Planning commission recommends rezoning for Olivegroves PAD after resident concerns about traffic and storage

The Glendale Planning Commission on Aug. 28 recommended city council approve a rezoning that would convert roughly 6 acres at the northeast corner of North Citrus Road and West Olive Avenue from C-1 (neighborhood commercial) to a Planned Area Development called the Olivegroves PAD.

The recommendation, passed by a 6–1 roll call vote, came after staff and the applicant described development standards intended to allow more intensive commercial uses while adding protections for nearby homes. Commissioner Edwin Nyberg was the lone “no” vote; the motion was made by Commissioner Sergio Arellano and seconded by Commissioner John Gears.

The Olivegroves PAD is consistent with the city’s General Plan designation of “general commercial,” staff said. Phil Martinez, planning division staff, told commissioners: “Staff recommends approval of ZON23Dash04, subject to the following stipulation.” The recommendation is not final; the item will be forwarded to the city council for final action.

Why it matters: The site sits adjacent to unincorporated Maricopa County and a county C-2 commercial parcel across Citrus Road. The applicant said that without PAD standards, potential commercial users could simply locate across the street in the county under more intensive county standards. The PAD is intended to keep those uses—and associated…