Commission backs general plan amendment and rezoning recommendation to expand 3 Rocks Mining phase 2

The Planning Commission on Aug. 14 voted to recommend a minor general plan amendment (GPA25-02) and a rezoning (ZON25-04) to permit expansion of an aggregate mining operation identified as 3 Rocks Mining phase 2. The commission approved the general plan amendment as written and recommended approval of the rezoning subject to eight staff stipulations and clarified references to the phase 2 narrative and site plan.

Staff presenter Mister Hoskins told the commission the proposal would change the 39‑acre property from parks and open space and low‑density residential to heavy industrial in the general plan and, upon annexation, rezone from rural residential (RU‑43 in the county) to M2 (heavy industrial) with a special use overlay for mining. The parcel is located about 8 miles west of City Hall along the Agua Fria River corridor and is surrounded by existing mining operations; staff recommended the change as consistent with surrounding uses and city goals to concentrate nonresidential development adjacent to existing aggregate mining.

Paul Gilbert, representing the property owner, said the parcel was purchased in 2024 to expand existing mining operations and that no new construction is proposed with this approval. "We bought the yellow parcel just recently from the city of Glendale, and they sold it to us for mining purposes," Gilbert said. Gilbert said the owner holds roughly 400 acres in the area and is negotiating additional annexations; he estimated that any future residential development would be several years away, saying, "my guess is that we will not see houses there for 4 to 5 years."

Staff identified several requirements and stipulations tied to the approval: development must be in substantial conformance with the "3 Rocks Mining phase 2 narrative" and the phase 2 site plan final date‑stamped June 2, 2025; road improvements to El Mirage Road require Maricopa County Department of Transportation review and approval; air operations must comply with Maricopa County air permit requirements; mining activities must comply with the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Arizona State Mine Inspector; and the site must be backfilled and restored upon conclusion of mining with floodplain restoration per the approved reclamation plan. Mister Huggins read amended language into the record to clarify that the stipulations refer specifically to "3 Rocks Mining phase 2 narrative" and the phase 2 site plan, and staff corrected the planning memorandum date to Aug. 14, 2025.

Commissioners moved and seconded motions to recommend approval for GPA25-02 and for ZON25-04 with the clarified stipulations; both motions passed on roll call votes with all members present voting aye. Mister Gruber advised the commission that their recommendations will be forwarded to city council for further consideration.

During a postvote public question, a resident asked how long before the land might be developed for housing; Gilbert and city staff said full annexation, completion of mining and reclamation, and subsequent rezoning would be required and gave a rough estimate of four to five years before houses might be pursued, subject to future approvals.