By Andrew Lwowski | Fountain Hills Times Independent (abridged)
In front of a packed chamber that more closely resembled a town council session than a Planning and Zoning meeting, the commission voted unanimously to approve the development of 25 residential Toll Brothers homes on Monday, March 9.
Vice Chair Peter Gray was absent.
The Commission approved the rezoning of nearly 20 acres between Golden Eagle Boulevard and Aspen Drive that would reduce lot size from 35,000 square feet to 10,000 for the proposal of 25 single-story, single-family homes.
Ashley Marsh, a zoning and land lease attorney with Gammage & Burnham, said the estimated price point for the homes is $1.1 to $1.2 million.
The homes will allow up to 40% lot coverage to accommodate for single-story structures.
The initial proposal by Toll Brothers was 29 homes, but four were removed (14% of development) for open space to the north after hearing opinions from neighbors.
Marsh said an HOA will be created to maintain the open space.
Town Senior Planner Farhad Tavassoli, AICP, CFM said the applicant will retain the Ashbrook Wash and have at least 10 acres of permanent open space.
Toll Brothers acquired the land in November 2024 from the Fountain Hills Unified School District and the plot was initially zoned for a school.
Marsh said there will be four home models, each with four facades plus a menu of colors.
She called it a “low-density project” and that the traffic in morning and evening peak hours would be drastically lower than if a school were developed. However, traffic would slightly increase when compared to if just 15 homes were developed.
With development, Toll Brothers will install a sidewalk along Aspen Drive as part of the frontage, rework grading and drainage to better enhance the area and will continue to work with town staff on traffic safety concerns.
The proposal will go before the town council at a later date.
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