When the Town Council meets on Thursday this week it will consider what may be its most impactful decision since the town was incorporated.

Developer N-Shea Group, LLC, a Scottsdale company, is asking the council to approve land use entitlements to allow a large mixed use project along the Avenue of the Fountains in downtown Fountain Hills.

N-Shea Group has applications before the council for a minor General Plan amendment to increase the residential density. The proposed amendment would add 17 dwelling units per acre to the existing standards – from 28 to 45.

This would add one story, from three to four, to Phase I of the project with a building height maximum of 54 feet.

With council approval the developer could go forward with a project that includes more than 400 residential apartment units and more than 40,000 square feet of commercial space.

Phase I of development would have commercial space on the first floor fronting the Avenue with three stories of apartments above.

The first phase would stretch from either side of Verde River Drive to Town Hall on the west and about half way to Saguaro Boulevard to the east.

This initial development would include 230 residential units and 35,000 square feet of commercial within the total project.

Second decision

The second document the council is considering is a development agreement for the overall project. This agreement is a mechanism to allow for variations and waivers from the town’s existing development standards, ordinances and regulations.

According to the staff report from Interim Development Services Director Bob Rodgers, there are 16 items addressed by the agreement.

The proposal allows for the project concept plan to be reviewed and approved in three separate phases consistent with the development phasing.

Phase II calls for additional mixed use along the Avenue consisting of 72 additional apartment units and 8,000 square feet of commercial.

Phase II is a 102-unit apartment complex at Verde River Drive and Paul Nordin Parkway behind the Community Center.

The agreement would allow for the use of town-owned property for additional parking.

The developer is being asked to create an “art walk” behind the Community Center in lieu of the town’s public art requirement.

On-street parking will be used in calculating available parking for the project. The agreement also allows for a 20-percent reduction in the number of required parking spaces.

The proposal allows for a 10:1 ratio of residential to commercial square footage within the Town Center Commercial Zoning District.

The agreement caps the number of residential units at a total of 420 for the entire project.

The density increase is included within the agreement.

The developer will include streetscape improvements along the Avenue consistent with the north side of the Avenue.

They will also provide a “pocket park” on the south side of the Avenue.

Parking space dimensions are modified.

The number of loading zones has been decreased from 14 to just four.

There is the increased building height allowance to 54 feet, maximum.

There is a modification to the exterior building architectural offset requirements.

Free public Wi-Fi will be provided along the Avenue of the Fountains.

The agreement also allows for residential-only buildings within the Town Center Commercial Zoning District.

The plan also adopts a six year development schedule.

Re-platting lots

The final item for council consideration is a re-plat request for the parcel. This request would divide the existing two lots in the parcel into five lots approximately consistent with the phasing for the development.

There will be a public hearing related to the Minor General Plan Amendment before the council prior to consideration of that item.

The developer will bring a concept plan for the project before the council at a later date.

Bart Shea, president of N-Shea Group, has told The Times he has financing in place and is ready to move ahead with construction as soon as possible.

He also said that if he does not get council approval at this time he will withdraw from the plan to develop along the Avenue (see separate story).

The Town Council will meet Thursday, June 16, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.