A long-vacant parcel at the northwest corner of PebbleCreek Parkway and Monte Vista Road will be developed into a 383-unit apartment complex after the Goodyear City Council unanimously approved a rezoning request Monday night.
The 17.55-acre site, part of the Palm Valley Phase VIII planned area development, was rezoned from multifamily to multifamily with a planned area development overlay.
The change allows for taller buildings and greater density, while adding stipulations for building height limits, landscaping buffers, and design standards intended to address neighborhood concerns.
The project, called Picerne at Palm Valley, will include two- and three-story apartment buildings, a clubhouse, pool, dog park, playground and other amenities.
Developer representatives said the complex will be “resort-level” and stressed the Picerne family, which has owned the property for 16 years, intends to maintain it long-term.
“This isn’t some entity far away,” said Taylor Earl, an attorney representing Picerne. “This is a family-owned company based in Arizona. They’ve been in the community for decades and are long-term holders. That makes a big difference when we talk about maintenance and pride of ownership.”
Despite the council’s 7-0 vote, several residents of the adjacent Portales at Palm Valley community voiced strong opposition. Concerns centered on the height of proposed buildings, potential loss of privacy, traffic impacts at gated exits and possible declines in property values.
Residents said the rezoning felt like a slap in the face to nearby homeowners and urged the council to not approve the project.
To address resident concerns, the developer agreed to several restrictions and upgrades, including:
Limiting three-story buildings away from the west and north property lines, where only two stories will be permitted.
Installing more densely planted trees along the western edge to improve privacy.
Adding clerestory windows on upper floors to reduce sightlines into neighboring yards.
Extending perimeter walls and funding tree replacements in nearby areas.
Building a deceleration lane on Monte Vista Road to ease traffic backups at the gated entrance.
“We’re upgrading the quality of the project from what was previously envisioned,” Earl said. “We’re stipulating to enhanced design, resort-level amenities, increased buffers, restricting heights, and only adding 68 units over what zoning would already allow.”
Councilmembers noted the property has been zoned for multifamily housing since 2005, meaning apartments could have been built on the site years earlier without the additional restrictions.
Several council members emphasized the developer’s willingness to make changes based on neighborhood input.
“I have seen developers make concessions to residents, but never to this extent,” said Councilmember Laura Kaino. “The developer is taking on significant additional expense that was not required of them, including the deceleration lane, moving buildings farther away, and enhanced landscaping.”
Councilmember Vicki Gillis praised the years of work that went into modifying the plan. “I commend the developer for working with residents, even extending the process for three years,” she said. “They’ve taken great care and gone over and above to satisfy concerns.”
Vice Mayor Wally Campbell noted she was generally opposed to adding more apartments but acknowledged the city’s past commitments.
“This zoning was done long before I ever came to council, and they have a right to develop that land,” she said.
The ordinance approving the rezoning and passed 7-0. No construction timeline has been set, with representatives saying development will depend on market conditions.
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