A proposal for a 3,000-unit self storage facility bordering the Sonoran Commons neighborhood at the corner of Sonoran Desert Drive and North Valley Parkway, was shot down by the North Gateway Village Committee, an advisory board of the City of Phoenix, at its June meeting.
Neighborhood concerns voiced through letters of opposition sent to the committee and in-person opposing comments from neighbors, were the main drivers in the decision to vote against the project.
The parcel lies within the North Gateway Core is already zoned commercial which would typically allow for this type of project, however it requires a special-use approval by the City of Phoenix.
Representatives for the developer said the parcel, which is currently vacant and sits adjacent to the Circle K gas station, is well suited for a self storage facility, claiming it will produce less traffic than most other uses allowed under the current zoning. Traffic has been a concern of nearby neighbors who have noted the increased traffic already on that corner due to the gas station. The developer said they’ve been working with nearby neighbors to address their concerns of safety and traffic, and showed plans that involve reworking the current entrance to Circle K off North Valley Parkway, by removing the existing road so that traffic is not carried along the pathway behind their homes.
Representatives at the meeting also presented the Gateway Board with a support letter containing signatures from the eight homeowners that back to the entrance road which leads to Circle K. However, other nearby neighbors attended the meeting voicing opposition stating that other parcels nearby would be better suited for a self-storage facility, due to the area’s development of apartments and multifamily housing and considering the increased traffic at the already busy intersection.
Council Chairwoman Julie Read agreed that self storage is much needed in the area, and while she was one of the lone votes favoring the project, she did state that she’d like to see a traffic study conducted at the intersection to get a better handle on the situation.
Despite opposition from the committee, the proposal remains slated to be heard by the Phoenix Planning Commission Aug. 3. If approval is granted, it will go before City Council for a final vote.
By Valley Vibe Staff Writers