Peoria staff outline 7,000-acre Innovation Core plan; HonorHealth signs LOI for medical campus

Chris Hawkes, the city—s planning and community development director, and other staff presented the scope, constraints and schedule for the Peoria Innovation Core, a roughly 7,000-acre area the city is advancing through a master-plan and entitlement process to attract employment, commercial and mixed uses.

Hawkes told the council the Innovation Core was divided for planning purposes into three subareas: Core 1 (south of the Loop 303), Core 2 (between Loop 303 and the CAP canal) and Core 3 (north of the CAP canal up to State Route 74). He said the city is leading entitlement work with the Arizona State Land Department to produce a planned-community district (PCD) zoning package and associated technical reports.

Why this matters: Staff said the Innovation Core is intended to concentrate employment-rich uses near major roads and utilities to reduce commute distances, produce daytime jobs and support future retail and services. City staff said a master plan is designed to avoid piecemeal development and to protect environmental and cultural resources through existing ordinances.

Planning details and…