Florence planning commission denies preliminary plat for Anthem at Merrill Ranch East of Felix; item to go to town council

The Florence Planning and Zoning Commission denied a preliminary plat for the Anthem at Merrill Ranch development east of Felix Road on Thursday, March 20, after public comment and debate about traffic safety, amenities and infrastructure capacity.

The commission voted to deny the applicant’s request to approve a preliminary plat for approximately 943 acres that Pulte Homes says would be developed in phases into about 3,137 residential lots as part of the Anthem at Merrill Ranch planned unit development. The developer and its consultants said some traffic signals and an underpass would be installed with early phases, and that major water and wastewater infrastructure would be built to serve the expansion; residents and several commissioners said the planned roadwork and amenities were insufficient to protect safety or preserve existing residents’ access to facilities.

The commission’s denial means the application will be considered next by the Florence Town Council under the PUD’s appeal provisions.

Why it matters: The proposal would add thousands of homes adjacent to Sun City Anthem and Merrill Ranch, and residents argued that current facilities — clubhouses, golf course tee times, pickleball courts and parking — are already strained. Commissioners framed their concerns primarily as public‑safety and infrastructure limits along Felix Road and nearby Hunt Highway rather than HOA management or amenity disputes, although several residents tied amenity access to the development’s effect on day‑to‑day quality of life.

What the plan would have done Pulte and its consultants told the commission that the East‑of‑Felix portion of the Anthem PUD would consist of roughly 943 acres and about 3,137 lots. The applicant said phase 1 would include about…