[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6557097,"mediaKeyId","3319995-b48f294df0933b3c855c5175c100c2b7","parentId",3319995,"title","Planning department reports administrative plats, Switchyard groundbreaking and introduces new senior planner","audioSeconds",186,"startMs",1478000,"endMs",1664000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319995-b48f294df0933b3c855c5175c100c2b7&start=1478&end=1664","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319995-b48f294df0933b3c855c5175c100c2b7/thumbnail_1478000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6557097/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Planning-department-reports-administrative-plats-Switchyard-groundbreaking-and-introduces-new-senior-planner","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557097-3496b9e804acd9a115fbcb22254b80a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136964&Signature=kSbmZNqK719zrvDGksjyZhXi66Wn~rqhCPVpigT04Ige09eVakJ1Qk56KIlQ2VayJgjfG7GzzQ~3otRRKPNtgo4li1ARbCBS9-7nYJ-xWXVXk0KEkQ5FuSB9rv8DffqeWGMC3A2FhZ~YSKa-aG54xcIIIMEx9cUAzyp2dGZtUPmn-msRzEdaGTKSiKRIPUpOcUkvShRxTh2hwqYEyXyWa83QF2WsVd5T~ZszZ1mZQg2lMdCkoBuBqWNQyfppkBhfVQeMxPE3FEP6SBARpc3kN~CSSQ7duVA1nxnvuafSEuNnE3scCh-qLi3eB2XTw35GiDpIPwLdzb05J3KbtDdCzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Queen Creek","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","Planning Manager Eric Swanson updated the commission on administrative items, and introduced the department's new senior planner, Zachary Wedeen, during the regular session.

Swanson said the Legato Estates partial preliminary plat for the southern portion of a parcel at Power and Ocotillo was reviewed administratively. He noted a groundbreaking for the Switchyard project occurred on the seventh and that the project is expected to move dirt soon. Single-family building permits for April totaled 119, which Swanson said is down about one-third from the same month last year. He described the month-over-month change as expected and pointed to an upcoming budget presentation to address any related concerns.

Swanson also announced a land-use law update seminar on Friday, June 6 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Phoenix) and said the town will pay for commissioners who wish to attend. He asked interested commissioners to contact staff to be signed up.

Swanson introduced Zachary Wedeen as the new senior planner. Wedeen said he interned with Eric in Chandler, worked four years for the city of Chandler, moved to the private sector with a multifamily developer, then worked as a site planner with the city of Phoenix before joining Queen Creek. He said he attended Arizona State University and is available to answer questions from commissioners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Queen Creek - Planning & Zoning Commission (CAPTIONS) - May 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning manager Eric Swanson summarized recent administrative approvals including a Legato Estates partial preliminary plat, the Switchyard groundbreaking, a drop in single-family permits for April and upcoming land-use training; the department also introduced new senior planner Zachary Wedeen.","taxTitle","Queen Creek, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2212,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6557102,"Queen Creek finance staff outlines $682.7 million tentative budget, infrastructure and staffing plans",928,1811000,2739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319995-b48f294df0933b3c855c5175c100c2b7&start=1811&end=2739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319995-b48f294df0933b3c855c5175c100c2b7/thumbnail_1811000.jpg","/articles/6557102/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Queen-Creek-finance-staff-outlines-6827-million-tentative-budget-infrastructure-and-staffing-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557102-b5fdf553c8b4a11763a12968446403a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136964&Signature=BQHPmknbHFp3hcfaTfhRFvHEGjkpqm01N9D0KaCyCTUVqC1ZLmVMy8rk5Up4NWD3ZKRdVOWRY7fp-lmM1jkg6CwdJs9~8AWzJTVjsEJDB--mInMefBUzqQRG~cpnihqC~1lLePg4mbPVB6oPbhhKxeNIBrHBgFqaEB0gxs616gJpIZNoPFcT7OjmQP4He8ePEE5H5j~ywxt-5V-ZnAkbcYj-LjctHwShQjkD6VvVS1Zqc0Y7hVLjh3tkh04o7BbQxAxLEKzP0hnLGsbsXj~MfrumoCyug3KC7fBFKsKIihozNNyIRXfdUljEcriCUC-fNLheuso94XhM9v0YJPPW0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Director Dan Olson of Queen Creek's finance department reviewed the town's tentative budget, projections and financing approach during the commission's work study session.

Olson said the tentative budget the town council adopted as a tentative figure last week is $682.7 million and that the town expects revenue growth to remain positive though to taper from past double-digit rates. He said the town is budgeting 37 new positions, 21 of which are public safety-related, and that more than half of the proposed capital program funds will be used for infrastructure such as roads, utilities and vertical construction.

Olson described population and revenue forecasting methods used by staff: projections driven by current zoning, known developments and annual \"dot maps\" that locate current and expected housing growth. Using those methods, staff projects the town will exceed 89,000 residents in the near term and uses a 2050 horizon for long-range build-out assumptions.

On revenue sources, Olson noted sales tax is the single largest component of operating revenue and pointed out that construction-related sales tax and state-shared revenues tied to population growth also contribute. He said the council has directed a 15% increase in water and wastewater rates, and that the town will communicate more details to residents in the near term.

To fund large infrastructure items, Olson said the town relies on a mix of debt issuances and restricted cash sources such as impact fees and construction-related sales tax. He explained that the town matches the timing of infrastructure costs to who benefits, often spreading costs over multiple years through debt so future users also contribute. Olson said the budget employs five-year projections to identify timing risks and one-time capital items that can be funded from savings (fund balance).

Olson highlighted key financial-management practices: budgeting from the town's strategic plan and master plans, running multi-year projections to assess sustainability, and maintaining operating reserves. He stated the town has an operating-reserve policy set at 25% of the next year's revenues.

Commissioners asked questions about the timing and sources of funding for long-term build-out; Olson replied the town will primarily use debt over the next decade and also rely on impact fees and construction sales tax. He said multi-family development has become a larger factor in recent years compared with the prior focus on single-family housing, and that the finance team and development services staff collaborate closely on population and revenue projections.

Olson encouraged commissioners to review budget materials posted on the town website and invited follow-up questions.","Deputy Finance Director Dan Olson reviewed the town's tentative $682.7 million budget, growth assumptions, infrastructure spending and staffing increases, and described financing approaches for continued build-out.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6557107,"Queen Creek planning commission approves Switchyard comprehensive sign plan with deviations",1115,307000,1422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319995-b48f294df0933b3c855c5175c100c2b7&start=307&end=1422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319995-b48f294df0933b3c855c5175c100c2b7/thumbnail_307000.jpg","/articles/6557107/Queen-Creek/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Queen-Creek-planning-commission-approves-Switchyard-comprehensive-sign-plan-with-deviations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557107-8dc4f8a50edb8140c3a806675e6dc4e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136964&Signature=e3oH30jj~~fPnb3CPdHxLzp-bDT3V~IRtbCiVU~smbbK3PDQLhBGAc2jjetB~Nhc8l73pGIYa~NnWoYeTRbbDWPx6rRfzPsBeQgZ2iOfaSe36IvEJP1Gn3Ft2yxq9N~QOy6WIHzaGwXzqExomomBOhyJbJa5iXxe95RKoZlc0Pok2lVagFd6viFM1P1b-8BhN5FoUB96GItFWEwgJhtjqYr6vHzWyr8GaY6d1UlD2pa4oGiyXIyt3Zyy9ooUAy-MAyf-uYjdZyArnKOw6XDrAIBivgi07v9JbSp0hCF-GQ3JctcWXfaHbTfER1vMeFr6TsVBnrs81Oj~OWe57OcDHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission approved a comprehensive sign program for the Switchyard development after a presentation and brief discussion during its regular session.

The vote, taken by voice, approved P25-0019, the Switchyard comprehensive sign plan. Les Johnson, the town's principal planner, presented the plan and described proposed sign types, sizes and requested deviations from the town's sign regulations. No roll-call vote with individual tallies was recorded in the transcript; the commission approved the motion by voice vote after a motion and a second and the chair calling for \"Aye.\"

Johnson told the commission the project site sits along Ellsworth Loop Road between Victoria Lane and Ocotillo Road and is approximately 11.7 acres. The plan covers signage for a mixed-use development with four commercial buildings (about 27,000 square feet of retail and 35,000 square feet of office) and three multifamily buildings totaling about 215 units, with a central parking structure and tuck-under garages.

Under the sign plan as presented, the development would include one double-sided multi-tenant monument sign at the main Ellsworth Loop Road entrance (proposed at about 9.5 feet tall), three large entry identity signs (about 7 feet 6 inches by 20 feet, roughly 82.85 square feet each) and a set of smaller pedestrian-scale wayfinding signs. The plan also shows tenant wall signage envelopes; staff said the largest envelope shown for a single building reaches up to 496 square feet, above the town's 250-square-foot per-building wall-sign cap.

Johnson said the sign plan requests deviations from the town's sign provisions: the monument sign slightly exceeds the eight-foot height cap in the code; the project entry signs exceed the local 48-square-foot limit for ID signs; and the total potential wall-sign envelope for a building exceeds the usual per-building limit. He described the larger wall-sign numbers as envelopes rather than a guarantee that any tenant will take the full amount, and said it is \"highly unlikely\" tenants would maximize those envelopes.

Staff said the applicant agreed to reduce sign area on a rear elevation of one building that backs onto multifamily units; in exchange the developer asked the town to allow limited integration of signage into planned public-art murals on that elevation. Johnson said staff is supportive of reduced rear-facing sign area and supportive of allowing limited signage within murals, subject to details and future review.

Commissioners asked about materials and nighttime appearance; Johnson noted halo lighting and mesh-like elements in the concepts and said a sign representative was present to elaborate. A commissioner also raised a practical concern that incorporating tenant names into murals could require mural changes if tenants leave; Johnson said the developer and the art team are considering options for periodic mural turnover to address that concern.

A project representative who identified himself as Steve thanked the commission and said he looked forward to the finished project. Following discussion, a commissioner moved to approve P25-0019 and another commissioner seconded; the chair called for the vote and the motion carried by voice vote.

The approval permits the specific deviations described in the plan as submitted; final sign permits and any exact tenant signage will be subject to subsequent permitting requirements and the conditions of the approved sign plan.","The Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Switchyard comprehensive sign program, granting deviations from the town's sign standards for monument, entry and tenant wall signage; staff described limits and an agreement to reduce some rear-facing sign area in exchange for public art.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning department reports administrative plats, Switchyard groundbreaking and introduces new senior planner

Queen Creek finance staff outlines $682.7 million tentative budget, infrastructure and staffing plans

Queen Creek planning commission approves Switchyard comprehensive sign plan with deviations