Commission backs rezoning of ‘Buckeye 83’ at I‑10/SR‑85 to Business Park; resident opposes

The Buckeye Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a rezoning request for roughly 85 acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and State Route 85, changing the property from single-family zoning to Business Park (case PLZ‑25‑00002).

Senior planner Sean Banda told commissioners the rezoning is consistent with Buckeye’s 2040 general plan and described a conceptual employment center with a mix of light industrial and office uses. Banda and applicant representatives emphasized large buffers between proposed buildings and nearby residential lots — ranging from roughly 166 feet at the closest points to nearly 400 feet in other locations — and increased landscape setbacks of about 62 to 85 feet on the project side plus an intervening landscape tract on the West Park side.

Wendy Redell, representing the applicant VIA West Group, said the proposal reduces intensity from earlier applications and would permit light manufacturing, assembly, office and wholesale uses while limiting cross-dock warehouse configurations. She said the applicant has conducted outreach with the West Park Community Association and has letters of support from nearby businesses.

One West Park resident, Chris Manis, who said he has lived in the neighborhood since 2006, spoke in opposition. Manis told the commission that repeated piecemeal changes have produced a “patchwork” of uses and urged the commission to pursue projects that better support outdoor amenities and community life rather than more light industrial development.

Commissioners asked a few clarifying questions; several praised the proposed buffers and outreach steps. The commission moved, seconded and approved the rezoning recommendation subject to conditions A through K and will forward the item to City Council for final action.

The commission’s approval does not set final site design; staff noted traffic, drainage, noise and lighting will be reviewed at the later site-plan stage and will require compliance with conditions in the written staff report.