The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has approved plans for a new build-to-rent residential development on a 17.64-acre parcel in the Johnson Ranch area of San Tan Valley. The project will transform the currently vacant land on the west side of Hunt Highway, just south of West Golf Club Drive from commercial to residential.
Key details of the approved plan include:
- Rezoning the land from CB1 (commercial) to MR (mixed residential) with a Planned Area Development overlay
- A mix of one-story and two-story rental units
- Three access points: a main entrance with a new traffic signal on Hunt Highway, a right-in/right-out access further north, and an emergency-only access on Johnson Ranch Boulevard
- A 78-foot landscape buffer on the southern edge of the property
- Centrally-located pool and clubhouse amenities
Local Residents Voice Concerns
Neighbors expressed several key objections to the project:
- Increased traffic on Hunt Highway
- Unwanted addition of traffic light
- Safety concerns regarding the emergency-only access on Johnson Ranch Boulevard
- Disappointment over the loss of potential commercial development
- Worries about the project’s fit with the existing neighborhood character
Some residents also questioned whether the build-to-rent model aligns with community preferences for owner-occupied housing.
Despite these concerns, the Board of Supervisors passed the ordinance by a 3-2 vote.
