2.0 LAND USE ELEMENT
Note: Regional Commercial may be considered
for any commercial zone adjacent to the San
Tan Freeway.
Special Use Commercial
(FAR 0.23)
Special Use Commercial denotes where the
most intense types of commercial and highdensity residential development may take place.
Special commercial areas may include any
combination of retail, service, entertainment
and office development. These areas are
intended to develop as major retail and
entertainment service centers along the Paseo
System and create the feel of an "Urban
Village." Developments encompassing a variety
of uses are preferred over singular land uses, as
a means of maximizing the economic use of
limited land resources, and promoting a vibrant,
pedestrian oriented urban environment. Total
building area is typically 30,000 to 500,000
sq./ft. and the FAR is less than .23.
Commercial/Office/Business Park
(FAR 0.23)
Commercial! Office/ Business Park denotes
major, campus-like employment centers.
Permitted uses includes retail services, research
and
development
or
office/showroom
development. Design standards may be applied
to assure a consistent and high quality physical
product. This land use is typically located
adjacent to arterial roads and freeways. Typical
techniques such as screening landscape buffers,
separation of incompatible uses, lighting design,
and architectural standards may be used. Total
building area is typically 100,000 to 750,000
sq./ft. and the FAR is .23.
For the particular area bounded by Arizona
Avenue, Southern Pacific Railroad tracks,
Willis Road, and Appleby Road, public
assembly uses may also be permitted, in

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addition to the Commercial/Office/Business
Park uses outlined above.
Public Assembly Uses are those having the
potential for public assembly such as
religious, institutional, community, and
conference facilities as well as other uses in
a campus-like setting. Coordination between
developments, i.e. between public assembly
and Commercial/Office/Business Park uses,
will
be
encouraged
to
provide
shared/overflow parking and establish
interior collector streets between dissimilar
land uses. Typical techniques such as
screening, landscape buffers, separation of
incompatible uses, lighting design, and
architectural standards may be used. Total
building area is typically 30,000 to 500,000
sq./ft. and the FAR is less than .23.
Industrial Uses
The Land Use Plan identifies the Arizona
Avenue corridor as an area of high—
intensity industrial land use. Properties
directly adjacent to the Airport will attract
aerospace- related industrial development
that will be able to directly access the
airport.
Light Industrial
(FAR 0.32)
Light Industrial denotes uses for small
manufacturing,
warehousing
and
distribution, back office space and high tech
uses. Site and facility design should balance
function with aesthetics and amenities. The
FAR is less than .32.
Industrial
(FAR 0.32)
Industrial areas have been designated for
general industry, such as manufacturing,
distribution, warehousing, wholesaling, and

Chandler Airpark Area Plan

2.0 LAND USE ELEMENT
utility uses. This designation is appropriately
sited to eliminate potential negative impacts
upon other non-business uses, and therefore
promote a fairly permissive and supportive
industrially oriented environment. Site and
facility design will be primarily concerned with
function. The FAR is less than .32.
Commercial/Office/Business Park (Taxiway
Access)(FAR 0.32)
Commercial/Office/Business Park (Taxiway
Access) denotes designated areas for aviation
oriented office or light industrial uses that have
access to the airport taxiways. Campus-like
business parks with corporate offices,
commercial services, office park and high tech
users needing direct taxiway access are
appropriate uses. The FAR is greater than .23
and less than .32.
Note: Light Industrial and Commercial/
Office/Business Park with and without taxiway
access may be considered as interchangeable on
a case by case basis.
Aerospace Industry (FBO)
(FAR 0.32)
Aerospace Industry (FBO) denotes designated
areas for Fixed Based Operations (FBO)
aviation, and/or limited to uses that directly
support aviation, (e.g. require direct proximity
to the airfield). Aviation training, maintenance,
distribution, warehousing, refueling and similar
uses are appropriate. Use of these areas is
strictly controlled through direct public
ownership, or otherwise limited to the types of
uses listed. The FAR is less than .32.

areas have been established to anticipate
future development needs.
Public/Semi-Public Facilities
(FAR 0.15)
Public/Semi-Public
Facilities
denotes
existing or planned public use(s) such as
schools, community centers, government
facilities, libraries, hospitals, educational
campuses, airports and similar uses. Use of
these areas is strictly controlled through
direct public ownership, or otherwise limited
to the types of uses listed. The FAR is less
than .15.
Light Rail Corridor Overlay Planning Area
(12.1 to 18.0 DU/AC)
If, after a formal study, a light rail transit
corridor is found to be a feasible alternative
for the use of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Tracks, then a Light Rail Corridor Overlay
Planning Area would be implemented,
allowing mixed- use residential and
commercial developments. The commercial
FAR would be .23 to .32 with residential
densities of 12.1 to 18.0 dwelling units per
acre.
Parks and Open Space
Parks and Open Space depicts areas set
aside for non—development, either through
City, State or Federal ownership or by
designations in municipal General Plans.
Areas may be used for active and passive
recreation, formal parks, or may be natural
conservation areas.

Other Uses

Transitional Overlay Zone

The Chandler Airpark is host to various types of
public facilities and open space areas. These

Transitional areas have the potential for a
variety of commercial land uses based upon
compatibility with surrounding land uses.

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Chandler Airpark Area Plan

2.0 LAND USE ELEMENT
This land use allows the transition from
residential to commercial land uses as the
economics become favorable for the transition
to occur.

transitional techniques include landscaped
and open space buffers (such as parks and
retention basins) and separations such as
roads and canals.

Transitional areas must be transitioned from
rural residential to a compatible commercial use
according to the following guidelines:

Commercial and industrial areas should be
adequately buffered from residential areas
through open space and landscaping as well
as other design guidelines. Roads, freeways,
railroad tracks and canals also provide good
separation from non-residential land uses
when combined with appropriate setbacks.
Building heights should be graduated from
highest to lowest to conform with those
found on adjacent parcels. Colors and
materials should blend with the character of
the
surrounding
developments
and
neighborhoods. Non-residential buildings
should be designed to respect the scale, mass
and privacy of surrounding developments.
Architectural designs should apply to all four
sides of buildings and avoid unbroken
building facades and repetition.

• Industrial uses will only be permitted if all the
property owners in the contiguous transitional
area_ request rezoning to that zoning district.
• Property owners in any transitional area
request a rezoning of a minimum of 40
contiguous acres made up of whole
subdivision lots.
• All requests for rezoning are for a specific
proposed commercial project with committed
funding.
• The development site where the new zoning
occurs is adequately buffered so as not to
create a hazard or a nuisance to the adjacent
rural residential land use.
• Adequate infrastructure either exists or is
planned as part of the development design to
support the proposed use and traffic impacts
on residential uses are minimal.
• All properties proposed for rezoning are
adjacent to and border an arterial roadway, or
border a commercial property that is adjacent
to or borders an arterial roadway. This
guideline is intended to prevent fragmented
commercial development.
• Include the use of noise attenuation as
provided for in Appendix A of this report.
Buffering Requirements
All developments in the Airpark Area, both
existing and planned, should adhere to the
buffering requirements set forth in the City of
Chandler General Plan.
In residential areas, a transition from higher to
lower densities should occur gradually. Proper

2-14

Streetscapes should be pedestrian-friendly
and provide for attractive landscaping and
building setbacks. Wall and fence treatments
should include staggering and variety of
color to avoid a monotonous look. Streets
should be well lighted and provide easy-to—
read monumentation and street signs.
Phasing
Development within the Airpark Area
should be phased in response to market
demands and absorption rates according to a
logical and orderly extension of roadways,
public utilities, and other infrastructure.
Water, sewer, electricity, and other utility
improvements, when phased properly will
ensure the Airpark Area reaches full buildout
without creating leap-frog development or
increased infrastructure costs. Phasing
should ideally occur in a general northwest

Chandler Airpark Area Plan

2.0 LAND USE ELEMENT
to southeast direction with development
occurring first along the freeway corridor and
adjacent to the Airport.
Demand for development in the City of
Chandler is centered on residential and
neighborhood commercial. These land use
designation types will most likely be the first
land uses to reach buildout capacity. As
residential single family and multi-family
housing is completed, the community will be
able to support neighborhood and community
commercial services. As the Airport expands to
accommodate increased volumes of air traffic,
service improvements will accelerate the pace
of aerospace related industry within the vicinity
of the Airport. In addition this development is
likely to spur commercial and industrial growth
in the Airpark area. The completion of the San
Tan Freeway will also enhance the rate of
development adjacent to the freeway corridor.

• Key Participants — Assigns the elected or
appointed public body, agency, group,
individuals or volunteers principally
responsible to initiate the implementation
action.
· Resources - Lists the potential funding,
City staff, volunteer or other community
resources necessary to carry out the
implementation action.

2.5 Land Use Implementation Program
Table 2.3, Land Use Implementation Program,
identities the land use implementation measures
that the City should take to implement the goals
and policies of the Chandler Airpark Area Plan.
The implementation program lists the specific
implementation
measure,
the
purpose,
timeframe, key participants, project location
and the resources necessary to accomplish each
implementation measure.
Definitions:
• Implementation Measure — Lists the action
necessary to carry out the Land Use Plan
Element of the Chandler Airpark Area Plan.
• Purpose - Identifies the intent of
accomplishing that particular action.
• Timeframe — Establishes the target 5- year
priority within the 20-year planning horizon
for implementation of the A action.

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Chandler Airpark Area Plan