Two gated multifamily infill projects totaling 354 units may be headed to Gilbert.
The Planning Commission last Wednesday discussed the proposed 93-unit Fred’s Place during study session and voted unanimously in the regular meeting to recommend Council approval of the 261-unit Higley Apartments.
“We’re seeing a lot of multifamily coming into town,” Commissioner David Blaser said. “I’m just curious if staff has any input, recommendation as it relates to how much land in Gilbert is dedicated to multifamily and how much more can it bear?”
He asked what was the ideal percentage and how Gilbert compared with neighboring Valley municipalities.
Planning Manager Eva Cutro said 3% of Gilbert’s total land use was zoned multifamily.
Cutro said that of all types of residential development in Gilbert, 11% is multifamily. That compares favorably with Mesa and Scottsdale, where apartments comprised 48% of all residential dwellings; Chandler, where multifamily represents 30% of all housing units and Phoenix, with 40%.
Fred’s Place
The applicant for Fred’s Place is requesting a minor general plan amendment and rezone on 14.47 acres at the northeast corner of Recker and Williams Field roads in the Cooley Station master-planned community.
Currently the land is zoned for Village Center but under the proposal, 4.95 acres would be used for a shopping center and 9.52 acres for multifamily. The site is surrounded by commercial and residential developments.