Two meetings this month will determine the fate of the NorthPark master-planned community proposed by Pulte Homes, which includes 15,000 new housing units, along with a 900-acre tech park proposed by TSMC for plant expansion.
Last month, the Phoenix North Gateway Village Committee, an advisory committee to the City of Phoenix, unanimously approved the proposal, which regardless of their vote, the proposal automatically advances to be heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 4.
In the meantime, a group of nearby residents from the neighboring Stetson Valley community have banded together in opposition of the rezoning and the scheduled Jan. 7 auction of the land by the State Land Department for TSMC’s portion of the land. Citing concerns of environmental and health consequences of rapid semiconductor manufacturing expansion, and a lack of adequate time to review the proposal, neighbors are urging the City to delay its rezoning vote and the state land auction until a full Environmental Impact Statement is prepared, peer-reviewed and made public.
“We believe that fast-tracking this project puts our neighborhoods, our water, and our air quality at risk,” said Danny Weiss, speaking on behalf of Inspiration at Stetson Valley (a gated sub-association within Stetson Valley). “Arizona’s environment and public health deserve a full, independent Environmental Impact Statement before any decisions are made or land is sold. The city and state must not short-circuit critical safeguards and due process,” he added.
Neighbors are also asking for extended public comment periods and for future accessible hearings for all affected neighborhoods, as well as to ensure independent monitoring of air, water, and hazardous waste impacts are performed with full transparency about all projected emissions and onsite chemical use.
While the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission will still hear and is expected to vote on the proposal, the Phoenix City Council is the only board who has the authority to approve or deny the request to allow rezoning of the land to take place.
No state land auction date has been set by the state for Pulte’s interest in the development of the proposed master-planned residential community as of this writing. Learn more about the proposed plans here.
Phoenix Planning & Zoning Commission Hearing
6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4
Phoenix City Council Chambers
200 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix
www.phoenix.gov (for virtual attendance instructions)
Phoenix City Council Meeting
2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17
Phoenix City Council Chambers
200 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix
www.phoenix.gov (for virtual attendance instructions)