Eloy Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting – June 18, 2025

The Eloy Planning and Zoning Commission met on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. in the Eloy City Council Chambers. The meeting covered continuances, an annexation review, a conditional use permit, and two solar energy projects. The commission approved all action items, including the final two solar projects that together bring the city to within 121 acres of its 16% solar acreage cap.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of May 21, 2025, Meeting Minutes: The minutes were approved as amended to correct a date error on pages 2 and 3 (changed from December 18, 2024, to May 21, 2025). Motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sarah Curtis (City Council Member) – During the hearing on Item 6E (Sawtooth East Energy Center), asked staff about a set of landscaping plans in the packet that appeared unrelated to the solar project. Staff clarified the plans were part of the original Planned Area Development (PAD) and would be superseded by the solar facility’s landscaping requirements.
• Dan Schneider (Eloy resident) – During the same hearing, asked about the phasing of road improvements (paving/chip sealing) across the three Sawtooth solar parcels. The applicant responded that all three parcels are planned to be developed together, requiring simultaneous road construction.

Discussion Items

• Items 6A & 6B – Silverado RV Resort Continuances: The applicant requested continuances for a General Plan Amendment (GPA2025-002) and a Rezoning with PAD Overlay (RZPAD2025-001) from the June 18, 2025, meeting to the July 16, 2025, meeting. Both continuances were approved unanimously.
• Item 6C – Concast-Eloy Annexation (A2025-001): The city proposed annexing ~30.12 acres east of the northwest corner of W Adams Road and Guano Road. Staff noted the property is currently served by city water, and the annexation would bring in a concrete casting manufacturer (Concast) expected to create up to 100 jobs and additional property/sales tax revenue. The city, as applicant, is also planning to resurface Adams Road as part of the Sunland Gin paving project. The commission discussed the benefits but took no formal action (comments only).
• Item 6D – VG Arizona Trailers Conditional Use Permit (CUP2025-003): The applicant, Patrick Aiken of Light Engineering (representing owner Chloe Smith), requested a conditional use permit to allow retail sales of utility trailers at 1450 W Chambers Street, currently zoned I-2 General Industrial. The business had been operating under a temporary use permit for online sales with limited pickup, but local demand now requires on-site retail. The proposal includes a 40x80-foot pre-engineered steel building for assembly and repairs, with an outdoor display area. Staff supported the application. The commission voted unanimously to approve.
• Items 6E & 6F – Sawtooth East and Sawtooth Central Energy Centers: Court Rich of Rose Law Group presented on behalf of EDF Power Systems. The two projects, totaling ~629 acres (320 acres for East, 309 acres for Central), are located in an area previously designated for solar in the city’s zoning ordinance and are adjacent to already-approved solar developments. The projects would bring ~$60 million in tax revenue over their lifetime, including $17 million for schools, pave 13 miles of dirt roads, create hundreds of construction jobs, and provide community benefits (e.g., food bank donation, backpack program). Staff noted that approval of both projects would bring the city’s total solar acreage to 11,854.57 acres, exceeding the 11,744-acre cap by 121 acres (0.04% of city land). The cap can only be exceeded by City Council action. The commission discussed the overage but noted the projects fill a gap between existing solar sites. Public comments were limited to the questions noted above. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of both items.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: May 21, 2025, meeting minutes (as amended).
• Continued to July 16, 2025: Silverado RV Resort (GPA2025-002 and RZPAD2025-001).
• Recommendation to City Council (unanimous): VG Arizona Trailers Conditional Use Permit (CUP2025-003).
• Recommendation to City Council (unanimous): Sawtooth East Energy Center (RZPAD2007-016.A1) – amendment to Tierra Del Sol PAD to allow solar, utility-scale generation, and battery energy storage.
• Recommendation to City Council (unanimous): Sawtooth Central Energy Center (RZPAD2005-062.A1) – amendment to Eloy Acres PAD for the same uses, noting the 121-acre exceedance of the city’s solar acreage cap.
• No Action Taken: Concast-Eloy annexation (A2025-001) – commission provided comments only.
• Informational Updates: Commissioner Whitman reported outreach for the general plan update; staff announced upcoming events (Eloy Talks on June 21, 2025, and general plan workshops July 30–31 and August 2, 2025). Mayor noted City Council approval of the Exceptional Healthcare sign and Blue Beacon plat.