Goodyear rezones land to commercial near new Abel Ranch development

The Goodyear City Council approved a rezoning Monday that converted 53 acres of agriculturally zoned land near the newly opened Abel Ranch development into business zoning for the five-building business park.

The rezoning, approved by a 7-0 council vote, converts approximately 53 acres on the south side of Camelback Road. It is located halfway between Citrus Road and Cotton Lane.

Meritage Homes, the developer for Abel Ranch,  initially opposed the project but dropped its opposition after the developer agreed to some concessions.  

The park would allow for the construction of five business park-style buildings. According to the conceptual site plan provided the construction allows the five business park-styled buildings at around 891,000 square feet in total size.

Stipulations limit the park to 40 feet in height for the specific development.

The Development provides at least a 40-foot landscape buffer from resident properties at Abel. The buildings would be 100 feet away from residential areas.

One resident indicated it would be bad for home prices and referenced home developer Meritage, which submitted and later withdrew an objection letter.

“To me, it's going to decrease the value of the homes,” he said. “I don't know what stipulations Meritage met and why they withdrew their letter, but I know Tri Pointe still has their letter, and they're concerned with that also. That's terrible for a residential area. The buffer, in my opinion, should be more than 40 feet.”

The city pointed out during the meeting that the buffer is 100 feet from the buildings but 40 feet from the business park's driving path.

In a joint objection letter, Tri Pointe and Meritage initially argued that access to the residential subdivision would be a bad idea.

“Any type of access from the proposed business park through the Abel Ranch subdivision is a nuisance, eyesore, and, putting aside the damage commercial vehicles are likely to cause to the residential streets, the access by the business park occupants and their vendors and invitees creates the potential for danger to the health and safety of the residents of the Abel Ranch community,” they wrote.

Prologis is the proposed developer for the site.