GPA Narrative

City of Glendale — Regular Meeting (2024-11-26)

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1 
VAI RESORT
GPA23-02: Minor General Plan Amendment 
SEC Cardinals Way and Loop 101 Freeway 
October 4, 2024 
PLANNING DIVSION 
RECEIVED
[04 OCT 2024]

2 |   Vai Resort GPA      
Development Team  
 
 
Attorney 
 
 
Developer 
Vai Resort/Fisher 
P.O. Box 1034 
Dickinson, ND  58602-1034 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attorneys/Representative 
 
                                 
 
Architect 
 
 
Withey Morris Baugh, PLC 
 
 
                     
 
Baker Barrios 
2525 E. Arizona Biltmore Cir.  
                    
 
 
189 S Orange Avenue  
 
Suite A-212 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
Suite 1700 
 
 
Phoenix, AZ 85016 
 
 
   
                     
 
Orlando, FL 32801 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Engineer 
EPS Group 
1130 N. Alma School Rd.  
Suite 120 
Mesa, AZ 85201

3 |   Vai Resort GPA      
Table of Contents 
 
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 5 
Site Overview ................................................................................................................. 5 
Request .......................................................................................................................... 5 
Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 6 
Summary ........................................................................................................................ 7

4 |   Vai Resort GPA      
Exhibits 
 
Aerial Map .......................................................................................................... Exhibit 1 
Zoning Map ........................................................................................................ Exhibit 2 
Current General Plan Land Use Map ................................................................. Exhibit 3 
Proposed General Plan Land Use Map .............................................................. Exhibit 4 
Conceptual Site Plan .......................................................................................... Exhibit 5

5 |   Vai Resort GPA      
Introduction 
Vai Resorts proposes to develop approximately 66.31 gross acres located at the southeast corner of Cardinals 
Way and the 101 Freeway. There is a current  Planned Area Development (“PAD”) District amendment into the 
City of Glendale to allow the development of a resort and entertainment venue.  The new Vai Resort is expected 
to be the largest in Arizona once built and comprised of a variety of entertainment, dining and retail attractions 
for both day and night-time activities.  In total, the development is planned to have 1,200 hotel rooms and suites, 
theme park, concert venue, and swimming lagoon. 
There is a portion of this larger development that includes roughly 10 gross acres located south of Cardinals 
Way between 95th Avenue and 94th Avenue (the “Property”) as shown on the Aerial Map in Exhibit 1. This 
application requests approval of a Minor General Plan Amendment, in conjunction with a concurrent Planned 
Area Development (“PAD”) amendment to create a consistent general plan land use designation for the proposed 
Vai Resort boundary. 
Site Overview 
As noted above, the roughly 10-acre site current is sandwiched between 94th Avenue and 95th Avenue and is 
currently undeveloped land. Vai Resort owns that Property and desires to incorporate it into the larger Vai Resort 
PAD. 
The Property is currently zoned PAD, as shown on the Glendale Zoning Map at Exhibit 2.  The Glendale General 
Plan identifies the Property as Parks and Open Space designation, as shown on the General Plan Land Use 
Map at Exhibit 3. 
Request 
Vai Resort requests to amend the General Plan land use designation of the Property from POS to CCC Corporate 
Commerce Center as shown on the Proposed General Plan Land Use Map at Exhibit 4. This modification will 
create a consistent general plan land use designation for the Vai Report development.  
Analysis 
 
The proposed Minor General Plan Amendment will allow the development of a destination entertainment and 
resort venue. The new Vai Resort is expected to be the largest in Arizona once built and comprised of a variety 
of entertainment, dining and retail attractions for both day and nighttime activities. The Property is a part of the 
larger plan for the Vai Resort and is critical in its development. The parcels will include a resort building and the 
employee parking areas. See site plan at Exhibit 5. 
The proposed PAD zoning and concurrent Minor General Plan Amendment is also compatible with the existing 
and emerging development in the surrounding area that includes an existing Westgate City Center, Tanger 
Outlets Mall, Zanjero, Main Street, Glendale Corporate Center, Sportsman Park, State Farm Stadium, Gila River

6 |   Vai Resort GPA      
Arena, all along the Loop 101 Freeway including the City’s municipal airport. The Vai Resort project also provides 
an excellent opportunity for a variety of users with freeway frontage and good freeway and arterial roadways 
access, especially with the opening of 95th Avenue between Cardinals Way and Camelback Road.  
The Minor General Plan Amendment will help to clean up the General Plan land use map and create a cohesive 
designation for the entire Vai Resort development area. 
In addition, the proposed Minor General Plan Amendment meets the following Glendale General Plan goals and 
policies, as outlined below: 
Goal LU-4: Mixed-use projects provide urban clusters with housing, retail, restaurants and integrated 
transit facilities in Glendale. 
Policy LU-4.4 The City shall encourage a variety and mix of uses, including both vertical and horizontal mixed-
use where appropriate.  
Vai Resort will be a mix of uses including entertainment, resort, and dining options that will be clustered within 
the project. This will provide a key service to residents and visitors alike.  
Goal GA-2: Glendale’s identified Growth Areas are supported with appropriate infrastructure. 
Policy GA-2.1 The City shall concentrate growth in areas that may be served most efficiently.   
This Property is located in a prime location along the Loop 101 Corridor and adjacent to major sports arenas, 
antertainment opportunities, and commercial activitity. The location provides existing infrastructure to support 
similar uses within this larger entertainment district. 
Goal ED-2: Promote locations that are appropriate for future commercial, office, and industrial 
development. 
Policy ED-2.3 The City should continue to maximize freeway, major arterial, and transit service access as 
opportunities for employment sites. 
Loop 101 corridor has been identified by the City of Glendale and other jurisdictions along its route as a major 
transportation corridor for entertainment, commercial, hospitality, and employment users. This land use pattern 
is consistent with the existing Westgate City Center, Tanger Outlets Mall, Zanjero, Main Street, Glendale 
Corporate Center, Sportsman Park, State Farm Stadium, Gila River Arena. Vai Resorts is comptabile and will 
be a key destination along this corridor. 
Summary 
 
The proposed Minor General Plan Amendment will allow development of the highly anticipated Vai Resort. The 
proposed land use designation will advance many of the goals and policies in the City of Glendale’s General 
Plan. The development is consistent with prevailing land use and development patterns in this area along this 
stretch of Loop 101.