Council approves Resilient Villas PAD amendment for 291 deed-restricted workforce units, 5-2

The Avondale City Council voted 5-2 on April 20 to approve a major planned area development amendment that clears the way for the Resilient Villas project, a 291-unit duplex-style multifamily development proposed south of the southwest corner of Dysart Road and Van Buren Street.

Senior Planner Cole Hunger said the 24.89-net-acre site would convert previously approved townhome uses to multifamily duplex units, add community amenities (clubhouse, pool, fitness center, splash pad and playgrounds) and include two primary amenity locations and 50% open space. He said 279 units are side-by-side two-story duplexes with 3-to-4 bedroom layouts and 12 units above ADA units with patios.

The applicant proposed the project as workforce housing, and staff reported the applicant intends to provide Low Income Housing Tax Credit units deed-restricted for 30 years and income-restricted to 60% of area median income (AMI). As part of conditions, the project must contribute to a traffic signal prior to issuance of the first certificate of occupancy; staff said there is not yet a set date for that signal's installation.

Councilmembers debated the balance between for-sale and rental housing, traffic and infrastructure capacity. Several members said the development would provide housing for teachers, firefighters and military families; others raised concerns about additional multi-family density and pressure on services and traffic.

Councilmember Condie moved to adopt the ordinance approving PL25-0250 subject to seven conditions; Councilmember Weiss seconded. After debate, the motion carried 5-2. The transcript records the pass but does not list each member's individual recorded vote in full.

Planning Commission recommended approval on March 18 by a 5-0 vote. Staff noted that two-days earlier a public comment on the Avondale Connect platform expressed concern that the project did not provide new home ownership opportunities and that the city lacks new grocery store locations in the area.

Next steps: the project will proceed through site-plan and design-review administrative approvals and must meet the conditions of approval, including the traffic-signal contribution prior to the first certificate of occupancy.