Planned 336-unit rental community's CUP appeal to go before Apache Junction council
City of Apache Junction
Fourteen three-story buildings are planned. Amenities include a clubhouse, pool, dog park, open space, grills and covered parking. All lighting is to be dark-skies compliant.
City of Apache Junction
The vacant property is a single, irregularly shaped parcel with approximately 125 feet fronting Apache Trail and 796 feet fronting Plaza Drive in Apache Junction.
A 336-unit three-story residential rental complex proposed for 18 acres west of the northwest corner of Idaho Road and Apache Trail in Apache Junction has drawn criticism from neighbors around the proposal and a rejection from the planning commission.
An appeal of the Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission's denial of a conditional-use permit for the development was submitted April 24 by Paul Gilbert of Gilbert Blilie PLLC on behalf of Wolff Enterprises III LLC. The appeal will be considered at the June 17 City Council meeting, Apache Junction Public Information Officer Gina Scorza said.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. June 17 in the council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.
The Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing April 8 and overwhelmingly voted to not approve a conditional-use permit for the development requested by Wolff Enterprises III LLC, represented by Gilbert Blilie PLLC,
A motion to approve the permit, made by Commissioner Jesse Gage with eight conditions of approval and seconded by Chair Dave Hantzsche, failed 2-5. Dissenting were Vice Chair Robin Barker and Commissioners Sandra Mykland, Ari Kalan, Roy Starr and Sheryl Bigelow.
“I am overwhelmed with the problem of traffic, so I need to vote no,” Barker said in voting.
With the failure of the motion, the case can be appealed to the city council within 20 days, Development Services Director Rudy Esquivias said after the vote.
“Otherwise, if nobody appeals in 20 days, your decision stands,” he said.
Eleven local residents and winter residents spoke during a public hearing about the development, with most saying they live at Lost Dutchman RV Resort, 400 N. Plaza Drive, which is just west of the proposed development.
Concerns included traffic, bottlenecks of vehicles at the two entrances, the fear of having several families living in one unit, the traffic coming from the nearby U.S. Post Office, the loss of views of the mountain dropping the value of homes at the RV resort, questioning where trucks will travel for construction of the development, where school bus stops will be located to transport children living there, and the need for bicycle safety.
The property is zoned city center — or B-3 — and the proposed multifamily use is consistent with the existing general plan land use designation. City staff support the proposed multifamily use at the site, Principal Planner Kelsey Schattnik told the commission.
A 60-foot-tall building is allowed in that zoning and the project is at 37 feet, five inches in height, she said.
Fourteen three-story buildings are planned. Amenities include a clubhouse, pool, dog park, open space, grills and covered parking. All lighting is to be dark-skies compliant, Schattnik said.
The main access is off Apache Trail and a secondary access for residents only is off of Plaza Drive.
“Units will consist of one- and two-bedrooms and range in size from 750 square feet to just over 1,000 square feet. As you can see, the applicant is providing three building types — each with their own unique architectural details,” which include balconies on the upper floors and first-floor screened patios, Schattnik said.
The applicant is requesting a parking reduction. Per city code, 749 on-site spaces are required with the applicant proposing a total of 684. The applicant is providing 45 off-site parking stalls within 100 feet of the property along Plaza Drive, she said.
Primary concerns from five individuals who called the city about the project include planned off-site parking along Plaza, blocked views of the Superstition Mountains because of the planned building heights, and increased traffic along Plaza, Schattnik said.
Historical aerials show the property may have been used as a golf course in the 1970s and 1980s but has not been used since that time, according to a written project narrative from Wolff Enterprises III LLC.
It will be a market-rate, non-age-restricted product. The development is anticipated to generate 2,265 weekday daily trips entering and exiting, it states.
The Wolff Co. is under contract to purchase the property, attorney Paul Gilbert, representing Wolff Co., told the commission.
“We openly state we don’t own the property. We have it in escrow subject to getting it entitled here at Apache Junction,” he said.
One-bedroom units are to cost $1,300 a month and two-bedroom units are to cost $1,800 a month, he said.
“And we’re very comfortable that that rental rate can be sustained here in Apache Junction,” Gilbert said.
Bigelow asked if a traffic light was to be constructed at the entrance along Apache Trail.
“When you come out of there to cross the Trail to get to Idaho, that could be congested sometimes. Like are you going to put a light or something over there?” she asked.
Gilbert said it would not need a traffic light.
“But we’ve traveled it several times and have watched the traffic. We did it again today and we don’t think that will be a significant factor,” he said.
“I know I sat there long enough trying to cross the Trail to get to Idaho,” Bigelow said.
The primary duties of the planning and zoning commission include community contact regarding items including a zoning change request, to an application from a developer for a shopping center development or housing project. Also included are conditional use permits with the final decision being handled at the planning and zoning commission level, according to the city’s website.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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