Gilbert redevelopment commissioners review proposal to raise downtown height limits from 55 to 75 feet

Redevelopment Commission members spent a study-session hour discussing a proposed Land Development Code text amendment that would raise the by-right height in parts of Gilbert’s Heritage District from 55 feet (four stories) to 75 feet, and create a bonus pathway to reach roughly 90 feet for projects that provide specified public benefits.

The amendment stems from the town’s redevelopment planning work and an economic analysis by Urban3 that staff summarized for the commission. Urban3’s analysis, staff said, argues that compact, mixed‑use development in the Heritage District yields higher tax revenue per acre than lower‑density development and that modest vertical increases can make more efficient use of limited downtown land.

Why it matters: the Heritage District contains small parcels where horizontal mixed use is difficult; increasing allowable height is intended to encourage “gentle density” and additional commercial and housing floor area without expanding the district footprint. Staff noted the town’s redevelopment plan includes a goal of creating an “18‑hour downtown” where people can live, work and play within the same area.

Key proposal details - Existing standard: a by‑right maximum of 55 feet or four stories, with stepbacks above two stories adjacent to single‑family lots. - Proposed baseline:…