Rezoning property for a multi-family development and shopping center at Riggs and Gary roads and commercial uses at Empire Boulevard and Ellsworth Road/Hunt Highway were recently approved.
The Town Council on Sept. 2 voted unanimously to approve the rezonings in a public hearing consent agenda with other items. On the dais were Mayor Gail Barney and Councilmember Robin Benning. Meeting by WebEx were Vice Mayor Julia Wheatley and Councilmembers Dawn Oliphant, Emilena Turley, Jeff Brown and Jake Hoffman.
Commercial at Empire/Ellsworth
Jessica Sarkissian of Upfront Planning and Entitlements sought the rezoning of approximately 6.63 acres from residential to commercial for future commercial uses consistent with the General Plan. The property is south of the southwest corner of Empire and Ellsworth/Hunt Highway.
The site as well as several adjacent to it and along the corridor were deemed commercial in the 2018 Town of Queen Creek General Plan Land Use map, Ms. Sarkissian said in a rezone project narrative.
“For this reason, the owners in coordination with the town are proposing to rezone the site to that commercial designation as is shown on the General Plan as well as are zoned the surrounding properties even though there is no current commercial development currently proposed for development on the site,” she said.
The site was previously annexed into the Town of Queen Creek is within the Town of Queen Creek’s water service and sewer area.
“Subsequent developers of the site will be required to submit a site plan application for approval of a development plan for the property including the required landscape buffers,” Development Services Director Brett Burningham, Interim Planning Manager Erik Swanson and Principal Planner Christine Sheehy said in a memo to the council.
Shopping center at Riggs and Gary
Sean Lake of Pew and Lake sought to rezone 12.33 acres from urban residential district to general commercial district for a Harvest Station shopping center development at the southwest corner of Riggs and Gary.
The proposed shopping center includes approximately 87,235 square feet of building area with two anchors flanked by retail shops. Two shop buildings are designed with a pedestrian connecting plaza and promenade leading to the intersection of Gary and Riggs, according to a staff memo to the council.
“The distinct design and appearance are appropriate for this prominent intersection at a gateway into Queen Creek,” according to a project narrative by Tatiana Valdivia of Butler Design Group Inc. and Mr. Lake. “The character and theming will evoke high‐quality agritainment themes consistent with Queen Creek’s vision for the area and will serve and enhance the surrounding community’s lifestyle needs.
Multi-family at Riggs and Gary
Mr. Lake also sought the rezoning of 12.58 acres from rural estate to high-density residential for the Harvest Station multi-family development at the southeast corner of Riggs and Gary.
The site is envisioned to utilize materials, landscaping and architectural design that are consistent with those of the proposed shopping center to create a cohesive design at these two prominent street corners, according to a staff memo to the council.
“Harvest Station’s residential component is an exciting opportunity for Queen Creek to provide for quality housing on a highly demanded property,” according to a project narrative by Ms. Valdivia and Mr. Lake.
“Located at a prominent arterial‐arterial corner at a gateway into town and near the town’s iconic Schnepf Farms and Olive Mill agritainment uses, the proposed residential land uses will create a walkable, livable environment for future residents,” they wrote. “It will comply with the maximum allowed density of 25 du/acre, which is consistent with the requested HDR zoning,” they said of dwelling units per acre.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
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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