Developer seeks to create new rental-unit community in Queen Creek

A proposed residential development that could bring 150 single-family rental units to Queen Creek has received a rezoning recommendation from the Queen Creek Planning & Zoning Commission.

Greystar is requesting that an almost 17-acre site near the northeast corner of Germann and Power roads be rezoned from general commercial to medium density residential/planned unit development to build Summerwell Residences. Greystar is also asking for site plan approval.

At its Wednesday meeting, the commission voted 6-0 to recommend approval. Chairman David Gilette was absent.

“This really doesn’t feel like multifamily to me. This seems like a nicely done rental property of single-family homes, where there might be some flexibility in pricing that some of our residents may need,” Commission Member Amber Bordes said before the vote.

The proposed community would consist of 102 single and 48-duplex units, according to a staff report.

“We recognize that this is a very challenging infill site and it has been vacant for a very long time. Nevertheless, just because a site is vacant doesn’t mean that you should just willy-nilly agree to any proposal that comes before you,” Greystar representative Brennan Ray of the Ray Law Firm told the commission. “We think this does represent the highest and best use for this particular property.”

The site is bounded by the Power Marketplace commercial center to the north and west, Germann Road to the south with the Cortina single-family residential community beyond Germann Road, and the Power Marketplace Business Park directly east.

A previous attempt to build a 340-unit multifamily development was halted in 2024, after public opposition caused the developers to withdraw their application.

“This is not by any stretch of the imagination high-density residential,” Ray said. “You can see the amount of open space that’s occurring throughout the site. Over 40%, 6 acres of this site is open space.”

The town’s general plan has the site designated as commercial as part of the larger Power Marketplace and Power Marketplace Business Park.

“Over the years there has been development interest in the subject site, however inquiries within the past 5-plus years have been exclusively for residential development,” the report continued.

The site was purchased by the current owners in 2025 and “throughout this time period there have been, really, zero serious offers from the commercial developers,” Ray said.

All units will have driveways leading up to one- and two-car garages. There will also be 25 parking stalls near the development’s clubhouse and west exit. Street parking will be prohibited.

The clubhouse will be at the proposed development’s main entrance, and the area will also include a pool and central mail station. A park is proposed immediately to the north of the clubhouse, as well as a dog park at the northwest corner of the community.

“I agree that a vacant lot that has some limitations … where (this) can bring an opportunity for families to move in and spend time with their children and have a place to reside so that they can enjoy the town and the amenities that we do have,” Bordes said.

Still, the proposed Summerwell Residences is also meeting some resistance from neighbors. At a neighborhood meeting on Aug. 18 in the town’s Community Chambers, the six people in attendance voiced concerns about increased traffic along Germann Road and adding more residential units to that part of the community, along with a desire to keep the current commercial zoning, the staff report stated.
As of Sept. 1, town staff has received 30 emails about the proposed project with all but three in opposition.

“Ironically, our business would benefit from 150 rental homes right next door,” Joe Kolnick, owner of a Queen Creek Cold Stone Creamery, told the commission. “But we still oppose the rezoning because we don’t believe it’s what’s best for the community. The property was designated commercial in our citizen-approved general plan.”

Another nearby resident did express support for the project.

“I didn’t love the original plan in 2024. I was opposed to that. This plan — it’s 150 units — I think it meets a demand,” Brett Crosby said. “My kids are about that age where they’re going to be looking. They’re not going to able to buy a house yet, but they’re able to still have a nice community that’s not a three-story multiuse apartment. I think it meets a need."

The final decision on the rezoning and site plan will be made by the Queen Creek Town Council.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.