The Glendale Planning Commission on May 22 recommended that City Council approve a Planned Area Development (PAD) amendment to change the land-use identification of Arrowhead Town Center Parcel 14 from limited commercial to general commercial.

Planning staff presenter Mr. Lerma told the commission the change would allow a broader range of commercial retail and services, bringing the parcel into closer conformance with surrounding development. “The intent of the PAD amendment is in order to allow for the property to be more in conformance with the surrounding area and it’ll allow additional commercial uses to the site,” Lerma said.

The commission heard that the property is in the Arrowhead Town Center PAD, is in the Saguaro Council District, and was described at different points in the staff presentation as a 7.4-acre property and as Parcel 14 being made up of five separate properties covering 9.7 acres. The parcel sits at the southwest corner of St. John’s Road and 70 Fifth Avenue, adjacent to Hidden Manor Park to the north and Arrowhead Mall to the west. Lerma said the proposal includes no site modifications and that existing site access includes two points on 70 Fifth Avenue and three points on West Arrowhead Town Center.

Lerma said staff conducted the required neighborhood outreach; a neighborhood meeting on March 26, 2025, drew no attendees and staff had received no comments from surrounding property owners as of the presentation. Staff recommended approval, with a stipulation that development be in substantial conformance with the Arrowhead Town Center Parcel 14 PAD amendment narrative date‑stamped May 5, 2025.

Applicant representative Mr. Almond told the commission he represented several property owners and said they were “grateful for staff and working with us to modernize this parcel” and were “excited for the opportunity to upgrade and modernize this parcel to reflect what else is going on in the Arrowhead Town Center.” There were no public comments on the item.

Commissioner Tom Cole moved to recommend approval subject to the stipulation in the staff report; the motion received a second and passed on a roll-call vote with all four members present voting aye. Chair Dirk Crowe noted the commission’s action is a recommendation and is not final; Mr. Gruber said the recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action.

If Council approves the PAD amendment, staff said any future expansion or major modifications would trigger administrative review and additional infrastructure or mitigation requirements as needed.