Gilbert’s long‑vacant corner at Higley and Ocotillo roads is finally getting a big tenant, and a big fight to go with it.
In a tight, split vote on Tuesday, Gilbert Town Council approved a rezoning that clears the way for a 128,660‑square‑foot Target at the southeast corner of the intersection. The decision capped months of public hearings, planning meetings and neighbor complaints, with residents pushing for smaller shops and restaurants instead of a big‑box retailer. Supporters pointed to jobs and development‑fee revenue, while opponents warned about traffic and the erosion of neighborhood character.
Council Vote And What Changed
As reported by the Phoenix Business Journal, council adopted an ordinance to rezone roughly 16.14 acres from Shopping Center to General Commercial to allow a Target‑anchored retail center. Town records show the action is spelled out in Ordinance No. 2984, with the findings and conditions of approval on file with the town.
The change in zoning is the key move that converts a long‑idle pad into a green light for big‑box retail, as long as the developer can clear the remaining technical hurdles.
Neighbors Push Back
Neighbors packed the hearing and told ABC15 they had hoped the site would finally land a grocer, coffee shops or small restaurants, not a national chain with a massive parking lot. Residents raised alarms about traffic, noise and safety, and pointed out the parcel has sat unused for more than 20 years. For many, that long wait was supposed to end with a neighborhood hub, not a retail destination that could pull cars from across town.
Developer Pitch And Planning History
Scottsdale‑based SimonCRE, the developer behind the project, and its attorneys told council the center fits with the existing retail pattern in the area and would deliver jobs and tax revenue to the town. They also reminded officials that the planning commission had already weighed in.
Earlier this year, the commission recommended approval on a 6–1 vote, according to SimonCRE. The developer’s project materials and the town’s planning files include the commission report, traffic analysis and preliminary site plans, all of which were part of the public record heading into the council showdown.
Money And Politics
The fight was not just about what kind of store lands at the corner. It was about money, too.
The East Valley Tribune reported that councilmembers spent time on estimates that rejecting the project could cost the town tens of millions of dollars in development fees over time. Those projections became a central talking point for supporters, who framed the vote as a test of whether Gilbert would walk away from a major revenue source for infrastructure and services.
What Comes Next
Now that the rezoning is in place, the developer still has to secure final site‑plan approvals, building permits and meet any conditions attached to Ordinance No. 2984 before construction can begin. Town planning documents, which detail the preliminary layout and parking configuration, will guide the next round of technical reviews. A construction timetable has not been released.
The narrow vote highlights an ongoing split on the council over how Gilbert grows and how much weight to give neighborhood character when big projects come calling. As the Target plan moves into the permitting phase, both neighbors and the developer are expected to stay active in follow‑up hearings and filings, keeping this corner of Higley and Ocotillo firmly in the local spotlight.
