Gilbert planning commission recommends rezoning for Higley and Aato retail center despite neighborhood opposition

The Gilbert Planning Commission voted 6–1 to recommend approval of Z25-13, a rezoning for the southeast corner of Higley Road and Aato/Ocoto (to allow a 128,660-square-foot anchor and two outparcels), after hours of presentation, public comment and back-and-forth with staff and the applicant. The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Gage and seconded by Commissioner Degravina; the item moves to the Town Council for final action in April.

Planning staff presented the case (Sal Des Santo, Planner II), describing a three-pad master plan on approximately 16.14 gross acres (about 13.10 net acres within the PAD). Staff said the proposal would change the zoning from Shopping Center (SC) to General Commercial (GC) so a single user above the SC 75,000 sq ft limit can occupy the anchor pad. The package includes an administrative use permit request for a 12.5% parking reduction (staff calculated the code-required parking at 614 spaces and the proposed total at 537) and several PAD deviations: a reduced landscape setback adjacent to residential in one narrow area (40 ft to 25 ft where parking is closest) and an exception to allow 12 continuous pickup…