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Fountain Hills Planning & Zoning Commission Approves One Special Permit, Opposes Another

By May 19, 2023No Comments

By Bob Burns | Fountain Hills Times

P&Z recommends approval of new apartment complex

The Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending the Town Council approve a request for a special use permit for a 10-unit residential apartment complex at Fountain Hills and Glenbrook boulevards.

The proposal from the developer calls for 10 units in three buildings on approximately one-third acre. The proposed apartments are two stories with a garage for each unit.

This area has been zoned and platted prior to incorporation of the Town for commercial uses. It is still the desire of the Town to have this be a successful commercial center, according to the staff report. Staff also posed several questions related to allowing a residential development at this location.

First, would allowing residential use of this prominent corner be detrimental to the desired commercial activity?

Second, would the residential use be detrimental to the public health, safety, peace or comfort of the neighborhood?

Finally, is the residential use being designed and established in a manner that creates a desirable living environment in a manner compatible with the adjacent development and meets the goal of providing a recognizable entry to the Town?

P&Z opposes hotel conversion

The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended the Town Council deny a Special Use Permit application that would convert a downtown hotel to apartments.

Roy Brown, who is in the process of purchasing the 104-room Fountain Lake Hotel at Saguaro Boulevard and Paul Nordin Parkway told the commissioners that the property is not viable as a hotel.

The proposed plan would include 29 studio and 61 one-bedroom units. There would be four units on the first floor where the hotel restaurant operated. Three of those are planned as two-bedroom. Brown said the plan is to market those units as Airbnb rentals.

Commissioner Patrick Dapaah focused his questions on air circulation in the building. It was noted that the hotel windows do not open. Brown said the existing mechanical system would remain essentially intact. Dapaah said he was concerned about adequate ventilation, infection control and life safety systems for those living in the building.

Commission members also seemed skeptical of Brown’s claim the property is not viable as a hotel.

Commissioner Susan Dempster asked why it was not successful as a hotel. It opened in 2006 as a Holiday Inn Express and has had six owners since that time.

“It can’t overcome a 30% annual occupancy rate,” Brown said. “The challenge is this is a sleepy community in the summer months.”

Dempster noted that there are in town two other hotels and several restaurants that survive through the summer months in Fountain Hills.

Read More: P&Z recommends approval of new apartment complex (subscriber content)
Read More: P&Z opposes hotel conversion (subscriber content)
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