Planning commission recommends allowing limited residential, commercial uses within large employment-designated sites

The Buckeye Planning and Zoning Commission on June 10 recommended that City Council consider a minor General Plan text amendment to allow, under limited circumstances, residential and commercial uses within large employment-designated properties. The commission voted to send case PLZUD-25-0004 to council with a recommendation of approval.

The amendment, presented by staff member Ken Galica, would not change any General Plan maps but would revise the employment land-use definition to permit future requests for mixed uses on properties larger than 1,280 acres. "For large properties, over 1,280 acres ... we think there's an opportunity in larger properties to still have that employment focus ... but also include additional uses that support those employment uses, such as residential and commercial uses," Galica said. He emphasized the change would "open the door for future requests" and would not automatically permit development of those uses.

The proposal includes multiple limits and design requirements. Galica said the language would require that "residential shall not be the predominant land use" and that any Community Master Plan (CMP) or Planned Area Development (PAD) proposing residential within an employment area must establish "substantial setbacks, well-designed buffers, design standards, and building size limitations to mitigate potential impacts." The draft language also states that "under no circumstances could a PAD allow for heavy industrial uses directly adjacent to any residential use." Galica said final approval of any future CMP or PAD would be at the discretion of City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Commissioners asked no substantive questions and staff said there had been no public feedback to date. Galica cited the Buckeye Tech Corridor (formerly known as Cipriani) as an example of a CMP that could propose an amendment under the new language; the corridor currently does not allow residential uses but could seek an amendment if it met the new standards. The commission voted to recommend approval. "We do recommend approval of the item," Galica said before the vote.

The change would apply only to future entitlement requests; Galica said it "will have no impact on any existing entitlement." The next step is consideration and final action by the City Council on the text amendment.