Buckeye's Tartesso community could see commercial use. Here's what to know
Buckeye's master-planned community of Tartesso could see major changes, including the removal of over 6,000 planned residential units.
The amendment was presented to the Buckeye Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday evening, but it still needs approval from the City Council on Sept. 5. If approved, it would see about 1,280 acres, or two square miles, re-designated from residential to commercial use. The area is located east of the southeast corner of Sun Valley Parkway and McDowell Road in the master-planned community of Tartesso.
Commercial use could include industrial use, Buckeye Principal Planner Randy Proch said. The area in question and its immediate surrounding areas are almost entirely undeveloped apart from rural homes to the west. While not technically a rezone, the amendment in the Tartesso Community Master Plan would allow for the developer to use the land in a different way.
Over 6,000 planned residential units would be completely removed from Villages 2 and 3 with the amendment, along with some park space. New standards would also be adopted with the amendment, prohibiting some industrial uses within the area. But some Tartesso residents are concerned about the increase in industrial warehouses as opposed to retail, such as grocery stores or restaurants.
In photos: See an aerial view of Tartesso, Buckeye's growing master-planned community
Tom Perry, a Tartesso resident, told the Planning & Zoning Commission he was concerned about new industrial warehouses reducing the appearance of Tartesso.
“When people drive in, when they get off the freeway, it should look like home. It shouldn’t look like an industrial area,” Perry said.
Martin Partida, also a resident of Buckeye, said the community should get a gas station and supermarket before it has to deal with a large influx of semi-trucks along Sun Valley Parkway.
“As far as our community goes, it’s not putting us as a priority,” Partida said.
In the Tartesso Community Master Plan, commercial use could be anything from a golf course to a hotel to a manufacturing warehouse, which would fall under light industrial use. But the new amendment would also prohibit certain uses within Villages 2 and 3, such as landfill or heavy manufacturing.
Cindy Paddock, planning project manager at engineering firm HilgartWilson representing Buckeye Tartesso, LLC., said some of the area will maintain a mixed-use designation, allowing for retail, commercial or residential uses. That area will allow for a transition from the residential areas. And the amendments to industrial uses will ensure that uses the community doesn’t want won’t be able to develop in the area.
Paddock also noted that commercial doesn’t necessarily mean that industrial users will be in the area — it could be retail or more residential units. There currently isn’t a site plan so there are still no planned users, Paddock said. The amendment is being made in anticipation of future economic development.
The amendment was approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission and will head to the City Council for approval Sept. 5.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This Buckeye community could see commercial use. Here's why
