The Coolidge City Council has unanimously approved the rezoning of a vacant corner at one of the city’s busiest intersections, paving the way for new shopping opportunities at West Coolidge Avenue and North Skousen Road. The 5.81-acre parcel, currently empty except for an archery range, will transform from Agricultural to General Business (C-2) zoning as part of the city’s broader plans for a new Regional Park.
Looking south-east from the corner of N. Skousen Rd and W. Coolidge Ave. where 5.1 acres are planned for commercial development.
The project represents a significant expansion of community facilities in Coolidge, with the commercial development being part of a larger 75-acre Regional Park site, of which 40 acres are currently under development. According to city documents, the commercial portion is intended for “low-intensity retail or service outlets which deal directly with the consumer.”
According to City Manager Gilbert Lopez, the high-traffic location makes it ideal for commercial development. While no specific businesses have been confirmed, Lopez suggested the site could potentially house businesses that would complement the park, with revenue from the commercial development flowing back into park improvements.
During the council meeting, traffic considerations emerged as a key discussion point. Council Member Tom Bagnall noted the significant traffic volume along Skousen and Coolidge Avenue, with council members discussing the potential need for traffic signals in the future, though no specific plans were confirmed.
The property is bordered by desert vegetation to the west, agricultural fields to the south, and the City of Coolidge’s waste-water treatment campus and the Central Arizona Vocation Institute of Technology (CAVIT) to the east. The Heartland Ranch Planned Area Development lies directly north across Coolidge Avenue.
While utilities run near the property, the site is not yet “shovel-ready.” During the council meeting, City Manager Lopez explained that while power lines run through the area and Arizona Water lines are reportedly adjacent to the property, the city is looking for developers to handle the infrastructure connections.
Rather than developing the infrastructure itself, the city plans to sell the land to developers who would then be responsible for connecting to city utilities, Arizona Water, Southwest Gas, and other necessary services. “We’re going to sell the land and then they can go through the plans of connecting it to the city utilities,” Lopez explained during the council meeting.
Lopez indicated that the city hopes to attract developers who are already active in Coolidge and have the resources to handle infrastructure development. “If a developer comes up and they’re already working on that, it would be better… a lot of times they have the resources if they’re building houses in town already,” Lopez stated, adding that they’re looking for “somebody that wants to help us as a city develop the park and develop that portion of it.”
The rezoning aligns with Coolidge’s General Plan 2035, which designates the area as Urban Neighborhood Land Use. Any proposed developments will require approval through the Major Site Plan process and potentially a Conditional Use Permit, with review by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Future development proposals will need to undergo additional approval processes before construction can begin.
