Planning commission continues review of Anthem at Merrill Ranch preliminary plat after residents raise safety, roads and amenities concerns

FLORENCE, Ariz. — The Florence Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday continued the public hearing and preliminary-plat review for the Anthem at Merrill Ranch planned unit development, formally PZ-24-37, after residents and commissioners pressed the developer for clearer plans for roads, amenities, water and lot counts.

The commission voted to table action on the preliminary plat for 30 days and asked staff to compile the meeting minutes and a written list of the commission’s and public’s questions so the developer can respond in writing before the commission resumes the hearing on March 20.

The preliminary plat covers roughly 983 acres east of Felix Road and north of Hunt Highway and, in the version presented to the commission, proposes 3,137 lots in several phases. Staff and the developer said the project falls under the Anthem at Merrill Ranch PUD (originally approved in 2005 and amended in 2008) and that the PUD sets the overall development framework and allowable unit allocations.

The staff presentation said the project includes roughly 340 acres of open space, more than four miles of trails and a mix of single-family and active-adult housing. Joshua Robinson, a civil engineer for Colliers Engineering and Design, told the commission the revised plat reduced lots to 3,137 and calculated an overall average density of approximately 3.37 dwellings per acre for this side of the PUD.

Developer and engineering team members described planned infrastructure improvements including phased…