CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – In a strategic move to strengthen its position as Pinal County’s industrial hub, the Casa Grande City Council unanimously approved two major land use changes on December 16, 2024, with the larger rezoning encompassing 2,250 acres of prime industrial corridor land.
The larger amendment will transform property at the southeast corner of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Indian Valley Road from residential to manufacturing and industry zoning. The change represents a significant shift in the city’s development trajectory, increasing Casa Grande’s industrial-zoned land within city limits by 23.6% while reducing residential-zoned land by 5.6%.
The property’s location and existing infrastructure make it particularly attractive for industrial development. Situated within western Pinal County’s Arizona Innovation & Technology Corridor, the site has direct access to the Union Pacific Railroad and connects to major transportation routes including Interstate 8, Interstate 10, and the planned Interstate 11 corridor, which will run through the southwest corner of the property.
“This amendment will facilitate accommodating employment uses along key transportation corridors,” said Jaclyn Sarnowski, Casa Grande Senior Planner, during the council meeting. The site already has essential infrastructure in place, including natural gas, electric power, and rail service, with water and wastewater service to be provided by Global Water.
The rezoning request was submitted by Hilgartwilson, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Colliers Engineering & Design, on behalf of four property owners: Grand Valley Multi Family LLC, Grande Valley Single Family LLC, LKY 1138 Limited Partnership LLLP, and Vestar GVC LLC. The 2,250-acre property, which includes portions of the Grande Valley and Grande Valley North Planned Area Developments, is currently primarily undeveloped, with some agricultural use in its southwest corner. The site also contains the convergence of the Santa Cruz Wash and the North Branch of the Santa Cruz Wash, which run east/west through its southwest corner.
During the same meeting, the council also approved a second rezoning request for an 80-acre property at the southeast corner of Bianco Road and Clayton Road. The property, owned by Vernon Barnes, is currently agricultural land with single-family rural residential housing and lies within unincorporated Pinal County. Hilgartwilson, LLC submitted an annexation application to bring the property into Casa Grande city limits on May 24, 2024, as part of a larger 520-acre annexation. The rezoning from rural to industrial use is part of a broader plan to rezone approximately 280 acres to I-2 General Industrial zoning upon annexation.
The amendment process, mandated by Arizona state law, included multiple public hearings and a 60-day review period for government officials. The Planning and Zoning Commission held public hearings in both October and November before unanimously recommending approval to the City Council.
The City of Casa Grande has seen “tremendous interest in industrial development over the last several years,” according to planning documents. Before any development can begin on either property, owners must secure additional approvals, including zone changes and site plan reviews, which will require further public hearings and city review.
The changes support Casa Grande’s goal of strengthening its position as the industrial and commercial center of Pinal County, which is stated as one of the Guiding Principles in the city’s 2030 General Plan. Both properties are situated within western Pinal County’s Arizona Innovation & Technology Corridor, positioning them to take advantage of key transportation routes and existing infrastructure.
The rezoning reflects a significant change from 2006 when the larger parcel was originally zoned for mixed-use residential development. City officials noted that residential use was less suitable for the area given its proximity to railroad infrastructure and flood plain considerations.
