Florence planners recommend approval of Monarch preliminary plat for 2,050-home community

The Town of Florence Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 6 voted to recommend approval, with conditions, of the preliminary plat for Monarch, a planned unit development at the southeast corner of Arizona Farms Road and Felix Road (PZ-24-32).

The recommendation was made by Commissioner Lehman and seconded by Commissioner Crow; the motion carried with four ayes and one commissioner absent. The applicant is Community Southwest Inc.; the owner is GM Gabrick Family Limited Partnership.

The preliminary plat covers roughly 513 acres and envisions about 2,050 single-family lots across six phases, with about 24.68 acres (24.31% of net acreage) set aside as open space and community amenities that the developer said will include a pool, playgrounds and at least four pickleball courts. The plan also reserves a 15-acre school site, a fire-station site and space for a regional water campus for EPCOR Water Company.

“Put the brakes on, because I think our developers that are coming our way are well aware of our traffic concerns, and they just keep coming and coming,” said Courtney Ramirez during the meeting’s public-comment period, urging caution on further approvals until traffic and safety improvements keep pace with new homes.

Developer…