Protect Southeast Chandler's Neighborhood Character — Reconsider Vale Sereno
Petition to the Mayor and City Council of Chandler, Arizona

Re: Vale Sereno Development — Case PLH26-0021

We, the undersigned residents, property owners, and supporters of Southeast Chandler, ask the Chandler City Council to reconsider the proposed Vale Sereno development in its current form and carefully evaluate whether its density, design, and relationship to surrounding neighborhoods are consistent with the long-term vision established for Southeast Chandler.

We support responsible growth. Our concern is whether new development respects the character of the communities that already exist. 

These differences raise an important planning question: How should a substantially denser development transition into established, lower-density communities?

The 2026 General Plan and Southeast Chandler Area Plan
The Southeast Chandler Area Plan (SECAP), adopted in 1999, was created to guide development while preserving the area's agricultural heritage, rural character, open spaces, and distinctive residential environment.

Chandler's 2026 General Plan introduces an approach that allows certain developments within SECAP to use the average aggregate density of properties within a half-mile radius when evaluating density compliance.

This approach recognizes the challenges of developing smaller remaining parcels and the need for additional housing options.

However, residents are asking City Council to consider an equally important question:

Does satisfying an aggregate density calculation necessarily mean that an individual development is compatible with the neighborhoods immediately surrounding it?

The General Plan's flexibility should be considered alongside SECAP's longstanding emphasis on neighborhood character, appropriate transitions, landscaping, and design.

Infill Development and Neighborhood Compatibility
As Chandler continues to grow, development of remaining vacant parcels is inevitable.

But smaller infill parcels present unique planning challenges. Their size and location can make transitions, setbacks, and compatibility especially important.

Residents have expressed concerns about proposed lot sizes, two-story housing, privacy, landscape buffers, and the effect of additional traffic on Via de Palmas.

The developer and city staff have presented measures intended to address some of these concerns, including building-height restrictions and setback adjustments.

The question for City Council is whether those measures sufficiently address the differences between Vale Sereno and the surrounding neighborhoods.

What Residents Are Asking City Council to Consider
We respectfully request a thorough evaluation of:

Density and lot sizes: Whether the proposed development provides an appropriate transition to nearby lower-density neighborhoods.
Building heights and privacy: Whether single-story restrictions and additional setbacks are appropriate along shared neighborhood boundaries.
Landscape buffers: Whether permanent, enforceable landscape areas can better preserve privacy and the area's visual character.
Traffic and access: Whether the proposed access arrangements adequately address concerns involving Via de Palmas and surrounding roads.
SECAP compatibility: Whether the project reflects the broader planning principles established to preserve Southeast Chandler's distinctive environment.
Long-term precedent: How approval of this project could inform future decisions involving other remaining infill parcels.
Responsible Growth Requires More Than Meeting a Density Calculation
Southeast Chandler's established neighborhoods reflect decades of planning, investment, and community participation.

The 2026 General Plan provides flexibility for future development, while SECAP continues to express a vision for preserving the area's distinctive character.

Residents are asking City Council to consider both objectives carefully.

The central issue is not whether Southeast Chandler should grow, but how new development can be integrated thoughtfully into existing communities.

We ask the Chandler City Council to give substantial weight to neighborhood compatibility concerns and consider revisions to the Vale Sereno proposal before granting final approval.

Please add your signature to show your support for thoughtful planning, meaningful neighborhood input, and responsible growth in Southeast Chandler.

City Council Hearing: November 12, 2026

Case PLH26-0021 — Vale Sereno, proposed by K. Hovnanian Homes