Staff Memo To Council: P-25-46-CUP

City of Apache Junction
Development Services Department
CITY COUNCIL STAFF MEMO
Date: October 6, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Through: Bryant Powell, City Manager
Rudy Esquivias, Development Services Director
Sidney Urias, Development Services Deputy Director
From: Nick Leftwich, Principal Planner
Case Number: P-25-46-CUP
Subject: Bella Norte, a proposed conditional use permit for a
210-unit, three-story, multi-family residential
rental community at the northeast corner of Idaho
Road and Junction Street.
Summary
P-25-46-CUP is a proposed conditional use permit (CUP) requested
by Bela Flor Communities, represented by Pew & Lake, PLC., to
authorize the construction of a 210-unit, three-story multi-
family residential community on a 9.31 net acre parcel at the
northeast corner of Idaho Road and Junction Street.
The property is zoned City Center “B-3”, in which the zoning
ordinance requires that multi-family residential development
receives a Conditional Use Permit, with the City Council as the
approval authority.
Planning & Zoning Commission Hearing
The Planning and Zoning Commission held their public hearing for
P-25-46-CUP on August 25, 2026. The Planning and Zoning
Commission discussed parking standards, amenities, and street
improvements. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the
findings of fact associated with the Conditional Use Permit
proposal; however, the Commission voted 3-3 on a motion to
recommend approval of P-25-46-CUP to the Apache Junction City
Council. Because the motion resulted in a tie vote and no
alternative recommendation was made, the application is being
forwarded to the City Council without a recommendation from the
Planning and Zoning Commission.
City Council Work Session
At the September 14, 2026 City Council Work Session, the City
Council received a report regarding the potential conveyance of
Idaho Road right-of-way to the city from ADOT ownership and
control, which had been prepared in conjunction with staff’s
Planning & Zoning – Building & Safety – Revenue Development
300 E. Superstition Boulevard  Apache Junction, AZ 85119  Ph: (480) 474-5083  Fax (480) 982-7010

presentation on Case P-25-46-CUP due to concerns previously
expressed by the City Council regarding traffic on Idaho Road.
As a proposed conveyance of Idaho Road right-of-way was
identified to take at least a few months, the city council
expressed concerns with the timing of the consideration of Case
P-25-46-CUP before the City possesses the Idaho Road right-of-
way. The conveyance will provide the City of Apache Junction
authority over the management of Idaho road and more influence
to address expressed traffic concerns.
Staff was directed to inform the applicant of this concern and
have communicated with the applicant regarding Council’s
possible desire to continue the Case to a later date.
In the event that the City Council determines to consider the
approval of the case as previously scheduled, the attached
Resolution No. 26-42 has been prepared.
Attached:
- Resolution No. 26-42
- Planning and Zoning Commission Staff Report and attachments (August 25, 2026)
- P-25-46-CUP Additional Letters of Support provided up to 9/20/26
Planning & Zoning – Building & Safety – Revenue Development
300 E. Superstition Boulevard  Apache Junction, AZ 85119  Ph: (480) 474-5083  Fax (480) 982-7010