Florence council approves Dobson Farms general plan amendments and Florence Tech Park PUD to clear path for industrial campus

The Florence Town Council on Oct. 7 unanimously approved a set of major general-plan amendments and a PUD amendment that reclassify several Dobson Farms parcels from suburban neighborhood to an industry district and establish standards for the Florence Tech Park.

The approvals cover multiple ordinance items tied to the Dobson Farms East and West proposals and the Florence Tech Park PUD amendment. The council voted separately on each ordinance and adopted them by recorded roll call votes that were all unanimous.

Why it matters: Council members and the applicant framed the changes as a pivot from anticipated residential buildout toward industrial and technology uses — including distribution, light industry and data centers — that the town expects will use less water, create local jobs and add to the town’s nonresidential tax base.

Julie Vermillion, a planner with CVL Consultants representing the applicant, told the council the general-plan amendment is needed because the town’s 2022 general-plan update designated the land as suburban neighborhood; converting to the industry-district place type restores previously contemplated commercial/industrial uses that were allowed under the older master-plan community designation. ‘‘This use is consistent with prior amendments,’’ Vermillion said, pointing to nearby commercial-industrial designations and an SRP substation planned to support the area.

Developer perspective: Gary Hayes of Ryan Companies, who presented the larger 780-acre Dobson Farms portion, said the project could ‘‘create some jobs’’ and reduce water demand compared with the previously planned residential buildout. Hayes said the developer expects infrastructure upgrades and coordination with utility and transportation planning, and he noted the project team worked with town and Pinal County staff on alignment with planned corridors such as the future north–south route and the Central Arizona Parkway.

Key numbers and clarifications provided during presentations: - Job estimate: about 800 jobs across the proposed industrial/technology land uses (presenter: Julie Vermillion/Gary Hayes). - Anticipated annual sales-tax revenue: roughly $10 million (presenter: Julie Vermillion). - Development impact-fee estimates cited during presentation: approximately $500,000 directed to police, about $1.4 million to fire, and roughly $2,000,000 for roadway funding (presenter: Julie Vermillion). - Water impacts: applicant representatives said industrial uses would use roughly one-third of the water the prior residential plan would have required and later described returning roughly 2 million gallons per day to the town’s available supply relative to the previous residential scenario (presenter: Gary Hayes).

Public input and council discussion: The required neighborhood meetings and two prior Planning & Zoning hearings were described as having produced little opposition; one resident asked what specific industries were proposed, and staff and the applicant said permitted uses will be defined at the zoning stage but are anticipated to include data centers, distribution, light industrial and supporting offices. Council members expressed support, citing reduced water demand, potential jobs and alignment with planned power and road corridors.

Formal action: Council members moved, seconded and recorded votes on each ordinance individually, with the following results in the record: Vice Mayor Adam, Council members Neal, Bucielardo, Bensina, Bedford and Mayor Eaton all voted "Aye" on each Dobson Farms item (recorded roll calls during the meeting show unanimous approval on the related ordinance actions).

What’s next: The general-plan amendments and PUD amendment are policy-level approvals. The applicants indicated subsequent zoning, engineering and site-specific permit steps will follow; those later reviews will set permitted uses, site layouts and detailed mitigation commitments such as roadway improvements and utility extensions.

Speakers quoted in this article appeared in council discussion and the public hearings: Julie Vermillion, CVL Consultants; Gary Hayes, Ryan Companies; Chris Dobson, property owner; Mayor Eaton; Vice Mayor Adam; Council members Bucielardo, Maldonado, Neal, Bensina and Bedford.

Ending note: Council members described the approvals as an opportunity to broaden Florence’s tax base and preserve scarce water resources by shifting some planned residential acreage to industrial and technology employment uses.