The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a rezoning request to amend a 5-acre lot in its 284-acre Ballpark Village development from commercial to residential and mixed-use to facilitate the construction of spring training player housing.

The 5 acres at the Northeast Corner of Estrella Parkway and Bullard Avenue would contain housing and one mixed-use retail center. The developer also wants to construct a single drive-thru coffee or tea business on the lot.

The coffee or tea element will have an outdoor patio on the player development complex. The deck for players will be secluded from  traffic on Estrella Parkway.

The developer plans to also dedicate 5-20 spaces for Bullard Wash trailhead parking, which’ll be open to the public at large. Two spaces will be mixed-use for trail or restaurant and retail parking. 

The 5-acre area in the southern portion of Ballpark Village will have a gateway art piece that’ll act as a southern gateway into the development. A part of the housing will be afforded to the general public.

“So the zoning does not restrict it to team use,” said Christian Williams, Principal Planner for the city of Goodyear. “The zoning entitlements allow for a mix or solid lease commercial or multifamily at this present point in time -- the applicant is very eager to move forward with half of the site being for the teams similar to other spring training complexes. That's a way they’ve found to make these complexes more successful.”