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Avondale council approves Avondale Tech Center plan, rezoning and expanded signage
Summary
The council approved a minor general-plan amendment, rezone and comprehensive sign plan for the Avondale Tech Center, allowing three large buildings, increased height limits, and developer-funded traffic mitigation with a 10-year funding window; the project was recommended unanimously by the Planning Commission.
Avondale City Council on Nov. 17 approved a package of land-use actions to allow the Avondale Tech Center, a proposed advanced-technology campus that staff said would support light industrial, warehousing and office uses. The approvals included a minor general-plan amendment to change the site from mixed use to business park, a rezone to a Tech Center plan-area development with Commerce Park underlying zoning, and a comprehensive sign plan that includes larger monument and freeway-facing signs.
Planner Monica Smirky told the council the vacant site would be developed with three buildings of more than 200,000 square feet each and about 720 parking spaces. The proposal requests increasing the maximum building height from 35 feet to 55 feet and several use adjustments to allow motion-picture production, retail sales, warehousing and wholesaling as permitted uses. Staff said semi-truck traffic would be routed to the Fairway Drive interchange to minimize impacts on nearby multifamily and residential neighborhoods.
Smirky said the developer’s traffic study shows a traffic signal at Corporate Drive and Fairway Drive will be warranted once traffic volumes reach the threshold; the developer will contribute an agreed amount toward building that signal, and staff described a 10-year funding lifespan attached to the developer’s contribution. "Once the buildings are occupied and when the threshold is met, the work can commence," Smirky said. She added that the project met public notice requirements, held a neighborhood meeting (Sept. 9, 2025) with one non‑applicant attendee, and was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission 6–0.
Applicant counsel Stephen Anderson and signage consultant Stephen Johnson answered council questions about monument sign placement and truck signage; Johnson said truck-routing signage will be designed later during permitting, and the monument sign is planned on the southwest side of the property, south of the amenity area.
Mayor Ron Pineda and other council members framed the project as an economic-development opportunity. The mayor cited an economic development presentation (GPEC) noting the project could generate an estimated $30 million in direct tax revenue and up to 1,000 jobs over 10 years. After council discussion a motion carried to approve items 5A–5C; item 5B passed 7–0 on the recorded vote.
The council’s approvals set zoning and sign-plan parameters; Smirky said detailed site-plan and design-review requirements will be handled through subsequent administrative approvals and building permits. The developer’s contributions and the signal-installation timeline are subject to the agreed funding terms and to traffic warrants being met.
