Plans for new agritainment spot in Queen Creek advance

A new agritainment destination could be coming to Queen Creek after the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission recommended rezoning 10.5 acres of land generally located at the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Ryan roads from rural to agritainment.

Following a public hearing, the commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the zoning change for Desert Horizon Nursery to permit a plant nursery, restaurant and bakery/cafe.

As part of its Aug. 14 approval, the commission added an amendment to allow for the creation of a decomposed granite parking lot and the use of box planters as dividing walls. The amendment also requires the developer to work with town staff to ensure a multiuse trail along Ellsworth Road is incorporated into the design.

Two members of the public who spoke at the meeting both voiced their support for the project.

If the rezoning is approved by the Queen Creek Town Council, the nursery will operate by right rather than through a conditional use permit as it has since 2003. Desert Horizon Nursery owners and operators Billy Stevenson and Michael LaPidus filed the application for the rezoning.

“In addition to serving as a nursery, the existing business offers educational opportunities and programming for residents and students providing education on desert plant life, water conservation, and citrus and tropical landscaping,” according to a town staff report. “Similar to the Queen Creek Botanical Gardens, Sossaman Farms (Hayden Flour Mills), Schnepf Farms, and the Olive Mill, various plants throughout the nursery will be utilized in the operations and décor of the bakery and restaurant and will be available for purchase.”

The proposed redevelopment of the site will include landscaped areas, buildings, parking and site access. The restaurant building will be approximately 7,527 square feet and the bakery/cafe building will be about 2,046 square feet. The site will also include pedestrian access, walking paths and shared outdoor spaces that will connect Desert Horizon Nursery’s different uses.

“This project looks to enhance the site’s offerings through the addition of a locally owned and operated, immersive, landscape-focused restaurant and bakery with a future restored barn structure for events,” according to the project narrative. “Additionally, as one of the first properties one encounters entering Queen Creek along Ellsworth Road, the project will serve as a beautiful gateway to the town and a reminder of the strong agricultural heritage of Queen Creek.”

The first phase of the area will include the restaurant building, open space, landscaping and parking. The second phase will see the development of the bakery/cafe building.

The applicants estimate that when the restaurant and bakery/cafe are completed and open, the development will have 66 employees in the low season and 91 employees in the high season.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.