PLZZ-25-0001 Coyote Crest -PAD - Staff Report (Final).docx

City of Buckeye — Planning & Zoning Commission (2025-11-25)

View PDF Meeting page

Extracted text (via pymupdf) 18746 characters
PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 1 of 10 
 
PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT 
Report to the Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
 
CASE NUMBER: 
PLZZ-25-0001  
TITLE: 
Coyote Crest  
MEETING DATE: 
November 25, 2025 
 
Applicant: 
Alan Beaudoin of Norris Design on behalf of Scott Ward of Skyline 
62 LLC. 
 
Request: 
To rezone approximately 64.45 acres of vacant land from Planned 
Community (PC) to Planned Area Development (PAD) for a future 
mixed multi-family development with 901 residential units.  
 
Council District: 
6 
Location: 
Located at the southwest corner of Roosevelt Street (future 
McDowell Parkway) and Rainbow Road alignments. 
Site Size: 
Approximately 64.45 acres 
Density: 
14.14 du/acre 
Public Input: 
During the Neighborhood Meeting held on July 09, 2025 the only 
concerns were about the future McDowell Parkway being 
developed.   
 
Recommendation: 
Approval subject to conditions (a) through (r)

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 2 of 10 
 
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 
1. Alan Beaudoin of Norris Design on behalf of Scott Ward of Skyline 62 LLC. is 
requesting approval to rezone approximately 64.45 acres of vacant land from 
Planned Community (PC) to Planned Area Development (PAD) for a future three 
(3) development unit multi-family development with 901 residential units. The site 
is located at the southwest corner of the Rainbow Road and Roosevelt Street 
(future McDowell Parkway) alignments. 
2. With the exception of the sparsely developed Phoenix Skyline West subdivision to 
the north, this is the first proposal to develop in this portion of the City of Buckeye.   
3. The proposed PAD zoning will facilitate development of a mix of different housing 
product types and densities with an emphasis on quality and uniqueness, with 
development and design standards intended to create a cohesive sense of place 
throughout.  
4. More specifically, the Coyote Crest PAD includes three land use units, as follows: 
a. Development Unit 1: Approximately 24.48 acres (net) with 275 detached 
cottages at the northwest corner of the site.  
b. Development Unit 2: Approximately 18.26 acres (net) with 170 units of 
single-family attached (duplexes) homes at the northeast corner of the site. 
c. Development Unit 3: Approximately 19.92 acres (net) with 456 garden-
style apartments at the southwest corner of the site.

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 3 of 10 
 
5. Though presently inaccessible by public streets, when planned roadway improvements 
are completed, the proposed development will have strong access due to its proximity 
to Interstate 10, Watson Road and McDowell Parkway.   
AREA CONTEXT:  
6. Table 1: Existing Land Use, General Plan Designation, and Zoning District: 
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SUMMARY: 
7. A neighborhood meeting, providing an opportunity for interested parties to learn more 
about the request, was held on July 09, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. at the Buckeye Public Library – 
Coyote Branch at 21699 W. Yuma Rd. Suite 116. As required by Buckeye Development 
Code, written notices to property owners within 500 feet of the subject site were mailed 
on June 24, 2025, over fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting.  
8. Except for the applicant and City staff, three (3) nearby residents from a single household 
attended the neighborhood meeting. The residents expressed concern about the 60’ 
drainage easement and right-of-way needs for the future McDowell Parkway . Outside of 
the speakers during the July 9th outreach meeting, staff has not received any written or 
verbal feedback from the public pertaining to this request.  
9. All required notifications of this public hearing were completed at least fifteen (15) days 
in advance of the meeting date, as follows:  
Notification Element 
Date 
Published in the Arizona Republic 
November 06, 2025 
Site Posted 
November 08, 2025 
Mailing Notice to Property Owners Within 500 
Feet of Site 
November 06, 2025 
 
 
LAND USE 
GENERAL PLAN 
ZONING 
Subject 
Property 
Vacant 
Neighborhood  
Planned Community (PC) 
North 
Single-family residential  
Neighborhood 
Rural Residential (RR) 
South  
Regional Drainage Facility 
Neighborhood 
Planned Community (PC) 
East 
Undeveloped ADOT-owned Land 
Neighborhood 
Special Use (SU) 
West  
Undeveloped State Trust Land 
Neighborhood 
Planned Community (PC)

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 4 of 10 
 
BACKGROUND: 
 
10. December 17, 1999: The Mayor and Town Council approved a annex under Ordinance 22-
99.  
11. November 21, 2000: The Mayor and Town Council approved a rezone to Planned 
Community under Ordinance 99-00. 
ANALYSIS: 
Conformance with the General Plan: 
12. The Coyote Crest PAD and all adjacent properties are located within the Neighborhood 
land use designation.  The intent of the Neighborhood land use is to accommodate a full 
range of residential product types and densities inclusive of traditional single-family 
residential subdivisions, “middle housing” such as bungalow communities and 
townhomes, and multi-family apartment communities. This rezoning proposal is in 
conformance with the Neighborhood land use designation 
 
13. The PAD is adjacent to the Gateway Activity Center (known as The Landing) and intends 
to play off the synergy of this area’s future job and retail growth.  According to the PAD, 
Coyote Crest will “support long-term viability of the Activity Center by providing 
availability of diverse housing.”  This rezoning also furthers the following General Plan 
goals and policies:  
a. Policy G-4.1 The City of Buckeye will encourage a diverse mix of uses appropriate 
to support an area, such as in Activity Centers and Neighborhood areas to 
encourage residents to lead an active lifestyle. 
b. Policy G-8.2 Residential uses within Activity Centers should only be permitted at 
densities of six dwelling units per acre (6 du/ac) or greater. 
c. Policy G-17.1 The City of Buckeye should encourage a variety of housing types 
that meet the demands and needs of existing and future residents. 
Zoning:  
14. By utilizing the Planned Area Development (PAD) tool, the City and developer are able 
to create higher quality and more specific design standards for the development. The 
PAD is a preferred zoning to create flexible standards for the three different multi-family 
developments being proposed, while ensuring greater public benefits through unifying 
design standards and assurances with the design quality and vision at the zoning level.

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 5 of 10 
 
15. The Coyote Crest PAD uses standard City zoning districts as the baseline for the 
development standards within each Development Unit. Specifically, Development Unit 1 
uses the standards of the Multi-Family 1 (MF-1) district, Development Unit 2 uses the 
standards of the Single-Family 1 (R1-1) district, and Development Unit 3 uses the 
standards of the Multi-Family 2 (MF-2) district. To increase the project’s compatibility 
with the Skyline West subdivision, the PAD proposes the following variations from the 
baseline standards:  
a. The maximum building height permitted in Development Unit 1, the portion to be 
developed with detached cottages, will be reduced from 50 feet to 30 feet.  
b. The garden apartments to be developed in Unit 3 would be permitted a maximum 
building height of 50 feet whereas the MF-2 district permits unlimited building 
height.    
Site Design and Architecture:  
16. The intent of this PAD application is to entitle the property to accommodate future site 
planning and development of a multi-phased multi-family development.   
17. Approval of a Site Plan application will be required prior to development occurring on the 
property. 
18. The design of Coyote Crest is intended to compliment the Sonoran Desert. All three 
development units will have complimentary thematics, colors, and materials to unify 
design across all development units, while still ensuring variety thorough provision of 
three wholly different product types: Development Unit (DU) 1 will be a detached cottage 
development, DU2 will be duplexes, and DU3 will be garden-style apartments.    
19. Because the proposed development is located directly across future McDowell Parkway 
from a low-density residential development (Phoenix Skyline West 2), the proposal 
provides for the most intense and tallest development on the south end of the site, 
furthest from the existing single-family community. This method of reducing the visual 
impact on the lower density neighborhood is illustrated in PAD Exhibit 4 (see image on 
following page), which depicts the full site at buildout, looking southeast.

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 6 of 10 
 
 
Access and Circulation: 
20. Coyote Crest will be primarily accessed by the future McDowell Parkway along the site’s 
northern edge. The initial concept features two (2) driveway entrances from McDowell 
Parkway with additional access from 231st Avenue (a planned Collector roadway) on the 
site’s western edge and Ranbow Road (a planned Local Street) on the site’s eastern 
boundary.   
Open Space: 
21. Beyond the intended active open space that will be provided as each development unit 
goes through the site planning process, the Coyote Crest PAD has required shared use 
paths and trails that connect the development units with one another.   
Schools: 
22. The property is located within the Buckeye Union High School and Buckeye Elementary 
School Districts. Coordination between the developer and districts will be required during 
the site planning phases of the project.  
Water and Wastewater: 
23. Coyote Crest is located within Buckeye’s water and sewer service areas.  Water and 
wastewater plans will be reviewed during the site planning phases of the project.

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 7 of 10 
 
Conceptually, the applicant envisions that the water mains would be extended from 
south of Interstate 10 to the property, while sewer would outfall to existing facilities 
located in Watson Road.   
RECOMMENDATION: 
24. Staff recommend the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of a PAD for 
Coyote Crest (PLZZ-25-0001), subject to conditions (a) through (q), to the Mayor and City 
Council, for the following reasons: 
 The Rezoning conforms to the property’s proposed General Plan designation of 
Neighborhood. 
 The Rezoning furthers the City’s goals for development of the adjacent activity 
center, The Landing, by increasing population and housing variety needed to 
support future commercial development.  
 The Rezoning conforms to all requirements of the Buckeye Development Code. 
 There are no outstanding issues for reviewing departments (Engineering, Fire, 
Public Works, Community Services, Police, Water Resources, and Development 
Services).  
Planning Division Conditions – Standard/General 
a) Development of the property shall be in general conformance with the “Coyote 
Crest PAD” narrative document consisting of 47 pages date stamped October 6, 
2025, except as modified by the following conditions. 
b) The property owner/s and their successor waive any and all claims for diminution in value 
of the property with regard to any action taken by City of Buckeye as result of this 
approval. 
c) Certificates of Adequate School Facilities from the Buckeye Union High School District and 
Buckeye Elementary School District shall be provided by developer with the first Site Plan 
application within the PAD.  
d) This project is subject to a Parkway Maintenance Improvement District (MID) formed 
pursuant to Arizona Revised Statue § 48-574 and in accordance with City of Buckeye 
Ordinance 42-06. This will include a legal and exhibit of the ownership parcel. 
e) This project is subject to Street Light Improvement District (SLID) in accordance with City 
of Buckeye Ordinance 43-05. This shall be established prior to the recordation of the first 
Final Plat, Minor Subdivision, MOD, or any other related land division. This will include a 
gross boundary legal and exhibit of the ownership parcels for all included APN’s. 
f) All existing overhead power lines less than 69 kV capacity, or any other overhead utilities 
within the project area or along its boundaries, shall be installed underground. 
g) All existing irrigation facilities located on the site shall be abandoned, relocated, or 
installed underground. Any District-owned facilities to be located within the right-of-way

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 8 of 10 
 
shall be located near the rear of the right-of-way and the right-of-way shall be extended 
at least five (5) feet, unless otherwise determined by the City. Any additional easements 
for District-owned facilities shall be placed outside of the right-of-way and the public 
utilities easement. 
 
Drainage 
h) Prior to Final Plat approval, the Property Owner/Developer shall provide a letter from the 
Flood Control District of Maricopa County approving the conceptual design of the 
proposed construction on the existing alluvial fans, flood plains, floodways or other flood 
feature managed by the Flood Control District that is affecting this project 
Streets 
i) The Property Owner/Developer shall be responsible for the dedication and construction 
of all half-street right-of-way and improvements, at no cost to the City, for McDowell 
Parkway, Rainbow Road, and 231st Avenue based on City of Buckeye standards. 
j) The Property Owner/Developer shall submit a Map of Dedication (MOD) or other 
appropriate subdivision type to the City of Buckeye dedicating right-of-way for 
functionally classified roadways when requested to do so by the City. Such right-of-way 
may be requested by the City to be dedicated in advance of development to permit the 
construction of needed City infrastructure to adjacent sites. 
k) It has been determined that a portion of the required improvements may not be 
constructed as part of this Development. The Developer shall be responsible to design all 
of the required improvements, including landscaped medians and/or gateway signage in 
accordance with the Buckeye Arterial Gateway Guide, if applicable, and then coordinate 
with the City to define the portion of improvements that will not be constructed as part 
of the development. A fee-in-lieu agreement will need to be completed to cover the 
omitted improvements, and the Property Owner/Developer will be required to provide 
payment to the City to cover the costs prior to Certificate of Occupancy being issued by 
the City. 
Water / Wastewater 
l) The Property Owner/Developer shall allocate any surface water rights to the City prior to 
the issuance of any building permits. 
m) Property Owner/Developer shall verify and complete due diligence if any proposed 
subdivision of the existing property requires a Certificate of Assured Water Supply based 
upon Arizona State Law Subdivision requirement. Prior to Final Plat approval, the Property 
Owner/Developer shall produce a Certificate of Assured Water Supply issued by the 
Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), covering all lots and parcels created, 
defined, or depicted on said Plat, if the Certificate is required as determined by Property

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 9 of 10 
 
Owner/Developer due diligence. The certificate must be consistent with all Arizona 
Department of Water Resources ADWR rules and regulations. In the event the City has 
been designated as an assured water provider prior to Final Plat approval, and the ADWR 
has not yet issued a Certificate or Certificates of Assured Water Supply for the subdivision, 
a Certificate or Certificates of Assured Water Supply will not be required by the City. The 
City may instead require as a condition to Final Plat approval that the Property 
Owner/Developer provide the City with other evidence demonstrating that there is 
sufficient volume and quality of water necessary to serve the demands at the subdivision 
such as a physical availability determination issued by the ADWR along with supporting 
documentation or that the Property Owner/Developer provide the City with a copy of an 
analysis of assured water supply, with supporting documentation, issued by the ADWR 
for the subdivision. 
Transportation/Traffic 
n) Prior to release of any civil permit, the Property Owner/Developer shall pay a pro rata 
share cost of up to nine (9) regional future traffic signals to be installed within this section 
of land.  The pro rata share is based on a ratio of the project acreage to the developable 
acreage within the section. The sectional contribution is to be based on the following 
allocation of costs: (i) 25 percent share of four (4) possible signals at arterial street 
intersections; (ii) 50 percent share of four (4) possible signals at half-mile collector street 
intersections or project entries; and (iii) 100 percent share of one (1) possible signal 
internal to this project.  The cost shall be based on an anticipated signal cost as 
determined by the City. 
o) Access at 231st Avenue and Rainbow Road will be full access in the interim condition. 
These two access locations and the other two accesses (in between 231st Ave and 
Rainbow Road) along McDowell Parkway will be restricted to RI/RO in the future when 
McDowell Parkway is fully constructed as a parkway.  
p) All medians required for controlling restricted site access shall be constructed with this 
development. 
q) In the event that access to and within the project is deemed a threat to public safety and 
security by the City, the City has broad authority to take such action as it deems necessary 
to address such a threat until such time as the Property Owner/Developer eliminates the 
safety concerns to the City’s satisfaction.  The Property Owner/Developer is responsible 
for revising the roadway and access layout to alleviate the City’s concerns with respect to 
public safety and security.  Any such changes will be considered a minor change to existing 
site plan approvals and shall be approved by the City. 
r) Half-street improvements including Rights-of-Way dedication shall be required along the 
entire parcel frontage as part of this development, including the installation of ITS conduit 
per the City standards. ITS conduits (2 7-way micro-ducts) must be installed along 
McDowell Parkway per City standards, including any necessary splice boxes.

PLZZ-25- 0001 – Coyote Crest PAD  
Page 10 of 10 
 
ATTACHMENTS: 
Exhibit A – Vicinity Map 
Exhibit B – Existing General Plan Land Use Map 
Exhibit C – Existing Zoning Map 
Exhibit D – PAD Narrative 
Exhibit E – Citizen Participation Plan 
 
Prepared By: 
Sean Banda, Senior Planner 
 
Reviewed By: 
Ken Galica, Planning Manager