5.22.2025 Planning Commission Staff Report

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
CASE:
ZON25-02 ADVANCE WEST PAD LOCATED AT 5150
WEST CAMELBACK ROAD
CASE #:
ZON25-02 
MEETING DATE:
05/22/2025
FROM:
Phillip Martinez, Senior Planner, Planning,
pmartinez@glendaleaz.com, 
SUBJECT
ZON25-02, A request by Taylor C. Earl on behalf of Earl and Curley P.C., representing
Advance-West LTD, to rezone approximately 3 acres from M-2 (Heavy Industrial District)
to PAD (Planned Area Development).  The site is located north of West Camelback
Road and west of North 51st Avenue and is in the Cactus Council District.  
Presented by: Phil Martinez, Senior Planner
REQUEST
Planning Commission to recommend amending the zoning classification for
Advance-West (ZON25-02) from M-2 (Heavy Industrial District) to PAD (Planned
Area Development).
APPLICANT/OWNER
Taylor C. Earl on behalf of Earl and Curley P.C., representing Advance-West LTD.
REQUIRED ACTION
The Planning Commission must conduct a public hearing and determine if this request is
in the best long-term interest of the neighborhood and consistent with the General Plan.
SUMMARY
The applicant is requesting a rezoning from M-2 (Heavy Industrial District) to PAD
(Planned Area Development) for approximately 3 acres. The proposed PAD contains a
variety of commercial and industrial uses, to include the existing use of self-storage.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
General Plan Designation:
The property is designated as GC (General Commercial).
Zoning Classification:
M-2 (Heavy Industrial District). 
Property Location and Size:

The subject site is approximately 2.61 acres in size and is located north of W.
Camelback Road and west of North 51st Avenue and is in the Cactus Council
District.  
History: 
The property contains a self-storage facility that was developed in 1976. With the
adoption of the Unified Development Code in January 2024, the existing self-storage
development became a legal, non-conforming use, as “Storage, Self-service” is not a
permitted use in the M-2 zoning district. 
The surrounding zoning districts, General Plan land use designations, and land uses
include: 
North: M-2 (Heavy Industrial District), BP (Business Park), warehouses
South: M-2 (Heavy Industrial District) and Phoenix R-5 (Multi-family Residence
District – Restricted Commercial), GC (General Commercial), and Phoenix
Residential 15+ dwelling units per acre, specialty retail, daycare, automotive repair,
and the Longhaven Estates mobile home park
East: C-3 (Heavy Commercial District) and M-2 (Heavy Industrial District), GC
(General Commercial), automotive repair, commercial services, and restaurant 
West: M-2 (Heavy Industrial District), GC (General Commercial), specialty retail,
medical offices
Project Details:
The existing General Plan designation, General Commercial, is compatible with the
proposed PAD, which proposes a variety of commercial and industrial uses.
The subject property, which contains a 16-building self-storage facility, forms a
unique “T” shape. The bottom portion of the “T” is the gated driveway that
connects the existing development to West Camelback Road. As the property is
uniquely shaped with a narrow entry, the PAD proposes appropriate development
standards for the existing self-storage facility and for future developed
self-storage facilities. If approved, the PAD would create legal, conforming
characteristics for the existing self-storage facility. Legal, non-conforming
characteristics that the PAD seeks to remedy are the setbacks, open space, and
permitting “Storage, Self-service, with or without manager’s living quarters” use. In
addition, the PAD proposes permitted and conditional uses, as well as
development standards for uses (other than self-storage facilities), including
use-specific standards. The PAD’s proposed standards are compatible with the
subject property and the surrounding area. The applicant removed high-intensity
uses from this proposed PAD, that would have otherwise been permitted or
conditional in the existing M-2 zoning district. Such high-intensity uses include
waste management and sexually-oriented businesses. 
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION TO DATE:
Applicant’s Citizen Participation Process:
On March 31, 2025, the applicant mailed notification letters to property owners and interested parties in
accordance with Unified Development Code Section 35.6.202 – Common Procedures.

C. Citizen Participation. At the time of this writing, May 6, 2025, city staff, as well as the applicant,
have not received questions or comments pertaining to the proposed rezoning. The applicant’s Citizen
Participation Final Report is attached.
Planning Commission Public Hearing:
A Notice of Public Hearing was published in The Arizona Republic on April 30, 2025.
Notification postcards of the public hearing were mailed to applicable property owners
and interested parties on April 25, 2025. The property notice was posted on April 29,
2025.
STAFF FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
PAD Purpose:
Per Section 35.2.901 - Planned Area Development, the purpose of Planned Area
Development district is to encourage new and imaginative concepts in urban design and
land development to promote and improve the health, safety, and general welfare of the
residents of the city and to create distinct developments with unique urban design, single
or mixed uses, and/or substantial additional benefit to the City that would not otherwise
be required by this Code.
Section 35.2.901(A) of the Unified Development Code states that the intent of the PAD
(Planned Area Development) district is to: 
1. Encourage creative and effective use of land and circulation systems to
accommodate changes in land development technologies. 
Staff Analysis:
The PAD proposes standards that are appropriate for the existing self-storage
facility and for developments that may occur in the future. Such standards take into
consideration the existing, narrow access point to West Camelback Road, as well
as the subject property’s unique “T” shape. 
  
2. Encourage residential development to provide a mixture of housing types and
designs. 
Staff Analysis:
The subject property is not an appropriate location for residential uses, as
the corridor on the north-side of W. Camelback Road consists of industrial
and commercial uses. The PAD’s proposed uses and use-specific standards
are designed to be compatible with the nearby commercial uses and with the
residential uses across W. Camelback Road.
   
3. Encourage innovative development or redevelopment concepts for all land use
types to provide a greater variety and intensity of uses. 
Staff Analysis:
The PAD proposes permitted and conditional uses for commercial and industrial
development. The proposed mix of uses is appropriate for the subject property and
for the surrounding area. In this area, the north side of W. Camelback Rd. contains
a hybrid of commercial and industrial uses, while the south side of West

Camelback Road is predominately residential. As such, this PAD is designed to
continue the appropriate mixture of non-residential uses on the north side of West
Camelback Road, while proposing development standards that are compatible for
the subject property and for the vicinity. 
  
4. Provide a process which relates the urban design and scale of the project to the
unique characteristics of the site. 
Staff Analysis:
As the property is uniquely shaped, containing a narrow entry, staff finds the
proposed development standards, including the proposed setbacks and
landscaping standards, to be appropriate for the subject property. Such standards
are designed to bring the existing self-storage facility into a legal, conforming
status, and propose reasonable, area-appropriate development standards for
future developments.
   
5. Require the nature and intensity of development to be supported by adequate
utilities, transportation, drainage, and common open spaces to serve the
development and to minimize impact on existing or future adjacent development. 
Staff Analysis:
There is an existing self-storage facility on the subject property. Should the
property be redeveloped at a future date, it will be subject to the City’s Design
Review process. In addition, the applicant has proposed development standards,
uses, and use-specific standards to minimize impacts on properties within the
surrounding area.
6. Encourage development that is consistent with the policies and the guidelines
established in any specific plan and the General Plan. 
Staff Analysis:
The proposed PAD is consistent with the existing General Plan designation,
General Commercial. The PAD proposes a mixture of non-residential uses in a
corridor that is largely commercial and industrial in nature. Such PAD standards
are compatible with adjacent uses and neighborhoods. The PAD furthers the
General Plan Goal ED-2, “Promote locations that are appropriate for future
commercial, office, and industrial development.”- page 4-8
RECOMMENDATION
Should the Planning Commission recommend approval of ZON25-02, it should be
subject to the stipulation in the staff report.
PROPOSED MOTION
Move to recommend approval of ZON25-02, subject to the following stipulation:
Development shall be in conformance with the Advance-West PAD Narrative,
date-stamped by the Glendale Planning Division on April 16, 2025.
Attachments

PAD Narrative 
CP Final Report 
Prop 207 Waiver 
Zoning Map 
Aerial Map 
PowerPoint Presentation