Gilbert’s Planning Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 8, 2026 to recommend approval of the Northside PAD amendment. The change would allow taller, denser apartments along SanTan Village Parkway between Williams Field and Ray roads. The Gilbert Town Council makes the final call on Nov. 17, 2026.
If you live or shop near SanTan Village, here is what changes
Right now, the tallest an apartment building can rise in this corridor is 36 feet — roughly three stories. The Northside PAD amendment would push that ceiling to 60 feet. That is closer to five or six stories, taller than most structures you see from SanTan Village Parkway today.
Density would jump too. Developers could fit up to 34 homes per acre instead of the current 22. On a single acre, that is 12 more front doors. Across a multi-acre site, that adds up to hundreds of additional units within walking distance of the shopping center.
More residents living that close to SanTan Village means more people walking to dinner or stopping into local shops on a weeknight. That is exactly what business owners like Erin Dragoo are counting on. Dragoo owns Lunch Money at SanTan Village and has said publicly she welcomes more neighbors.
If you rent near this corridor, additional supply could eventually give you more options. If you own nearby, more rooftops can support retail health — and that matters for property values. Construction activity along SanTan Village Parkway, Williams Field, and Ray roads will be part of the picture for years either way.
What the Northside PAD amendment would actually change: height, density, and location
The Northside PAD amendment applies to the Northside at SanTan Village development. That project runs along SanTan Village Parkway between Williams Field and Ray roads. It brings high-end retail, restaurant, and hotel uses to that stretch of Gilbert.
An aerial rendering of the Northside mixed-use development showing multi-story buildings alongside low-rise retail pavilions. The Northside PAD amendment would allow residential buildings here to reach 60 feet. (SanTan Development Group / Okland Capital)
The amendment sets two key numbers. Maximum building height rises from 36 feet to 60 feet. The density ceiling rises from 22 dwelling units per acre to 34. Both changes apply to residential buildings within the planned area development boundaries.
The Gilbert Planning Commission voted 7-0 on Oct. 8, 2026 to recommend the amendment. That unanimous result sends the proposal to the Town Council with a strong endorsement. But commission votes and council votes are separate decisions — and they do not always land the same way.
A 7-0 commission vote — but the council is a different story
A unanimous planning commission recommendation carries weight. It signals that no commissioner found a fundamental flaw in the proposal. But it does not predict a smooth council vote.
The pattern near SanTan Village makes that clear.
Consider Elevation SanTan, a project from Vedura Residential. It sought a PAD amendment near SanTan Village to raise height from 35 to 55 feet. It also sought to raise density from 22 to 36 dwelling units per acre. Those numbers sit close to what the Northside amendment proposes. The underlying tension is the same: how much residential density belongs next to a major commercial destination.
A rendering of a four-story multi-family residential building with desert landscaping — the building type the Northside PAD amendment would enable at up to 60 feet and 34 units per acre. (SanTan Development Group)
Then look at Aura San Tan. Gilbert Growth Properties LLC proposed 357 apartments across three buildings on 14.24 acres. The site sits at the southeast corner of Val Vista Drive and Pecos Road along Market Street. The developer had started with 366 units. It trimmed that count and added commercial space after early council pushback.
Even with those changes, the Gilbert Town Council approved Aura San Tan only 5-2. The developer had to expand office space again before the vote. Council members were worried about converting commercial land to housing. They made that concern stick.
That 5-2 vote is the documented risk sitting in front of the Northside amendment on Nov. 17. Council members with concerns about commercial land have shown they will demand changes before saying yes.
Gilbert’s economic development strategy: the policy engine behind the density push
The Northside PAD amendment aligns with Gilbert’s new economic development strategy. That strategy focuses on keeping more retail and dining spending inside town limits.
The logic is simple. Residents who live within walking distance of SanTan Village spend money there instead of driving to Chandler or Scottsdale. More rooftops near the shopping center mean more dollars staying in Gilbert. That argument gives the Northside amendment a policy foundation beyond any single developer’s request.
A rendering of an outdoor plaza at the Northside development showing evening activation with a live musician and string lights. More residents nearby is the economic argument behind the Northside PAD amendment. (SanTan Development Group)
Erin Dragoo, who owns Lunch Money at SanTan Village, put it plainly: more people living nearby means more potential customers. Her voice is part of the business-owner support that backers of the amendment will likely cite at the Nov. 17 hearing.
The Nov. 17 council vote: what to watch and when
The Gilbert Town Council is scheduled to vote on the Northside PAD amendment on Nov. 17, 2026. That vote is the final step before the zoning change takes effect.
Based on the Aura San Tan precedent, the likeliest flashpoint is familiar. Council members may ask whether adding apartments here comes at the expense of commercial or employment land. If they do, the applicant could face a choice like the one Gilbert Growth Properties LLC faced — revise the plan or accept a delay.
The unanimous planning commission recommendation makes outright rejection less likely. But a split council vote or a conditional approval requiring more commercial space remains a real possibility. Residents, renters, and business owners who care about the outcome should watch the Nov. 17 agenda. Gilbert posts its council agendas at the Town of Gilbert website ahead of each meeting.
The Northside development today, featuring its signature metal screen wall sign and paver walkways along SanTan Village Parkway. The PAD amendment would govern future residential buildings within this planned area. (InsideTheValley)
