Peoria council approves mixed‑use plan and rezoning for Camino Lago parcel

Peoria’s City Council voted March 3 to approve a minor general plan amendment (14R) and a rezoning (15R) for a roughly 24‑acre parcel at the northeast corner of Lake Pleasant Parkway and Deer Valley Road, clearing the way for a mixed‑use development combining about eight acres of commercial land and approximately 105 single‑family lots.

Staff presentations from Planning Director Chris Hawz and Planning Manager Cody Gleason described the site as an infill parcel that was auctioned by the state in 2025 and annexed in 1981. Gleason said the proposal would deliver roughly 16 acres of single‑family residential and about 8 acres of commercial, translating to about 4.4 dwelling units per acre across the 24‑acre site and an alley‑loaded single‑family product with lots in the neighborhood of 2,900 square feet. "The single family residential would be coming in first and that piece would be for those 105 homes," Gleason said during the presentation.

Staff emphasized access constraints along Lake Pleasant Parkway and Deer Valley Road and noted that new median improvements would limit some intersections to right‑in/right‑out movements; full access points would be located along Speckled Gecko Drive and shared between residential and commercial components.

The applicant and staff told council the proposal evolved through multiple pre‑application reviews and a neighborhood meeting. As a result, the development’s permitted commercial use list was narrowed to reduce auto‑oriented uses and cap standalone drive‑through facilities. Planning staff recommended adoption of Resolution 2026‑33 and Ordinance 2026‑07 and said the planning and zoning commission had forwarded both actions with a 6‑0 recommendation.

During the public hearing several nearby residents and HOA representatives urged approval after the applicant narrowed the commercial program. Christian Williams, who said he serves on the adjacent HOA, told the council: "I appreciate that the applicant listened and our council member across the street listened to the community and significantly reduced those concerns by limiting the standalone drive‑throughs to two total." Andre Nelson, a nearby resident, said traffic and safety changes — including a traffic calming feature on Speckled Gecko Drive — had addressed his earlier concerns about speeding and a prior fatality on Deer Valley Road.

Applicant counsel Thomas Galvin and developer representatives described the changes as substantive: "We fully respect everything that staff pointed out to us and what council member Edwards pointed out to us," Galvin told the council, and noted the team had removed many earlier auto‑oriented elements from preliminary iterations of the plan.

Council members asked staff to summarize outreach and the changes made since initial filings; staff said the applicant submitted multiple iterations over about a year and that neighborhood and staff feedback had narrowed the allowable uses.

After closing the public hearing, council voted to approve the general plan amendment and the rezoning; both measures passed on voice votes recorded as 7‑0. The council’s approvals adopt the land use change and rezoning subject to the recorded conditions of approval; future administrative reviews will address site plans for the commercial component and other technical requirements.

Council and staff said the next steps include finalizing development agreements and administrative plan reviews before building permits are issued.