2 New Single-Family Communities Proposed, Plus New Townhome Development
The residential building boom continues along the bustling I-17 corridor in the North Phoenix region with Pulte’s proposed 15,000-unit development on the horizon for the west side of the freeway just south of Loop 303, and now three additional housing developments are in the midst of the rezoning process with the City of Phoenix.
Briles Pass
Homebuilder K. Hovnanian is looking to rezone approximately 16 acres of vacant land to the east and south of Hope Church at the southeast corner of 19th Avenue and Jomax Road to allow for an 80-lot single-family residential community with a maximum height of two stories.
Majority of the land is currently zoned S-1 (Farm or Ranch Residence), a small portion zoned as rural and a sliver as residential estate. The developer is requesting a rezoning change to R1-6 for single-family units. If approved, lot sizes within the subdivision would be at least 40 feet or more wide and greater than 96-feet deep, to remain compatible with the surrounding area.
Access to the community would be via Briles Road off 19th Avenue, which bisects the site from east to west and serves the existing community to the east, according to the conceptual site plan. The site would be buffered along the 19th Avenue frontage by landscaping at least 15-feet wide.
4 Proposed Floor Plans for Briles Pass
K. Hovnanian Homes is proposing to offer four different home plans with a choice of four different exteriors within each plan. Exterior styles include: Spanish, Modern, Craftsman, Farmhouse and Contemporary.
Status Deer Valley Village Board approved the proposal on May 4, 2026. It is scheduled to go before the City of Phoenix Planning Commission on June 4, and consideration for final approval by City Council on July 1.
Solis at Norterra
Pulte Homes is proposing to develop one of the remaining vacant sites adjacent to CVS on North Valley Parkway.
An 80-lot for-sale attached townhome community on 9.42 acres at the southeast corner of N. North Valley Parkway and W. Casino Avenue in North Phoenix is in the midst of the rezoning process with the City of Phoenix. The builder’s application was submitted in February.
The acreage is currently zoned PCD (Planned Community District), with underlying C-2 zoning, and the developer is requesting to change the zoning to PUD (Planned Unit Development).
The developer’s narrative states that the PUD addresses the City’s need for missing middle housing options.
“This PUD will enable development of the property with a high-quality for-sale residential project that will complement the existing residential uses, parks, schools, employment and preserve land that surround it,” according to the narrative submitted to the City.
Solis at Norterra consists of 17 townhome buildings (four-plex and six-plex) with two-story, three-bedroom attached residences ranging between 1,700–1,900 square feet with private two-car garages and guest parking within the community. Access to the community is planned via a single gated entry off West Casino Avenue. Amenities include a community pool, spa, cabana, fire pit with lounge seating and a shaded seating area with BBQ and open greenspace.
Contemporary 6-Plex elevation renderings front (left) and rear (right). Note: not to scale.
Proposed designs includes Sonoran resort-style character.
Hillcrest 2
Lennar Homes is proposing an 81-lot single-family residential development with one-story and two-story floorplans near the southeast corner of Black Canyon Highway and Jenny Lin Road.
The proposal includes a request for a rezoning change from C-2 (Intermediate Commercial) to R1-6 (Single-Family Residence District) on 22.48 acres. In an effort to maintain compatibility with the surrounding area, which is primarily open space, In a staff report, the City has recommended a minimum of 20 percent of the gross area be retained as open space, including washes and natural open space areas.
On April 16, The Rio Vista Village Committee recommended denial of the request as filed and instead recommended approval of R1-8 zoning to allow a single-family residential development requiring a minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet, with an additional stipulation requiring that all street, building, and site lighting be dark sky compliant. However, on May 7, the Planning Commission recommended deletion of the dark sky stipulation, due to a staff report citing conflicting concerns with city lighting codes related to lighting. The commission did, however, approve the R1-8 zoning, with several stipulations.
Prior stipulations from a previous rezoning case were carried over for this rezoning case, including Stipulation No. 10, which requires master plans for the overall development, including a 30-foot-wide
multi-use trail along the western perimeter of the overall development and a publicly accessible north-south pedestrian connection through the overall development to connect from Jenny Lin Road to Circle Mountain Road.
Per the stipulations, prior to preliminary site plan approval, a Water Master Plan, Wastewater Master Plan, and Trails and Pedestrian Circulation Master Plan for the overall development are required to be submitted for review and approval by the city.
Status This case is scheduled to be heard by Phoenix City Council on Wednesday, June 3.
