Gilbert council reverses course, approves Harvest Grove 4-3

By Tom Blodgett
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After rejecting the proposal earlier this year, the Gilbert Town Council voted 4-3 on April 7 to approve the revised Harvest Grove development, signaling a shift after months of debate over one of the town’s largest remaining parcels.

The decision came following a reconsideration of the project, which council had denied Jan. 20 before voting in February to bring it back for another hearing.

The updated plan, covering roughly 311 acres near Val Vista Drive between Germann and Queen Creek roads, was reshaped in response to council concerns, including a significant reduction in density and the elimination of multifamily housing.

Town staff emphasized that the project had undergone substantial revisions since its earlier denial, including a drop in total units from 1,676 to 1,106 and a decrease in overall density from 5.39 to 3.55 dwelling units per acre.

“This is a combination of five zoning districts," Lennar Homes' attorney, Brennan Ray, said. "There is no multifamily zoning."

That change — removing apartments and replacing them with single-family and attached housing — became a central factor in council’s reconsideration.

“What started with nearly 1,676 units, it's down 34% to 1,106,” Councilmember Jim Torgeson said. “That is not insignificant.”

The revised plan also included design and infrastructure adjustments aimed at improving compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods and aligning more closely with the Santan Character Area’s planning goals.

Among the changes were added roadway connections, removal of certain homes along key streets and a shift toward lower densities in sensitive areas.

Still, the project remained divisive.

Some council members said the revisions warranted a fresh look and ultimately supported approval, arguing that meaningful changes had been made.

“If someone comes back to the table and makes a meaningful change, we owe it to them and to our residents to take another look,” Torgeson said.

Nonetheless, Torgeson remained unconvinced, questioning whether the project was the right long-term use for one of Gilbert’s last large undeveloped sites.

“At some point, if a project requires this much force to make it fit, you have to ask whether it fits at all,” he said.

Opponents on the dais also raised broader concerns about land use strategy, emphasizing the need to preserve remaining large parcels for employment or revenue-generating uses rather than residential development.

“The question before us tonight simply isn't should we put housing here,” Vice Mayor Chuck Bongiovanni said. “The better question is, is housing the highest and best long-term use of one of the last major parcels of land in Gilbert?”

Supporters countered that the site has long been designated for residential use under the town’s general plan and that the revised proposal better aligns with existing policy than previous iterations.

“The plan is not commercial," Councilmember Kenny Buckland said. "The plan is residential and has been for years."

The project includes a mix of housing types — including single-family detached homes, townhomes and smaller “missing middle” products — along with commercial components at key intersections.

In addition to housing, the development is expected to include regional commercial uses, internal roadways and open space amenities, with construction anticipated to begin in phases and full buildout projected over several years.

Torgeson, Bongiovanni and Councilmember Monte Lyons voted in dissent on the project.

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Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).