Staff Report

City of El Mirage — Regular Meeting (2021-04-06)

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DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION 
 REQUEST REVIEW 
April 6, 2021 
 
APPLICANT INFORMATION 
Case: 
PZ20-10-22 
Owner/Applicant: 
Catholic Charities Westside Head Start 
Agent: 
Architectural Resource Team, Inc.   
Request (s): 
Site Plan Approval – Day Care Center 
 
 
PROPERTY INFORMATION 
Parcel(s): 
501-44-969 
Address: 
12800 W. Varney Road, El Mirage, Arizona 85335 
Property History: 
Mixed Urban/High School  
Land Area: 
70 ac.   
Building Area: 
Vacant 
 
 
ZONING / LAND USES 
Existing Zoning/Land Use: 
Mixed Urban/High School  
Proposed Zoning/Land Use: 
Mixed Urban/High School  
ARS 28-8481 Zone: 
70 – 75 LDN 
Flood Zone: 
N/A 
  
 
SURROUNDING PROPERTY 
North: 
Suburban Neighborhood/Single Family Dwelling 
East: 
Suburban Neighborhood/Single Family Dwelling 
South: 
Rural Area/Single Family Dwelling 
West: 
Industrial (City of Surprise) 
 
 
COMMUNITY SERVICES 
Water: 
City of El Mirage 
Sewer: 
City of El Mirage  
Electric: 
APS 
Police: 
1.5 Miles 
Fire: 
2.0 Miles 
 
 
ACCESS  
Road: 
Varney Road 
Class: 
Collector   
Improvements: 
Good 
Condition: 
Good 
SCHOOLS 
District: 
Dysart Unified School District 
Elementary: 
Dysart Elementary School 
High School: 
Dysart High School

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STAFF REPORT 
Compliance with General 
Plan: 
The 2020 General Plan designates this area as part of 
Neighborhoods Planning Area, where the proposed Site Plan for 
a Day Care Center is compatible with the General Plan.   
 
City Zoning/Land Use  
A Day Care Center Land Use is permitted by right in a Mixed 
Urban (MU) zoning district but requires a review and 
recommendation from the Planning Commission and a final 
action from Council for the site plan to be approved, and for 
the project to continue with the construction permitting 
process.  
 
ARS 28-8481 Land Use 
Compatibility 
The site is located inside the Luke Air Force Base (LAFB) Noise 
Contour Zone, and the Military Airport Territory Area and is 
subject to review from LAFB for land use compatibility w ith ARS 
28-8481. Please see the attached review letter from LAFB.  
 
Considerations: 
The applicant is requesting a site plan approval for a Day Care 
Center Use on the southern portion of the Dysart High School 
property.    
 
The proposed 6,200 square foot modular building will house 
daycare classrooms, support spaces, administrative offices and 
a parent meeting room. The outside will have a fenced 
playground with a fabric shade canopy.   
 
The applicant, will run a Head Start program which promotes 
school readiness of children under 5, providing pre-reading, 
math, language, cognitive skills, health and social and 
emotional competence to prepare children for school.  
 
Attached please find a letter from Kevin Shipman from the 
Dysart Unified School District explaining upcoming changes to 
the school district and the roll the head start program will have.  
 
City Staff Review 
Staff has reviewed the proposed site plan application and 
has no further comments.    
 
Stipulations: 
The applicant shall address all the Technical Advisory 
Committee (TAC) comments/redlines with the construction 
and civil plan submittal.  
 
Planning Commission 
 
Recommended approval of the application with the 3-1 vote 
at the March 9, 2021 Public Meeting. The one Commission 
Member voted nay had the following concerns: “With a land 
lock City, we must be wise on how to use vacant land. With 
enrollment down, could un-used classrooms fulfill this need. With 
the elementary school being converted into a middle school 
further demonstrates is needed to show why this is the best

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location.” 
 
 
Council  
Staff is seeking final action of the Zoning Application.  
 
Attachment 
Application Packet, Technical Advisory Committee Review 
Comments, Luke Review Letter and Dysart School District 
Letter.  
 
The following documents are available for review at the El 
Mirage Community Department Planning and Zoning 
Division during normal business hours.  
 
1. Deed  
2. Phase I Environmental Assessment Report