Casa Grande council OKs several annexations and industrial rezones in Bianco–Clayton corridor despite resident concerns

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — The Casa Grande City Council approved several annexations, minor general-plan amendments and zone-change ordinances Tuesday that expand the city's industrial land supply in the Bianco–Clayton corridor, drawing both developer support and heated objections from nearby residents.

Council action included annexation ordinances and infrastructure‑service plans, minor general-plan amendments to change growth phases from Phase 2 to Phase 1, and multiple zone changes to General Industrial (I‑2). The package of actions is intended by staff and developers to create contiguous industrial acreage to attract manufacturers and to enable roadway and infrastructure work in areas now under county jurisdiction.

Planning staff described a series of related requests: the Bianco annexation and initial Urban Ranch zoning (Resolution No. 5747; Ordinance No. 3457), several minor general-plan amendments and rezones converting roughly 66 acres (including a 10‑acre switch from rural to manufacturing) to I‑2 (Resolutions No. 5273.35 and 5273.36; Ordinance No. 1178.463), a large Clayton annexation (Resolution No. 5748; Ordinance No. 3456), an approximately 283‑acre general-plan amendment and zone change at Bianco and Clayton that would convert Phase 2 land to Phase 1 and to I‑2 (Resolution No. 5273.37; Ordinance No. 1178.460), and a separate rezone at Thornton and Lawrence from I‑1 to I‑2 (Ordinance No. 1178.462). The council also approved an earlier Treckle Road rezoning (Ordinance No. 1178.458) that had been postponed from a prior meeting.

Jacqueline (planning staff) explained procedural…