City of Coolidge
General Plan Major Amendment
2016
Prepared by:
City of Coolidge Growth management Department
7/14/2016
1
Applicant:
City of Coolidge
Rick Miller, Growth Management Director
131 W. Pinkley Avenue
Coolidge, Arizona 85122
520-723-6041
@coolidgeaz.com
Proposed Amendment: Major General Plan Amendment request to modify the Circulation
Element Transportation Plan Map in the 2025 General Plan “The Future Today”
I.
INTRODUCTION
The City of Coolidge is proposing changes to the Transportation Plan Map of the 2025
General Plan that are necessary to support a regionally significant employment center
known as “Inland Port Arizona”. The Changes that are being requested affect the
currently approved alignment of the future North/South Freeway and the locations of
future potential interchanges along the proposed route.
II.
REQUEST
The City of Coolidge annexed over 5,500 acres as part of the Pinal Mesa I annexation
in early 2015. The property is made up of one of Arizona’s largest land sales in History
between the City of Mesa and Pinal Land Holdings, LLC. The annexation extended
the southern boundary of Coolidge to Houser Road east of Highway 87 and the Union
Pacific railroad. In this area Pinal Land Holdings has received approval from the Union
Pacific Railroad on a design to establish a major inland port and logistics park having
excellent access to Interstate 8 and 10 and the Union Pacific Railroad.
The purpose of this amendment is for the adjustment of the alignment of the future
North / South freeway corridor slightly to the East along the eastern boundary of the
proposed Inland Port and Logistics Park. In addition, an amendment to the future
interchanges along the North / south Freeway is being requested. Currently, proposed
future interchange locations are illustrated at two mile intervals on Hanna and Shedd
Roads. The amendment recommends moving the Shedd Road interchange a mile to
the South to avoid conflict with the Santa Rosa Canal and adding an interchange at
Arica Road to be used as an exclusive freight access into the Inland Port Arizona.
These amendments are illustrated in the attached maps.
2
III.
CONFORMANCE WITH GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
DETERMINATION CRITERIA.
From time to time, the City may choose to amend the General Plan in order to respond
to opportunities. The development of the Inland Port Arizona and Pinal Logistics Park
is one such opportunity that requires consideration of this major Amendment. Major
General Plan Amendments are required for any changes to proposed access
management or the Transportation Plan Map.
Major General Plan Amendments are only allowed once a year through a public
participation process that is approved annually by the Mayor and City Council. The
Mayor and City Council established the process for 2016 General Plan Amendments
by passing Resolution 15-39 on December 14, 2015.
In determining a major amendment to the general plan, the following criteria must be
addressed:
Describe how the proposed amendment furthers the General Plan Vision:
The proposed amendment facilitates the vision by enhancing an opportunity to develop
a regionally significant employment center through the Inland Port Arizona and Pinal
Logistics Park thereby attracting quality business and industry, creating jobs to keep
our young people working, prospering and growing a strong tax base that is re-invested
here.
Describe how the proposed amendment furthers Smart Growth Principles to:
The requested amendment does not change the balance and mix of land uses identified
in the Land use Plan. It does not affect compact building design opportunities as these
will continue to be encouraged by the City. There will continue to be a range of housing
opportunities and choices throughout the City and this proposed amendment will not
affect that goal. The City will still work with residential developers to design a
walkable community as has been demonstrated in the recent approval of the Ensendero
Planned Area Development requested by developer of the Inland Port Arizona and
Pinal Logistics Park. The proposed amendment will not impact the City’s efforts to
foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place. The City will be
heavily engaged in the design elements of the future North / South Freeway and will
promote landscaping and artistic elements along the freeway corridor and at
interchanges when the freeway is constructed. These efforts will provide a strong sense
of place through appropriate design. The proposed amendment does not impact open
space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas. The proposed
amendment will direct development towards the existing communities of Eloy and
Coolidge as the Industrial area is developed. There is greater predictability in the
development of the Inland Port and Logistics Park by shifting the freeway alignment
slightly to the east and modifying the interchange locations. Not doing so lessens the
economic impact and profitability of the proposed development. Community and
3
stakeholder collaboration has been and will continue to be encouraged in the
development of the Freeway, Inland Port and Logistics Park. This amendment will
further the sustainable use of resources and materials.
Describe how the proposed amendment enhances or has no net impact on future
water supplies:
The amendment simply shifts the location of the Planned North South Alignment to the
Eastern Boundary of the proposed Inland Port and Logistics Park and interchange
locations. These proposed changes will not affect the future water supplies.
Describe how the Proposed Amendment enhances or has no impact on mobility
and traffic congestion:
The proposed Inland Port and Logistics Park help to provide the justification and need
for the North South freeway alignment connecting the East Valley at Apache Junction
with Interstate 10 near Picacho Peak. The proposed amendment to the interchange
locations and the addition of an interchange at the Arica Road Alignment will help to
eliminate congestion by heavy truck traffic at the currently planned interchanges. A
traffic study has already been completed and will continue to be refined as development
of the area occurs to ensure that mobility and congestion will continue to maintain
acceptable levels of service.
Describe how the proposed amendment enhances or has no impact on the
quality and quantity of publicly accessible open space and trails.
The shifting of the proposed North South Freeway alignment slightly to the east will
have no impact to public accessibility to open space and trails. Shifting the proposed
interchange location from the Shedd Road/Santa Rosa Canal alignment to Houser
Road will likely enhance the opportunity for pedestrians, equestrians and bicyclists to
use the Santa Rosa Canal for these recreational activities.
Discuss if the proposed amendment will result in a higher net cost to the City or
its residents for City services.
The proposed amendment should not increase the net cost to the City in the provision
of City services above that what is currently required based on the existing land use
and transportation plan. If anything, the proposed amendment increases the
development opportunity of the inland port and logistics park which will have a greater
economic impact to the City when it is developed.
Does the proposed amendment require public investment or financing?
Future construction of the North South Freeway and interchanges will require public
investment and financing. This proposed amendment does not change that fact.
4
Describe how the proposed amendment enhances or has no net impact on the
natural environment, including air and water quality.
The proposed amendment has no additional impact on the natural environment beyond
what is currently anticipated in the current General Plan.
Describe how the proposed amendment enhances or has no net impact on the
rural character of the City.
The proposed amendment has no additional impact on the natural environment beyond
what is currently anticipated in the current General Plan.
Describe how the proposed amendment results in the creation of jobs for
Coolidge residents.
The proposed amendment enhances the opportunity for the development of the Inland
Port Arizona and Pinal Logistics Park. The amendment increases the amount of
industrial property that can be developed to create more jobs by shifting the alignment
to the eastern boundary of the project rather than bisect the project and thus reducing
the desirability and profitability of the project.
Describe how the proposed amendment provides enhanced educational
opportunities for Coolidge Residents.
Development of the Inland Port and Logistics Park accomplishes one of the important
visions in the General Plan which is to create jobs that keep our kids working here and
growing a strong tax base that is re-invested here. By doing this, there will be enhanced
educational opportunities for Coolidge residents as the economy strengthens and
expands.
Discuss how the specific goals, policies and strategies are furthered by the
proposed amendment.
The proposed amendment has no impact on the specific goals, policies and strategies
of the General Plan. The amendment supports each of these efforts.
IV.
CONCLUSION
The proposed Major General Plan Amendment application by the City of Coolidge
Planning Commission is necessary to support the orderly development of the Inland
Port Arizona and Pinal Logistics Park. The amendment is consistent with the overall
goals, policies and strategies of the General Plan 2025 and most importantly
accomplishes the Community vision to keep our kids working here and growing a
strong tax base that is re-invested here. The Inland Port Arizona will be a major
economic driver for the region and the proposed amendment sets the framework for
this project.
5