The Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a major General Plan amendment and a concurrent rezoning that would change the land-use designation for a roughly 10-acre triangular parcel at Germann and Rittenhouse from residential (neighborhood) to employment/industrial uses.

Nathan Warren, planner I with Development Services, presented the two items and said the change would support a single-building concept for light industrial or employment uses. “This site makes up 10 acres in size. And the request is to amend the land use from a neighborhood to an industrial use,” Warren said, adding that the rezone to an employment-a district (lighter industrial) would follow the General Plan amendment.

Applicant representative Adam Baugh told the commission the proposed change is compatible with existing and proposed industrial or employment uses across nearby railroad tracks and on the far side of Sossaman Road. He said the plan would create divisible spaces of roughly 6,000 to 12,000 square feet that could help smaller businesses remain in Queen Creek.

Warren and the applicant said there was limited neighborhood opposition: the applicant reported one letter of support and no speaker cards for the public hearing. The commission debated compatibility with adjacent properties and traffic mitigation requirements but ultimately moved both items forward.

Commissioners voted to recommend approving P24-0140 (the Depot at Rittenhouse major General Plan amendment). They later voted to recommend approval of the related rezoning (case P24-0109) to an employment-a zoning district. Both motions passed on unanimous votes and will be forwarded to the Town Council for consideration.

Warren noted Arizona statutes require two hearings for a general plan amendment and said the item was before the commission as the second hearing. The staff report and applicant materials state no specific end users have been identified and that subsequent site-plan and building permit reviews would determine final site layout and impacts.