Chandler Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting - October 22, 2026

The Chandler Planning and Zoning Commission convened for a regular meeting on October 22, 2026. The agenda included a consent agenda with revisions for a project known as Hamster Crossing and a public hearing for the Val Sereno subdivision proposal.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously with amendments to item 3 (Hamster Crossing). Staff read a revised rezoning motion, a revised stipulation number 2 broadening permitted uses to regional commercial C3 uses plus RV storage, fuel station, and retail, and a revised PDP stipulation number 9 prohibiting free-standing monument signs (excluding the digital fuel pricing cabinet) unless a sign code text amendment is later approved by city council.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Opposition to Val Sereno: Multiple surrounding residents voiced strong opposition to the density and design of the proposed 53-lot subdivision.
  • Steve Bachman (12819 E Sherman Heights Dr) argued the net density of 4.38 dwelling units per acre is far higher than the surrounding area's typical 10,000 to 12,000 square foot lots, and that two-story homes are out of character for the immediate neighborhood.
  • Jeffrey Galen (12839 E Chandler Heights Rd), the neighbor with the longest shared border (~500 feet), cited major privacy concerns from two-story homes and questioned the developer's lack of a direct response to community outreach email.
  • Ken McAllister (24206 S 124th St) requested the Via de Palmas access be limited to emergency use only to match neighboring communities, and raised unresolved concerns regarding a private irrigation pipe that would be paved over.
  • Michelle Wood (2141 E Nolan Place, abutting Lot 53) requested a revised plan with larger lots and single-story homes consistent with nearby Magnolia (minimum 9,500 sq ft). She argued the average aggregate density calculation masked the impact of the typical 5,232 sq ft lots on the surrounding character.
  • Sue Phillip (Tierra Linda) and Eileen Beverage (Cooper Road) both strongly opposed the secondary resident access on Via de Palmas, citing it as redundant and dangerous for an unimproved, dead-end county road.
  • Dave Shapiro (a 39-year South Chandler resident) opposed the high density as inconsistent with the rural agrarian character of the area plan and visually demonstrated the inadequacy of a 15-foot landscape buffer.
• Support for Val Sereno:
  • Eric Oschevin (12840 E Via de Palmas), a directly abutting neighbor, expressed support. He stated the developer had worked to provide substantial setbacks and had already committed to relocating the irrigation valve box to address his concerns.

Discussion Items

• Val Sereno (PLH 26-21): The applicant (Jesse Ray, KHovnanian) presented a proposal for a 53-lot single-family subdivision at the southeast corner of Chandler Heights and Cooper Roads. The site combines city-owned PAD (office) land and county land being annexed for residential development.
  • Staff (Taylor) confirmed the request conforms to the 2026 General Plan update via the average aggregate density method (1.75 du/ac, under the 2.5 limit for the Southeast Chandler Area Plan's rural agrarian character area). The plan incorporates floor plan restrictions limiting full two-story homes to interior lots and requiring a 20-foot north side yard setback for Lot 53. Enhanced landscape buffers and single-loaded roads provide separation from existing homes.
  • Commissioners discussed the Via de Palmas access issue. Staff noted the traffic engineer recommended resident access (ingress and egress) rather than emergency-only access to provide an alternative route and reduce reliance on the Cooper Road entrance. The developer is required to improve Via de Palmas to full width along its frontage, and the traffic study estimated only 12 trips during peak hours via that route.
  • The application of the Southeast Chandler Area Plan was reviewed, with staff confirming the density and design meet the intent for infill parcels, focusing on larger setbacks and compatible architecture rather than the larger amenities typically found in master-planned communities from the 1990s.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Val Sereno: The Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning and preliminary development plan to the City Council. The motion included the revised stipulation requiring Lot 53 to provide a minimum 20-foot setback on the north side property line for all structures exceeding six feet in height.
• Announcements: A Planning and Zoning Commission retreat was announced for December 2, 2026. The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2026.