The Casa Grande Dispatch reports initial approval for plan called ‘economic gateway’ by Casa Grande City Council.
The Casa Grande City Council gave final approval with amendment for a major development this week to proceed. Casa Grande Mountain Ranch, a 758-acre mixed-use residential development near the southwest corner of Interstates 8 and 10 received the council’s final approval to proceed.
Plans to transform the southeast corner of the city near Casa Grande Mountain into a housing development and upscale industrial and commercial center received an initial green light Tuesday from the Casa Grande City Council.
Council’s amendment reduces the number of acres dedicated to open space from 154 to 150 to accommodate a future Henness Road exit off Interstate 8.
Original plans for the Casa Grande Mountain Ranch housing development were approved by the city in 2007.
The overall density of the project would remain at about four units per acre.
As well as a reduction in open space, council approved changes to streets, the addition of 4 acres of urban ranch-zoned property and an adjustment of the northern boundary to accommodate the exit.
The project developer would build the interstate exit when “the timing is right and development is imminent,” according to a city staff report.
Also approved were zoning change requests for a 525-acre related project known as the Regional Gateway Commerce Center, which would include corporate offices, a business park and light industrial and commercial buildings.
About 96 acres currently zoned as urban ranch and 429 acres classified as garden and light industrial will be rezoned to planned area development (PAD).
City Planner Leila DeMaree told the council that the rezoning was necessary for the developer to “achieve his vision of a high-end commercial and corporate center.”
About 15 percent of the development would be landscaped.
“This will be the economic gateway to the city of Casa Grande,” DeMaree said. “It’s important to provide that welcoming character.”
City Councilwoman Mary Kortsen said she appreciated that the development was a quality project.
“I like that this is going forward,” she said.
No one spoke against either project during two public hearings. Both measures passed with unanimous council approval.