Key Points
- Council reviewed a proposal April 7 for 129 individually owned, for-purchase townhomes near Old West Highway.
- Each unit includes a two-car garage.
- About 3.75 acres would convert from commercial to residential.
- The site has sat vacant for decades.
- Entrance location is unresolved — Acacia Road or Starr Road.
- Starr Road entrance would require a U-turn at Goldfield Road to head into town.
- Interior road width would narrow from 28 feet to 26 feet.
- Southern Avenue would be upgraded to a full arterial.
- Planning staff recommends approval.
- Public hearing and vote: Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
APACHE JUNCTION, AZ – Following a 4-3 Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation of approval last month, the Apache Junction City Council reviewed a proposal April 7 to build 129 individually owned townhomes on nearly eight acres near the corner of South Acacia Road and East Southern Avenue. The project, called Acacia by Diamante Homes, would bring individually owned, platted homes to a site that has sat vacant for decades. A public hearing and vote are scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
About the Project
The proposal calls for 129 townhomes, each with a two-car attached garage and a three-bedroom, two-bathroom layout. City planning staff described these as “individually platted, individual ownership homes for owner occupancy.”
The community would be gated and include on-site amenities such as a pool, clubhouse, pickleball court, a small park, and walkways and trail connections. The design draws on a traditional farmhouse aesthetic, described in project documents as recalling “the western character found throughout Apache Junction.” Three color schemes are proposed: red, green, and desert tan, with color used to distinguish neighborhoods within the development.
Commercial Land Being Converted to Residential
Approximately 3.75 acres of the property are currently designated “Commercial” under the city’s General Plan. Diamante Homes is requesting a minor General Plan Amendment to change that designation to “High Density Residential.”
Staff said the commercial corner has never been developed. They attributed this to significant topographical challenges on the site, including a wash running through the property. As a result, staff recommended converting the land to residential use, citing a lack of commercial interest.
The Site Plan Changed
The original plan placed the primary entrance on Acacia Road, with an emergency exit only on Southern Avenue. The commission recommended as part of its approval that the entrance be relocated to Starr Road, citing concerns about an unresolved easement on Acacia Road. At the April 7 session, Deputy Director of Development Services Sidney Urias noted that the applicant also sees a traffic advantage to the Starr Road configuration, as it would direct residents toward the US 60 freeway.
Earlier on the day of the April 7 council work session, the applicant submitted a new conceptual site plan showing the Starr Road entrance configuration. Urias told the council this graphic is still conceptual and under staff review.
Mayor Chip Wilson raised a concern about the Starr Road configuration. “That is going to cause some major problems,” he said, pointing specifically to the U-turn area near Goldfield, where residents heading northwest into town would have to turn around due to no cross-street connection at Old West Highway.
Urias confirmed that Public Works has not proposed a new median break at that location. Principal Planner Nick Leftwich said the final road design is still being worked out through the subdivision review process, with Public Works actively involved.
Urias told the council that both the original Acacia entrance plan and the new Starr Road plan will likely be presented at the April 21 public hearing. “If council prefers the original orientation,” he said, “the applicant would be open to that.”
Councilmember Darryl Cross said he would like to see a median crossover added so residents can travel northwest on Old West Highway when leaving the subdivision.
Road Width Reduction Requested
As part of the planned development overlay, Diamante Homes is requesting a reduction in the standard interior street width. City code requires a minimum of 28 feet for private interior roads. The applicant is asking to reduce that to 26 feet.
Staff said this road width is seen in similar developed projects. Both city staff and the local fire district reviewed the request and confirmed that emergency vehicles, including fire apparatus, can still navigate the narrower roads safely. Council approval is required for the deviation under the Apache Junction Zoning Ordinance.
Southern Avenue Will Be Upgraded
Public Works is requiring that Southern Avenue be built to a full arterial standard along the project’s frontage.
Bike Lane Question Addressed
Before the council session, a resident emailed Principal Planner Nick Leftwich asking whether bike lanes would be required along Acacia, Old West Highway, and Southern as part of the project.
Leftwich confirmed in a written response that Acacia is not part of the city’s Active Transportation Plan bike network. Southern Avenue, however, is designated for bike lanes in that plan. Leftwich noted that the half-street right-of-way dedicated along Southern is 50 feet, larger than the standard 33-foot half-street, providing enough room for the bike lanes. He told the resident the street improvements are being reviewed and designed through a coordinated subdivision process.
Neighborhood Input and Public Comments
Diamante Homes held a neighborhood meeting at Apache Junction High School on September 2, 2025. Five community members attended. Topics raised included the entrance location, water sourcing, utility easements, traffic, building timelines, construction dust, landscaping, and the price point of the homes.
City staff received two items of public correspondence ahead of the April 7 session: the bike lane email and a separate communication about stormwater concerns. On the stormwater issue, Leftwich said city engineers and the applicant’s engineers are actively working to address the challenges posed by the on-site wash and grade changes.
Staff Recommendation
Planning staff recommends approval, citing the project’s alignment with three General Plan goals: identifying infill opportunity sites, diversifying the city’s housing stock, and promoting development along the Old West Highway and US 60 corridors.
Public Hearing Set for April 21
The Apache Junction City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on this proposal at its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Both access configurations, the original Acacia Road entrance and the revised Starr Road entrance, are expected to be presented.
Also Covered in Our Planning and Zoning Commission Report
Our previous report on the March 24, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission hearing covers additional details not included here, including the rental question and commissioner statements on ownership, drainage and on-site retention design, the Acacia Road easement complication that contributed to the Starr Road recommendation, the right-of-way dedication requirement along Starr Road, the road width debate and its implications for on-street parking and HOA enforcement, the water supply discussion, and individual commissioner statements and voting positions.
