Gilbert Chinese Church seeks annexation at public hearing; council takes input, no vote

The Town of Gilbert held an informational public hearing June 24 on an annexation petition for an approximately 5‑acre parcel on the west side of Greenfield Road between Queen Creek and Ocotillo, the town’s planning staff said.

Senior planner Kristen Devine told council the petition (filed June 3) begins the town’s annexation process and that the applicant may gather signatures from vested property owners starting July 3. Because this was an informational hearing, Devine said, the council would not vote on the annexation at the meeting.

Speakers who identified themselves as members of the Gilbert Chinese Church spoke in favor of annexation. Mandarin‑language pastor Jerry Shea described the church’s congregation and services, saying the congregation has been active in Gilbert since about 2014 and completed construction of a permanent building in 2023. Longtime congregant Bin Zhao cited public‑safety and sewer service reasons for seeking annexation, saying the property currently falls under Maricopa County law enforcement and still uses septic tanks despite an adjacent sewer main.

Another speaker, Rebecca Yang, described church community events — Chinese New Year celebrations, Fourth‑of‑July viewing and a youth group that visits senior homes — and said church leaders hoped annexation would allow fuller participation in the town as residents and congregants.

Council members did not act on the request; several thanked the speakers and said they expected the case would return to a future council meeting with a date for action. Devine told the council a future meeting to request action will be scheduled within about a year and that the annexation, if approved, would convert county zoning to the town’s most comparable residential district, single‑family 4.3 (SFB‑3 analog stated in staff comments).

The record shows the town accepted public input on June 24 and will schedule a later date to consider formal approval.