It may have taken a lengthy discussion during a recent planning commission meeting, but Lennar Corp.'s plans for its latest Arizona housing development are moving forward in Gilbert.
Lennar's proposed community, Willowbrook, calls for 91 homes on more than 26 acres on the southeast corner of Riggs Road and 156th Street in the town of Gilbert. The firm received a recommendation of approval to rezone and change the land use classification for a single-family subdivision during a recent 90-minute discussion at a Gilbert Planning Commission meeting. The project will next go to the Gilbert Town Council for final approval.
Willowbrook marks Lennar's first project for the fast-growing town of Gilbert. The company has 20 communities throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Planned homes would range from 2,375 square feet to over 4,400 square feet as a mix of one-story and two-story houses; lots will average about 7,200 square feet. The site is considered part of the South Chandler neighborhood, which is on the border of Gilbert and the city of Chandler.
Lennar wrote in its project narrative that it was pursuing a new single-family community to keep up with the growth in Gilbert since 2010.
The builder originally considered building 116 lots at the site but reduced it to 91 following neighborhood meetings, according to its presentation to the commission.
Nearby residents spoke out in opposition to the project, expressing concerns over the number of homes planned for Willowbrook and its effect on property values and traffic. Some residents requested an additional traffic light, but the commission maintained that it was out of the scope of what it could approve or enforce.
"The traffic we are describing is already a problem. That is a theme across Gilbert of any development that comes in," said Commissioner Noah Mundt prior to the vote. "The concerns you have are very valid, and I would encourage you to continue and bring them up with the council, who will have more authority [to address traffic concerns]."
"I believe that once this is developed, it will actually enhance the area rather than detract from it, so I don't think it's going to reduce the home prices. But that's a crystal ball question," added Commissioner Jän Simon before the vote.
Earlier this summer, Lennar presented a more than 1,700-home community called Harvest Grove on some 300 acres in South Gilbert to the town planning commission. This was in a study session, so no action was taken. A date for the commission to take action on Harvest Grove has not been publicly set as of this week.
Publicly held Lennar is the nation’s second-largest homebuilder based on 80,210 sales last year, according to Builder Magazine.