By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

A jobs-training education center is to be developed near the northwest corner of Ironwood and Apache Trail on property zoned for recreational vehicles and commercial uses. A rezoning application for it and one for multifamily housing near the northeast corner of Palo Verde and Apache Trail were approved recently by the Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commission on Aug. 11 voted unanimously to recommend City Council approve the city-initiated rezonings. In attendance were Chair Theresa Nesser, Vice Chair Peter Heck and Commissioners Shirley Ooley and Dave Hantzsche. Attending by phone was Commissioner Michael McGraw.

Both rezonings are slated to be heard by the Apache Junction City Council at a meeting in September. The council meets at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 and 15 in the Council Chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.

Ironwood Drive education center

One rezoning was for 210 N. Ironwood Drive from a split zoning of recreational vehicle park and general commercial to general commercial. The change would allow the entire property to be developed under commercial standards as intended by the original zoning designation.

“The incorrect zoning was brought to our attention when the property owner inquired about developing the western half of their property with an education center,” Planner Kelsey Schattnik said in a memo to the commission.

In 1985 the property was rezoned C-2 local commercial district. In 2014 the zoning maps should have assigned a B-1 general commercial to the property, but instead was assigned the split zoning, she said to the commission.

“It’s kind of nestled in-between the Hope Women’s Center and there’s like a golf-cart business to the south,” Ms. Schattnik said to the commission.

Commissioner Shirley Ooley asked what type of business was to go in.

“You said incorrect zoning was brought to our attention and these folks wanted to develop the western half of their property with an education center. Is this the same one we looked at previously that wanted the education center on their property?” she asked. “What kind of an education center are they looking at here or can you tell me that?”

“I don’t think they’ve really said exactly what it’s going to be. They’re looking at putting some kind of building on the west half of the property, potentially to put computers in and have just different educational services. I’m not sure what exactly that would be,” Planner Schattnik said.

Palo Verde Drive apartments

The second corrective rezoning is for 151 and 183 N. Palo Verde Drive, from medium density single-family detached residential to high-density multiple-family residential.

In 2014 the city’s zoning maps should have assigned the latter zoning district to the property, according to a presentation made to the commission.

“Both of these properties are currently developed with multi-family housing. The zoning designation that is currently on both properties is medium density single-family detached residential, which does not allow for multi-family housing on that property,” Planner Schattnik said to the commission. “One of the properties just came under new ownership and they called the city to ask what the zoning was and we noticed that it wasn’t zoned for apartments anymore.”

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@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.