and nearly 350 acres.

The complex project including residential, mixed use, commercial, industrial and business uses — named Legacy Point — includes a number of cases going through the cities of Peoria and Glendale.

Given the mix of uses, conventional zoning is not adequate for this project.

Councilwoman Vicki Hunt said she is very excited to see this project coming to south Peoria.

“I’m very, very proud of the way it is coming together,” she said. “I’m proud of the Rovey’s for holding out and making sure it was a compact unit when they finally let their land go and for the quality people that are coming into the area who are already interested.”

Most recently, the Peoria City Council approved a proposal to annex part of the property into the city establishing an initial zoning from Maricopa County Rural 43 (RU-43) and Heavy Industrial (IND-3) to city zoning Suburban Ranch (SR-43) and Heavy Industrial (I-2).

The Peoria City Council also approved a minor general plan amendment to change the land use map for 78.3 acres from Employment Business Commerce to Traditional Residential, with 2-5 dwelling units per acre.

Additionally, the council approved a rezone of 346 acres from Suburban Ranch (SR-43), Intermediate Commercial (C-2), Light Industrial (I-1) and Heavy Industrial (I-2) to Legacy Point Planned Area Development (PAD).

These proposals were approved by council Jan. 18.

On the Glendale side, city council will consider a different portion of the property in Maricopa County to be annexed into Glendale at a later date.

“They are taking all those districts and combining them into one — Legacy Point Planned Area Development,” Planning Manager Lorie Dever said.

Overall acreage is 346 — 175 industrial business park,151 residential and 20 commercial mixed use.

Dever said it will take time to develop these parcels. While this is happening, the dairy and agricultural operations will continue on the property until the project has been fully developed, she said.

Once the parcels become part of the cities, applicant Matt Telban of Shea Homes, who will work on the residential side, is partnering with VanTrust Real Estate on industrial uses to begin physically developing the project as a whole.

Planning Director Chris Jacques said the next steps in the initiation and buildout of this master plan is the review and approval of individual site plans for the parcels — on the industrial and commercial sides — as well as subdivisions — on the residential side.

On the residential side, the city is in review of a preliminary plat application filed by Shea Homes for the subdivision of 80.51 acres into 317 detached, single-family residential lots with typical lot sizes ranging between 5,527 square feet and 6,899 square feet. This preliminary plat represents phases 1 and 2 of the residential component and is generally located south of the overhead powerline corridor along 79th Avenue at Northern Avenue, Jacques said.

“A preliminary plat is an administrative process that seeks to ensure the subdivision meets all relevant codes, including the newly adopted Legacy Place PAD. Once preliminary plat approval is obtained, the developer will apply for final plat and site construction plans,” he said.

On the industrial side, the city is in review of a site plan for a 154,289 square foot distribution facility on a 17.5 acre parcel at the southwest corner of 75th Avenue and Golden Lane.

“The site plan is an administrative process that looks to ensure the development concept for this site works and meets all relevant codes – including the newly adopted Legacy Place PAD – prior to the submittal of construction permits,” Jacques said.

Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.