[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6488880,"mediaKeyId","5459560-dbc2bbdd0cf4680f6bde8d5ad8fd83c2","parentId",5459560,"title","Planning commission approves multiple zoning text amendments to allow offices in employment zones, raise lot coverage and remove bank CUP requirement","audioSeconds",764,"startMs",1640000,"endMs",2404000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459560-dbc2bbdd0cf4680f6bde8d5ad8fd83c2&start=1640&end=2404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459560-dbc2bbdd0cf4680f6bde8d5ad8fd83c2/thumbnail_1640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488880/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Planning-commission-approves-multiple-zoning-text-amendments-to-allow-offices-in-employment-zones-raise-lot-coverage-and-remove-bank-CUP-requirement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488880-01ab541138da9ad2f26e01b68487be9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770542623&Signature=XLlFYnIvvFgcf0HYbPoP6kEeBP6oSait601Ys3q7QvkWLZUBtHjyyJ-Dymt-oOc9qQ8VWK79hqRrwZwoaoQLzwGrl-mIN1IV4rjycvvwRkPF3~YPR9KdaZr~pd4HBEagcBhC6xzjU8K47uH9lFRCrnp82teeSxGpRbF8vsCbr38dB5O4tpv8L0jx9FBTMM46RmiVXatH43TKXJHWbPwFuudTaWIGGDR0fFD~uXr8rDdLqeZlQ8wLMLjwQASFJp0SGQfzzq8wKcP6~Btc7KNd~7g4LEnhTXMvFcdGQ9ZZe60riM-yAal~rKqg-0oXWobeJLyPmLtJzDT9c9HO3G2P8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Queen Creek","date","2025-07-23T00:00:00Z","article","At a meeting of the Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission (date not specified), commissioners approved multiple zoning text amendments aimed at updating the town code to reflect current market interest and to remove provisions staff said were difficult to enforce.

The first amendment (identified in the meeting as item P‑5‑7) would allow general offices and medical/dental clinics in EMP‑A (light industrial) and EMP‑B (heavy industrial) districts where those uses previously required conditional approval or were prohibited. Staff said the change followed comparisons with neighboring East Valley jurisdictions and came after inquiries from potential users. Zachary (presenting) summarized the change and noted an additional code cleanup: removal of a provision in section 4.64 that limited commercial businesses to three deliveries in a 24‑hour period; staff said they have no practical way to monitor or enforce that limit.

The commission approved that amendment after a motion from Commissioner Spencer and a second; no members of the public spoke on the item. The motion passed on a recorded vote with commissioners voting aye.

A separate text amendment (identified as P25‑0078 in the hearing) increases allowable lot coverage for larger single‑family residential zoning districts by a flat 10 percentage points to respond to homeowner requests and to align more closely with surrounding municipalities. Eric, presenting that item, said the change will give property owners more flexibility to add accessory structures, accessory dwelling units and barns while retaining Queen Creek’s guidance to protect its equestrian and rural character. Commissioner Matheson moved the change and Commissioner Hale seconded; the motion passed on roll call with no public speakers.

A third amendment (P25‑0079) eliminates the conditional‑use permit requirement for standalone bank branches that include drive‑through teller lanes, while preserving conditional review where a drive‑through ATM or other stand‑alone lane raises circulation or other impacts. Staff described the proposal as intended to remove an extra step for bank applicants after several recent bank applications had proceeded with no opposition. A motion to approve passed with all commissioners voting in favor.

All three items were approved with no public comment at the hearing. The transcript records roll call “aye” votes from the commissioners present for each motion; staff will bring required ordinance language back to the commission and town council for final codification.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Queen Creek - Planning & Zoning Commission - Jul 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a meeting of the Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission (date not specified), commissioners approved a set of zoning text amendments to allow offices in employment zones, increase lot coverage on large residential lots, and remove a conditional‑use permit requirement for standalone bank drive‑through lanes.","taxTitle","Queen Creek, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2212,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6488886,"Planning commission approves Matheson Medical rezoning and 20,000-square-foot office site plan",888,659000,1547000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459560-dbc2bbdd0cf4680f6bde8d5ad8fd83c2&start=659&end=1547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459560-dbc2bbdd0cf4680f6bde8d5ad8fd83c2/thumbnail_659000.jpg","/articles/6488886/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Planning-commission-approves-Matheson-Medical-rezoning-and-20000-square-foot-office-site-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488886-799c18ed27aa4ed706f65066ac912510/orig.mp4?Expires=1770542623&Signature=ApeCbqQ9wrDYBOuzCPYhuIrIzMCmQHNsIXkVJSiYRZfxTphIy7qWKlt95aKZEekPkqHHdEg1D0gVUO~d1c1ZgiBJJyQYMFznuUiXmsFakebLk8IoZcJERmeVWRmunSsVI6rAEYch-8NIozoyNHy4xlCypb5UhBBSCPohDxvRqTGf0ixcstLfMGsXRX4N8NLZ-mu7zTrj0GKn0lwBqVzuc4hxUKkBSpWGOPphFlHjFXTiebyqq-vzhb6qwpvF98HFjXnEZa9xECNpWCiNJGwpu6A~5QylNW4L~43a0rhCumIfUjRAMgYH7e-FRY45jYqTMRf3GZmSw4CNGZ~lK7vlmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission (date not specified), commissioners approved a rezoning and site plan for a proposed two‑story, 20,000‑square‑foot professional office building on a roughly 2‑acre parcel at the southeast corner of Ocotillo Road and Ellsworth Loop Road.

The action rezoned the site from C-2 (general commercial) to the Downtown Core (DC) zoning district with a Planned Area Development (PAD) overlay and approved a site plan that proposes one building oriented toward Ocotillo Road, on a compact infill parcel accessed from adjacent properties. Les Johnson, Principal Planner, told the commission, “The request before you this evening, 1 of the items is for the rezoning of this property to downtown core,” and summarized three requested deviations: a reduction in depth for a limited number of parking stalls from 20 feet to 18 feet, a reduction in a few landscape island widths from 10 feet to 9 feet, and an increase in an office floor‑area allowance under the PAD overlay.

Staff described the site plan as compatible with Downtown Core objectives outside of the three exceptions. The plan shows 86 parking spaces overall; Johnson said 58 spaces would be on site while another set of spaces would be provided through an existing cross‑parking agreement with the adjacent office property to the east. The presentation notes a proposed pedestrian connection to the east and a south access point to Ellsworth Loop Road, and three decorative metal art panels along Ellsworth Loop.

Adam Baugh, the applicant’s representative, said the design was intended to complement the nearby Switch Yard project and to support a walkable, urban downtown objective. “This really works well with your goals, your general plan,” Baugh said, and he described the off‑site parking arrangement as feasible because of shared ownership and a surplus of existing parking on the neighboring property.

The commission opened the item for public comment and received none. Commissioner Young moved to approve the rezoning (P25‑0053) and the Matheson Medical site plan (P25‑0054); Commissioner Bridal seconded. Roll call votes recorded commissioners Bridal, Matheson, Young, Vice Chair Ballard, Commissioner Hale and Commissioner Gum as voting in favor. The motion carried; the measure was approved.

The approvals include the PAD exceptions as presented and rely on a formal cross‑parking agreement for use of off‑site stalls. Staff noted a neighborhood meeting had been held May 20 with one attendee and no objections, and that no written public comments had been received as of the hearing.","At a meeting of the Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission (date not specified), commissioners approved a rezoning and site plan for a proposed two‑story, 20,000‑square‑foot professional office building on a roughly 2‑acre parcel at the southeast corner of Ocotillo Road and Ellsworth Loop Road.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6488875,"Work session: town staff outlines recent state housing legislation and explains Ag‑to‑Urban groundwater program",492,2707000,3199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459560-dbc2bbdd0cf4680f6bde8d5ad8fd83c2&start=2707&end=3199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459560-dbc2bbdd0cf4680f6bde8d5ad8fd83c2/thumbnail_2707000.jpg","/articles/6488875/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Work-session-town-staff-outlines-recent-state-housing-legislation-and-explains-AgtoUrban-groundwater-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488875-9f11f9bc5b5e52bb72bc044ac900e994/orig.mp4?Expires=1770542623&Signature=curx59QipCod5fx1cVhi7VxPQUinSvZ7td58KtqNIcc20ujiOdY-z9shm0eKWxLgQHtfUuVazQ2bOFw1-lVpSyZQ8kUPxDsnjS~TOTewLihTYt1mTlGQBHMdU6EeGbyx3EO6akAIh25xf7bjAbL9~fDG5bQ5wZwRwXj0jBhx5GpZGjf9UBW4Yf~BMcwgMu8QnJscU6BpGIKg7-GMj8Etf2Ma5dyVjBfTo7sHruvA5KO6cVcHszCgIFdDp50DfMGWwOY-7Sc4WfytRT0WcgTk8a3T4YtuaMD3jVrj5WulQVxFsCiERj2Z~2MKz-LP3B9vCH~DrsEWhm9I2Kpu-k4stw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission work session (date not specified), staff briefed commissioners on state housing legislation from the recent legislative session, the town’s formal tracking of bills, and next steps for local implementation.

Ryan (presenting) summarized several bills the town tracked. He described bills that failed and those that passed. Among the passed measures staff highlighted were Senate Bill 2447, which requires municipalities to adopt ordinances allowing administrative review (without a public hearing) of certain site plans and plat amendments; Senate Bill 1353, which requires the town to maintain a list of third‑party reviewers for single‑family building permit reviews if staff does not act within specified timeframes; and “SB 15 29,” which will require municipalities to establish preapproved housing design plans for single‑family homes and ADUs by specified implementation dates.

Ryan described Senate Bill 1611 (ag‑to‑urban) as a key measure for Queen Creek. “Senate Bill 16 11 allows a program for owners of irrigation rights to voluntary relinquish these rights in exchange for groundwater savings credits,” he said. Under the program, properties that participate would receive 1.5 credits per acre converted; the credits can be used to support housing. Ryan said program implementation by the Arizona Department of Water Resources will take time (staff estimated 24–36 months), and that credits are initially available for five years with extensions if the town becomes a designated water provider. Staff displayed a map of parcels the program could unlock and said the program is designed to reduce overall water use compared with continued agricultural irrigation.

Ryan also reviewed ADU‑related and municipal zoning bills: House Bill 2928 (ADU clarifications and deadlines), and House Bill 2721, which requires cities to allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhomes on lots zoned single‑family within one mile of a central business district and on 20% of new developments larger than 10 contiguous acres, among other requirements. He said SB 1529 (preapproved plan procurement) and other bills create specific procurement and implementation tasks the town will need to complete and that staff will return with text amendments and implementation steps for commission and council consideration.

Ryan outlined next steps including procuring the preapproved house designs required by SB 15 29, preparing text amendments to comply with the new laws, and running the Ag‑to‑Urban application process once ADWR completes program rules. He said timelines vary: some compliance items are due in 2026 and others extend into 2027 or later. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how the preapproved plans apply to different zoning districts and about assumptions in the ag‑to‑urban water‑savings calculations; staff responded that preapproved plans are intended to be available across single‑family zoning if the plan fits the lot and that ADWR will determine conversion specifics.","Staff briefed the commission on a set of recently signed and failed state housing bills and on Senate Bill 1611 (the Ag‑to‑Urban program), which creates a program to convert irrigation rights into groundwater savings credits that can be used for housing development.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission approves multiple zoning text amendments to allow offices in employment zones, raise lot coverage and remove bank CUP requirement

Planning commission approves Matheson Medical rezoning and 20,000-square-foot office site plan

Work session: town staff outlines recent state housing legislation and explains Ag‑to‑Urban groundwater program