P&Z approves rezoning 308 acres for residential project

The Planning & Zoning commission on Monday unanimously approved a zoning map amendment for a 308-acre, single-family home development in the southeastern part of the city.

The panel approved a name change to Arden Trails Planned Area Development from Hartman Ranch PAD, effectively rezoning the area and creating a new PAD at the southwestern corner of Steen Road and the Anderson Road alignment.

The community would have a density of 4.3 homes per acre and maximum of 1,318 homes. Using the U.S. Census Bureau figure of 3.3 residents per household, which would bring 4,350 new residents to Maricopa.

The project, by Phoenix-based Terra West Development, would have 12 separate parcels and be developed in phases. Among the parcels would be one reserved for a school in the Casa Grande Unified School District.

According to the city staff report, Arden Trails would utilize RS-5 District development standards, which are intended to provide medium-density residential neighborhoods. Housing types could include single-family detached homes as well as attached housing. Lot sizes generally would be at least 5,000 square feet.

As many as 25% of the lots within parcels 1-9 and 11-12 may be less than 5,000 square feet, however, none would be less than 4,400 square feet.

The staff report states the community would include a trail corridor and public street system along with passive and active open spaces for community residents. The development plan also includes two primary amenities and multiple minor amenity areas, which have yet to be defined. The land plan provides a connected open space network for the residential community.

Scott Cole, who spoke during the public-comment period, said he owns the 200 acres contiguous east of Arden Trails and he supports the project as long as traffic circulation remains intact during development. Hartman Ranch PAD covered almost the entire Arden Trails and his property.

“My objective is to make sure that in separating the existing PAD that the traffic circulation plan in the existing PAD is respected and that it works for the entire section and not just Arden,” Cole said.

He also raised the issue of the parcel’s heritage.

“Since I’ve been speaking, I’ve been requested by Mrs. Hartman and the Hartman family that they would very much like to see the history and legacy of the Hartman family be maintained as it was in the original Hartman Ranch PAD and especially the name Hartman Ranch,” Cole said. “If the applicant could modify the name of their project to include the Hartman family name, I know it would be very much appreciated by the Hartman family.”