Draft Minutes October 14, 2025

D R A F T
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING & ZONING
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE
EL MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
10000 N. EL MIRAGE ROAD
6:00 PM - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025
Minutes
 
           
   
1.
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m.
 
2.
ROLL CALL
Present: Brian Campbell-Sanderfield, Commissioner; Janie Garcia, Commissioner; Thomas Gouer,
Commissioner; William Mejia, Commissioner (via telephone) 
Absent: Philip Bueno, P&Z Chairperson 
3.
ACTION ITEMS
Citizens desiring to speak on an agenda item may do so when called upon by the presiding
officer.  Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes per person and shall be addressed to the
Planning and Zoning Commission as a whole.
 
1.
An item for discussion and consideration to appoint a Pro Tem Chairperson for the October 14,
2025, Planning and Zoning Commission.
Commissioner Garcia moved to nominate Commissioner Campbell-Sanderfield for Pro Tem
Chairperson, seconded by Commissioner Gouer.
Motion passed - (4/0)
  
 
2.
An item for discussion and consideration and action to approve the minutes of the September 9,
2025, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
Commissioner Mejia moved to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2025, Planning and
Zoning Commission meeting, seconded by Commissioner Garcia.
Motion passed - (4/0)
  
 
3.
An item for discussion and recommendation to the El Mirage City Council on a site plan zoning
application and request for a parking waiver for a light manufacturing use for a manufacturing
home operation in a Planned Area Development (PAD) zone at 13201 W. Joe R Ramirez Road, El
Mirage, AZ 85335, submitted by DLR Group Inc.
Jose Macias, Senior Planner, presented a site plan zoning application and request for a parking
waiver for a light manufacturing use for a manufacturing home operation in a Planned Area
Development (PAD) zone at 13201 W. Joe R. Ramirez Road, El Mirage, AZ 85335, submitted by
DLR Group Inc. The site's approximately 40 plus acres. It is within the 2020 General Plan
Commerce Industrial Park planning area which is also in compliance with the plan, so no actions
required. This request is for light manufacturing and for our zoning code. It is within the Luke Air
Force Base noise contours AD LDN and also in the accidental potential zone the line is currently
  
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undeveloped. He stated the site is outside the flood zone. This is about 40 plus acres with a large
main building that is over 500,000 square feet. The facility will have three main entrances to the
north of Joe Ramirez for employee parking. There are some accessory buildings that are located at
the rear of the property for storage and paint booth.  Also, there is a retention basin at the very end
of the property. This site is also going to have a display area of their products at one of the main
entrances of Joe R. Ramirez Road. The total square footage is over 575,000 square feet, which is
about 30% of lot coverage. Staff reviewed the application, and found that it meets all the
requirements, and it's ready for the public meeting process.
Commissioner Mejia asked the applicant if they were aware of the anticipated traffic count or day
trips this would generate and the hours of operation. Richard South, Project Manager with DLR
Group Architects, stated they do not have the information on the maximum trips, but the maximum
capacity of employees will be 455. There will be private vehicles and deliveries happening
throughout the day. The hours of operation would be from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Commissioner Mejia moved to approve the site plan and request for a parking waiver for a light
manufacturing use for a manufacturing home operation in a Planned Area Development (PAD)
zone at 13201 W. Joe R. Ramirez Road in El Mirage, AZ 85335, seconded by Commissioner
Gouer.
Motion passed (4/0)
 
4.
A public hearing followed by a discussion and recommendation to the City Council regarding a
Zoning Text Amendment to the City of El Mirage, Arizona, Zoning Code: Land Use Volume 2,
Title XV; Zoning Code Land Use Chapters 154.156 Procedure for Site Plan Approval Process and
Chapter 155.030 Platting Procedure and Requirements and Appendix A & B. 
Commissioner Campbell-Sanderfield opened the public hearing at 6:17 p.m.
Mr. Macias presented a Zoning Text Amendment. House Bill 2447 was signed earlier this year by
the governor and goes into effect on January 1st of 2026. This bill does have some requirements
and some recommendations for cities to follow. The first one is a certification program, which I
believe we're not going to do here in the city of El Mirage. We are required to do the site and
development plans to be reviewed along with the lot line adjustment divisions and ties the
preliminary plots and final plots and any design review plat amendments. Those items are going to
be now go through staff review and approval. 
However, staff will still come to the Planning and Zoning Commission for the additional items,
which are variances, appeals, land and easement acceptance, rezoning and text amendments, and
general plans. In addition, Commissioners may be asked to join a task force to review any kind of
project. Some of the areas of our code will need to be amended in the administrative procedures
and platting procedures and requirements.
Commissioner Campbell-Sanderfield closed the public hearing at 6:21 p.m.
Commissioner Garcia moved to recommend to City Councill the Zoning Text Amendment to the
City of El Mirage, Arizona, Zoning Code: Land Use Volume 2, Title XV; Zoning Code Land Use
Chapters 154.156 Procedure for Site Plan Approval Process and Chapter 155.030 Platting
Procedure and Requirements and Appendix A & B, seconded by Commissioner Gouer.
Motion passed (4/0)
 
  
 
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4.
STAFF REPORT - The Commission may not discuss or act upon any matter unless the matter is
properly noticed for legal action.
Mr. Macias stated there may not be a meeting in November, but he is currently working on future
agenda items.
Tom Doyle, Economic Development Manager, stated 455 jobs is phenomenal and wanted to make
sure you understand there's a difference between different types of jobs when we're talking about
light manufacturing jobs. It has a three to one ratio, meaning for every one direct Cavco job
creates three indirect jobs. Those indirect jobs could be a supplier or something related, or it could
be a food vendor that's providing food. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Arizona
Commerce Authority have incentives that are largely based on trying to attract light
manufacturing. It creates more jobs and higher-paying jobs than normally comes with big benefits.
 
 
5.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS - The Commission may not discuss or act upon any matter
unless the matter is properly noticed for legal action.
Commissioner Mejia stated he would just like to piggyback off what staff just suggested as far as
utilizing the resources and really having our education system and programming that we have and
other resources to serve as incubators for the demand in the workforce that is needed and is coming
into the City of El Mirage. He stated he is definitely excited to see that and wanted to thank
everyone, the commission members, staff and everyone for coming out.
 Commissioner Garcia stated it's great to hear that our staff in the city are working with these
businesses. It's not just once they're here, they're here, still working with them to build upon what
they're doing to help our community. And it's great to hear that we're working with the youth as
well to help build them up because that's our future. That's a great report back. Appreciate it.
Commissioner Gouer stated the thought that 400 plus jobs coming here. That's definite tax revenue
for the city and especially going to the schools. Getting the youth involved for these are
high-paying jobs.
You know good jobs. Thanks to the staff and great job, Commissioner Sanderfield and on short
notice.
Commissioner Campbell-Sanderfield stated he would like to echo the sentiments that the other
Commissioners stated. I'd like to thank the staff for being patient and accommodating, and
certainly to Tom. Your point, I really think that's great. What's going on with light manufacturing
and then also that you managed to pull potential employees from a very local school. So that's great
to hear too.
 
 
6.
ADJOURNMENT - meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.
 
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____________________________________
Brian Campbell-Sanderfield, Pro Tem Chair
ATTEST:
I hereby certify the aforementioned minutes are a true and accurate record of the Regular P&Z Meeting held on
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, and a quorum was present. 
  
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