A long-awaited multi-use project in North Peoria has been approved, but not without opposition from nearby neighbors.
The project, known as The Trailhead, is planned to bring commercial, multifamily residential and a religious facility to the northeast corner of 83rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road.
Well over 100 residents packed into city council chambers April 19 for a public meeting to voice their opinions about the project.
Many residents were opposed to the three-story multifamily component, expected to bring 336 units, as well as felt the project would bring unwanted crime and traffic, and that not adequate public input had been allowed.
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.
Diane Douglas, former state school superintendent and resident of WestWing said the lack of public input bothered her the most about this project.
Councilmember Denette Dunn did motion to continue this project, but it failed 4-2.
“I hear the developer has a lot of plans, but I don’t hear anything other than conceptual ideas,” Douglas said. “We don’t know. We have no high-end restaurants committed yet. We have fast food in there, we might have this, we might have that. And when it comes to the apartments, I have no problem with some higher density development, but it should be townhouses or condos. Believe me, I’ve lived in both, I’ve owned a condo, and I have seen a difference between the commitment and the buy-in to the community. And that is so very, very important regardless of where anyone lives.”
Mayor Cathy Carlat, a resident of WestWing, said she was always worried about what was going to happen with the northeast corner of Happy Valley Road and 83rd Avenue. There was even talk of a Circle K on the corner and discussions about what developers could do, she said.
But with 1,890 homes planned between Westwing and Rock Springs and with the city having some control over how The Trailhead will look, now there is something that will enhance Sunrise Mountain Preserve.
“We have very few opportunities where we get to control what a commercial site is going to look like, and to have a commitment from [the developer] in writing that they are going to conform to the open space and the beauty of that area, that’s all we ever wanted,” Carlat said. “So, for that reason — and I live there and have a large history and a lot at stake — for that reason I support this project.”
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 multifamily 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 were approved in order for the project to move forward.
First, the southern boundary to the Aloravita Planned Community District was changed to allow for the multifamily component of The Trailhead.
Second, the city of Peoria General Plan Land Use Map was amended 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, council approved a rezone of the site from the existing General Agricultural, Suburban Ranch 43, and the Aloravita Planned Community District zoning districts to Trailhead Planned Area Development.
The Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended these cases to the city council, March 31.
City Planner Cody Gleason said at that meeting that the 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.”
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.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here