Planning commission backs text change and rezoning to allow 66 townhomes at Greenway Road and 140th Drive

The Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 Thursday night to recommend two items to City Council: a zoning text amendment to the Land Development Ordinance to allow greater flexibility for townhomes and a rezoning with a planned unit development (PUD) overlay for a four-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Greenway Road and 140th Drive to allow a 66-unit townhome development.

The zoning text amendment (case FS24-1431) would remove restrictive language in chapter 106-4.3(c)(4) and other provisions that staff said sometimes prevents creative middle-housing designs. "Staffs recommends the Planning and Zoning Commission review the applicant zone text amendment and decide whether to recommend approval or denial to city council," Chris, a planning staff presenter, told the commission. The motion to recommend approval passed 7-0.

The commission then considered a rezone for the same parcel (case FS24-0503) currently designated Sierra Verde Planned Area Development (PAD) with an underlying commercial zoning. The applicant, Bridal Ray, speaking on behalf of developer Zen Investing, described the proposal as "a high quality townhome development" and said the parcel has been difficult to develop as commercial. The rezoning request would change the property to R-2 (residential medium density) with a PUD overlay and allow deviations from standard R-2 lot and setback requirements to accommodate attached townhome designs. Commissioners moved to recommend approval of the rezoning subject to staff stipulations A and B; the motion passed 7-0.

Why it matters: The combined actions would both (1)…