Planning commission sends mixed recommendation on Harvest Grove master plan and rezoning after traffic and character-area concerns

The Gilbert Planning Commission on Thursday recommended mixed actions on Harvest Grove, a 311‑acre Lennar Homes proposal near the southeast corner of Germain Road and Val Vista Drive, forwarding a minor general‑plan amendment to the Town Council by a 5–1 vote and later recommending approval of the associated rezoning by a separate 4–2 vote after negotiating revised conditions.

The project would change about 179 acres of an existing Residential 2–3.5 dwelling units per acre designation to a mix that includes regional commercial and multiple multi‑family and single‑family density bands. The developer’s package shows roughly 1,739 dwelling units overall, about 45 acres of commercial and roughly 69 acres of open space, including a roughly 4.2‑acre central park.

Town staff urged denial, saying the proposal departs from the San Tan Character Area’s vision of predominantly low‑ and medium‑density lots and rural‑agricultural character. “The San Tan Character area… was created to capture the unique qualities of the South portion of Gilbert, which historically, prior to development, consisted of farming, agricultural land,” planning staffer Keith Newman read from the general plan during his presentation. Newman told commissioners that about 483 of the proposed 1,013 single‑family lots would be under 6,000 square feet, a concentration staff said is inconsistent…