At a Glance
- What: 16.3-acre commercial development with retail, contractor storage, and RV storage
- Where: North of US 60 and El Camino Viejo, 1.25 miles from Entrada del Oro
- Approved: Unanimous by Board of Supervisors on December 10; P&Z recommended 8-0 on October 22
- Opposition: 92 letters, primarily from Entrada del Oro residents
- Key stipulations: Eight-foot masonry walls, motion-only lighting after 9 p.m., hours limited to 5 a.m.–9 p.m.
- What’s next: Site plan review required before construction; no retail tenants signed yet
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a Gold Canyon commercial rezoning on December 10, transforming 16.3 acres of rural land into a commercial development with retail, contractor storage, and RV storage components. According to the applicant, the project would bring the first retail services within five miles of the Entrada del Oro subdivision. Residents expressed concerns about traffic safety and dark sky preservation.
Landowner David Good and agent Jason Sanks of Iplan Consulting sought the change from General Rural to C-3 General Commercial zoning. The site sits north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and El Camino Viejo. No retail tenants have signed on yet.
What Residents Can Expect
The project divides the property into three sections. The southern 4.78 acres along Highway 60 will host future retail establishments. The central 5.68 acres will contain ten screened contractor storage yards, approved with a Special Use Permit carrying 12 stipulations. The northern 5.47 acres will provide gated RV and boat storage.
Many Entrada del Oro and Gold Canyon residents face HOA restrictions on parking work vehicles and equipment at their homes. The applicant says these contractors currently lack nearby storage options.
“For 1,100 homes, they don’t even have a single bit of retail,” Sanks told the board. “This would be the first stop where they could go get something, anything, without having to drive five miles.”
According to applicant testimony, the nearest convenience options are a Maverick under construction and a Circle K near Kings Ranch Road, about five miles northwest. Heading east toward Superior, the next stop is 25 miles away.
Sanks noted major fuel brands have expressed interest. “I’m not used to getting Chevron and Mobil emailing me, but I’ve had brokers trying to get me to get Dave to talk to them about getting a fuel center,” he said.
Protecting Mountain Views
Supervisor Jeff Serdy pressed the applicant on protecting scenic Superstition Mountain views. “I sympathize with the residents. They don’t wanna drive by and look at an eyesore,” he said.
Commercial services will occupy the highway frontage while storage areas remain hidden behind eight-foot masonry walls. The retail portion serves as a visual buffer between Highway 60 and storage activities. Desert tree landscaping with irrigation will line the frontage.
The project includes decorative wall features at the storage entrance with Southwest murals and gabion wall accents. Drivers entering or exiting Entrada del Oro will see these features instead of plain industrial walls.
Traffic Safety Concerns
Brad Salyer, a 15-year Entrada del Oro resident, raised concerns about Highway 60 safety. “There have been several deaths at this location,” Salyer said. He worried about large commercial vehicles crossing the highway at night with poor visibility.
County Engineer Chris Wanamaker said the developer must provide a traffic impact analysis during site plan review. “Right now, a signal is not warranted,” Wanamaker said. Highway 60 carries about 18,000 vehicles daily; El Camino Viejo handles only 400 to 500.
“We do know that the signal will likely be needed at some point in the next few years as the Entrada del Oro does build out,” Wanamaker added.
The project requires a 75-foot half-street dedication along El Camino Viejo for future road improvements. The development will not have direct access to Highway 60. “ADOT does not want us punching a driveway through to the 60,” Sanks said.
The storage uses generate minimal traffic—Wanamaker estimated only 30 to 40 trips per day. The contractor yards are designed for storage only, not active work. However, retail traffic remains unknown until tenants are identified. “If it’s a gas station, it’s gonna generate a lot more traffic than if it’s an office type use,” Wanamaker said.
Dark Sky Protections
David Coward, representing Gold Canyon Community, Inc., spoke during public comment. Gold Canyon has a pending application for International Dark Sky Community status, he said.
The rezoning shifts the property from Lighting Zone 1 to Zone 3, which would normally permit brighter lighting. However, the approved SUP stipulations impose stricter controls.
“We’ve been really pleased with the attitude of the developer and the owner on this aspect,” Coward said. “They seem to be trying to be very good corporate citizens.”
The stipulations require motion-only lighting from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. in storage areas. Contractor operations are limited to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. All exterior lighting must be fully shielded and downward facing.
Opposition and Security
The county received 92 letters of opposition, primarily from Entrada del Oro residents. The subdivision sits approximately 1.25 miles northeast—the nearest residential community to the project.
The applicant’s outreach exceeded county requirements. They mailed 670 notices to every Entrada del Oro resident; the county only requires notifying property owners within 300 feet. About 55 residents attended a six-hour open house.
Mary Combs raised security concerns about RV storage facilities. Good, the property owner, said he has operated another storage facility in Apache Junction for 22 years without a theft. The facility will use secure access codes, security cameras, and motion-activated lighting.
Approval and Stipulations
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 8-0 on October 22. The Board of Supervisors followed with unanimous approval on December 10.
The Special Use Permit stipulations include the eight-foot masonry wall requirement, decorative entry features, and a prohibition against stacking materials above the wall height. All stored vehicles must maintain valid registration. The county can revoke the permit if violations occur.
Construction may begin with storage facilities. “It’s likely that the storage may come in first,” Sanks said. “And then the commercial. But they could come in tandem.”
