A development agreement approved in 2009 for 160 acres in Apache Junction that was to expire in 2030 may be extended to 2040.
The property currently is zoned for mobile homes but could be developed with single-family homes.
The Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously June 3 on a consent agenda with other items to discuss the agreement at a work session at 7 p.m. Monday, June 16, in the council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.
The property at the southeast corner of Meridian Drive and Southern Avenue is owned by Fortune Travel Inc., represented by Sean Lake of Pew & Lake PLC.
The developer has a homebuilder but could not get a contract because of water and drainage issues. The drainage area that runs through the property is part of the agreement, City Manager Bryant Powell said during a June 2 council work session.
“It’s zoned for mobile home park at that time so existing zoning is for that,” he said. “The idea for the amendment is to allow for more time for the developer and the city to work together in a mutually accepting type of project — meaning that the owner is interested in working with us on maybe potentially getting single-family homes there instead of mobile homes.”
Vice Mayor Robert Schroeder asked if the city of Apache Junction years ago set a policy that no new mobile home parks would be developed and Powell said that is correct.
“So why would this be still zoned for mobile-home parks?” Schroeder asked.
“They have longstanding zoning — they have grandfather rights that date back years. So they have a development agreement that recognizes that. So they basically are not subject to that rule,” City Attorney Joel Stern said.
The city of Apache Junction is trying to find a remedy to the flow of water that drains into the property, he said.
“The current agreement requires the city to accept and convey 761 (cubic feet per second) — the historical flow. And so we are obligated to that. What I propose is this allows more time for the developer and the city to work together to get the quality of product that we want and right now the owner is very motivated to get single-family homes here,” Powell said.
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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