A controversial shopping center adjacent to Pinnacle High School has received the support of the Phoenix Planning Commission for approval. Final approval for three zoning changes still need to be received from the Phoenix City Council. The land, owned by the Arizona State Land Trust, will be anchored by a grocery store and include a mix of retail. If approved, the developer Vestar will then need to purchase the land at auction.
Black Mountain Village, the name of the proposed development, is a 20+ acre property at the southwest corner of Black Mountain Blvd. and Deer Valley Dr. Residents, both for and against, have sent hundreds of letters. Residents supporting the project agree with the developer in stating that it fills a hole of grocery stores servicing the area. Residents opposed fear that it will create not only traffic issues, but potential increase in accidents with the Pinnacle High School drivers.
The project was put on hold earlier this year when it received a continuance from the planning commission. The continuance was meant to allow time for the developer to work with the community in creating a plan that satisfied both sides. At the time, Vestar lawyer Stephen W. Anderson said it might be the end of the project, as Vestar wasn’t going to do the project if a suitable compromise couldn’t be found. After 10 months of work, the planning commission believes that compromise was found.
Residents appeared both in support and opposition of the project during a recent meeting, the majority of whom were mostly in support. Some who supported said they were initially opposed but were won over after concessions by Vestar. Concessions included scrapping plans for a gas station on the site, capping the largest retailer at 65,000 square feet and adding several pedestrian improvements Although, if approved, Vestar’s site plan shows the largest retailer, a proposed grocery store, would be 45,000 square feet. It also shows two other major retailers on either side of the grocery at 34,000 and 15,000 square feet, and six other buildings for shops or restaurants.
The nearest grocery store is Albertsons in Desert Ridge Marketplace, which is also owned by Vestar, two miles away. Many of the area’s residents stated that they avoid it because of how busy the shopping mall gets. The Albertsons mentioned is the second busiest in the state and services about 20,000 households in the area, whereas the typical grocer serves 8,000-10,000 households.
Pedestrian improvements include detached sidewalks along both Black Mountain and Mayo boulevards. Additionally, all pedestrian walkways in the project would be 75% shaded whereas anyone walking through the property now would be walking on dirt without a sidewalk. Vestar will also be funding a new traffic signal at the intersection of Black Mountain and Mayo boulevards, as well as aHAWK pedestrian crossing from the shopping center across Mayo Boulevard to the school. They have also agreed to work with the school district to provide crossing guards at both of those locations, and another at Black Mountain Boulevard and Deer Valley Drive.
