City of Buckeye approves contentious real estate development

BUCKEYE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Buckeye is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, but not all new development projects are welcomed with open arms. After an over 4-hour-long meeting, a proposed master plan development passed by a 6-1 vote Tuesday night.

Festival Ranch North LLC’s master plan is to use 2,800 acres near the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal, which is in North Buckeye, to build over 9,600 residential units, 4 schools, 700 acres of open space and over 400 acres of community parks. The development, called North Star Ranch, would include commercial and mix-use employment areas, according to the developer’s attorney, Susan Demmitt.

People who live in the Festival Ranch communities packed the meeting room, with many having to stand up after seats were all taken and everyone going against the proposal.

“It just is not right,” said Tom Berry, a Sun City Festival resident.

Sun City Festival is a retirement community near Canyon Springs and Desert Oasis boulevards. Berry and other people living there are concerned their peace and quiet will be disrupted by the development. Another resident, Barbara Allison, said, “Sun City concept was supposed to be rather secluded for retirees so that they could live their years out and that’s the concept.”

One of the biggest concerns is heavy traffic. “Because the fact that the developer wants to use the very transportation spine of our community as their only way in and their only way out of their community,” said Berry.

Demmitt said Canyon Springs and Desert Oasis boulevards would be widened. “We have built new protections into this plan that didn’t exist before, specifically designed to address traffic,” Demmitt said.

The attorney also explained the development plan had already been approved in 2005 when it was under the name Spurlock Ranch Community Master Plan. She said that in the past 2 1/2 years, the developer has made changes to the plan following concerns from the public. Some of those changes include building height restrictions, fewer homes built and more open space.

However, during public comment, residents voiced their concerns with the overall plan. One resident did support the proposal. Another concern is that the developer still does not have a Certificate of a 100-year Assured Water Supply that’s required by the state.

“We’re working with the city of Buckeye to obtain the Certificate on the Assured Water Supply that we need in the city of Buckeye to move forward,” Demmitt said. And those have to be obtained for our project and for any project. We will do that in the coming months.”

During the meeting, it was said it could take three to four years for the first home to go up. To watch the full meeting, click here.

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