Planning commission approves Matheson Medical rezoning and 20,000-square-foot office site plan

At a meeting of the Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission (date not specified), commissioners approved a rezoning and site plan for a proposed two‑story, 20,000‑square‑foot professional office building on a roughly 2‑acre parcel at the southeast corner of Ocotillo Road and Ellsworth Loop Road.

The action rezoned the site from C-2 (general commercial) to the Downtown Core (DC) zoning district with a Planned Area Development (PAD) overlay and approved a site plan that proposes one building oriented toward Ocotillo Road, on a compact infill parcel accessed from adjacent properties. Les Johnson, Principal Planner, told the commission, “The request before you this evening, 1 of the items is for the rezoning of this property to downtown core,” and summarized three requested deviations: a reduction in depth for a limited number of parking stalls from 20 feet to 18 feet, a reduction in a few landscape island widths from 10 feet to 9 feet, and an increase in an office floor‑area allowance under the PAD overlay.

Staff described the site plan as compatible with Downtown Core objectives outside of the three exceptions. The plan shows 86 parking spaces overall; Johnson said 58 spaces would be on site while another set of spaces would be provided through an existing cross‑parking agreement with the adjacent office property to the east. The presentation notes a proposed pedestrian connection to the east and a south access point to Ellsworth Loop Road, and three decorative metal art panels along Ellsworth Loop.

Adam Baugh, the applicant’s representative, said the design was intended to complement the nearby Switch Yard project and to support a walkable, urban downtown objective. “This really works well with your goals, your general plan,” Baugh said, and he described the off‑site parking arrangement as feasible because of shared ownership and a surplus of existing parking on the neighboring property.

The commission opened the item for public comment and received none. Commissioner Young moved to approve the rezoning (P25‑0053) and the Matheson Medical site plan (P25‑0054); Commissioner Bridal seconded. Roll call votes recorded commissioners Bridal, Matheson, Young, Vice Chair Ballard, Commissioner Hale and Commissioner Gum as voting in favor. The motion carried; the measure was approved.

The approvals include the PAD exceptions as presented and rely on a formal cross‑parking agreement for use of off‑site stalls. Staff noted a neighborhood meeting had been held May 20 with one attendee and no objections, and that no written public comments had been received as of the hearing.