Commercial Property Conversion Concerns
- A lot of commercial properties have been rezoned to high-density apartment complexes over recent years
- Goodman is working to slow down or stop the conversion of commercial properties to residential use
- While acknowledging the need for apartments, he believes the county is undermining its economic foundation by losing commercial space
Retail Leakage Problem
- San Tan Valley experiences significant retail leakage, with over a billion dollars that goes into Maricopa County
- The high retail leakage rate was identified through a study conducted four years ago
- This represents lost economic opportunity for the unincorporated San Tan Valley area
Insufficient Commercial Development
- The retail leakage study determined there was already inadequate commercial property in the area four years ago
- The county has been actively collaborating with the State Land Department to provide entitlements for commercial development
- Current commercial zoning and development has proven insufficient to serve the existing population
State Land Development Opportunities
- The State Land Department plans to sell significant portions of land in the San Tan Valley area
- State Land Department sees the advantage of mixed-use development including commercial and industrial components
Strategic Location Advantages
- Railroad infrastructure runs directly through state land, providing excellent transportation access
- Recent rezoning has occurred along the Poston Butte area, including farmland that Goodman himself previously farmed
- New entitlements have been granted to encourage retail and employment center development
Economic Development Imperative
- The area has sufficient population and workforce to support commercial development
- State land represents the primary opportunity for new commercial entitlements
- Goodman emphasizes that regardless of incorporation status, commercial development must proceed
- The goal is to create a complete community where residents can live, work, and play locally