AZRE Source: Sept./Oct. planning & zoning update

City of Avondale
The City of Avondale has created a $2 million fund to aid commercial and residential real estate developers offset the city’s own impact fees. The package produces a $2 million pool that developers can use to offset that cost for roads, parks, infrastructure and public safety needed for new projects.

City of Coolidge
The Coolidge City Council approved an increase of the city’s property tax rate by 2 percent, which is the maximum allowed by the state. It is the first time in two years that the rate has been increased by its maximum amount.

Town of Litchfield
The Town of Litchfield Park is planning something that may impact the fortunes of the West Valley. Last year, at the urging of the Wigwam’s owners, Litchfield Park approved general plan amendments that are likely to alter the complexion of this regionally-significant community. The Wigwam’s owners have created forward momentum that could lead to a main street-type development with regional impact. Recently, the city council agreed to acquire nearly 20 acres in the center of the community that has long been targeted for development as a city center district. More recently, ground broke on a 28-acre residential development in the center of town. These steps signal a transformation for Litchfield Park that is likely to play out over the next few years. The specifics of the transformation are scheduled to be debated by community representatives starting in the fall.

City of Maricopa
The mayor and city council amended the city’s zoning map to include overlay districts coded Mixed Use – Heritage (MU-H) and Transportation Corridor (TC) to promote walkability and infill. The zoning overlays are intended to architecturally enhance the main thoroughfares of the city and broaden opportunities for reinvestment within the Heritage District Redevelopment Area.

City of Peoria
The Peoria City Council approved a plan to build a water-transmission line linking the municipal system with the distribution system serving Vistancia in the northwestern portion of Peoria. The change allows the city and its partners on the project to proceed with planning, design and construction of the Lone Mountain Water Line. The 36-inch pipeline will run from Loop 303 to Lake Pleasant Parkway along a route paralleling Lone Mountain Parkway. It will carry up to 22.8 million gallons of water daily, according to city Public Works-Utilities Director Bill Mattingly. The waterline will allow the city to convey potable water west of the Agua Fria River to properties within Peoria’s water service area. The project will enable the areas east and west of the Agua Fria to develop. The development partners will share the $10.6 million cost of the project. The city’s share will be $3.9 million of that cost. Construction is expected to run from January 2016 through September 2016.