The Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission approved a rezoning request Monday that would allow commercial development along White and Parker Road in one of two rare contested votes that evening. The other measure failed.

The commission voted 5-1 to recommend changing a 5-acre parcel west of White and Parker at Blazen Trail and Seven Ranch Road from rural to commercial zoning. Commissioner Robert Klob cast the lone dissenting vote, citing the lack of a development plan and warning of potential long-term consequences.

“There’s no plan? We’re creating a specialized zoning piece in the middle of one of our prime arterial roads, and we don’t know what it will be,” Klob said in a four-minute back-and-forth with city staff before the vote. “Hopefully, it will be something good at some point, someday, down the road. I just have really strong reservations on what happens tomorrow.”

City planning staff acknowledged that there is no development proposal attached to the rezoning request, which was submitted by Mt. Pleasant, Mich.-based ETP Investments and represented by Pender Engineering of Cottonwood. The project narrative also confirmed that “no development will be taking place” in the foreseeable future.

In a report to the commission, city staff argued that the rezone request fits into an “overall trend” of mixed use in the Seven Ranches neighborhood, pointing to objectives that promote commercial and office development near major roads and within residential areas. However, asked if office or retail space may be developed there, staff said they didn’t know. They were similarly unsure when Commissioner Bill Robertson asked if Blazen Trail was paved.

“We are not against the statute on spot zoning here,” staff stated during the meeting, referring to concerns raised by Klob about “checkerboard” zoning patterns. When Klob asked whether the city would consider rezoning a larger block of surrounding land to ensure consistency, staff said no.

Klob cautioned that such isolated zoning changes often create problems down the line.

When cities approve rezoning requests arbitrarily, “it’s oftentimes a mess 15 or 20 years down the road,” he said.

City documents show the property lies within a FEMA-designated flood zone and would require significant drainage and infrastructure improvements prior to construction.

The public response was limited. Only one neighbor attended the required citizen participation meeting last month and expressed conditional support for the zone change, although he objected to road expansion plans affecting his own property.

City staff ultimately recommended approval, calling the rezoning a step toward future economic growth, even without a current plan in place.

The matter now moves to the city council for final consideration July 15.

An upscale custom-home community, two rental housing developments — Santi Village and Gunsmoke Ranch — five apartment buildings and a business plaza are some of the other developments slated for the Seven Ranches neighborhood, as well as a new elementary school.