The Apache Junction City Council unanimously approved Sundt Construction’s proposed manufacturing and training facility on July 15, 2025, following a work session the previous evening and recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The approval marks a significant step forward for what will become the largest industrial building in Apache Junction.
Previous Commission Approval
This approval follows the Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission’s unanimous recommendation on June 24, 2025. The commission had approved both a Major General Plan Amendment and rezoning request for the 36.6-acre development after holding two separate public hearings on June 10 and June 24, 2025.
Council Agenda Items
The city council addressed two separate but related agenda items on July 15. Item 18 covered Resolution No. 25-22 for the Major General Plan Amendment (Case P-25-10-GPA), changing the land use designation from Commercial to Light Industrial/Business Park and Industrial. Item 19 addressed Ordinance No. 1565 for the rezoning by planned development (Case P-25-11-PZ), changing the zoning from General Rural Low Density Single-Family Detached Residential (RS-GR) to Industrial by Planned Development.
Development Phases and Site Details
The project involves 36.6 total acres located at the northwest corner of S Cactus Road and E Auto Center Drive.
However, the initial development phase will occupy only nine acres on the northeast corner of the property. Sundt plans to construct an industrial building during this first phase, with size estimates ranging from approximately 65,000 to 66,000 gross square feet across planning documents.
The property sits strategically along the US-60 corridor. Industrial properties border the site to the west and south, including the Baseline Industrial Park and Western Industrial contractor’s office. To the east are vacant parcels owned by Horne Auto Company that are zoned for an expansion of the existing Horne Auto Complex located further east. Apache East Estates Manufactured Home Park sits southeast in unincorporated Pinal County. US Highway 60 forms the northern boundary.
Building Operations and Manufacturing
The facility will serve multiple functions for Sundt Construction’s nationwide operations. The building will house state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment for fabricating various industrial components. During the council meeting, attorney Brennan Ray provided specific examples of products that will be manufactured, including trestles with mechanical spools, pipes for water treatment skids, pipe support systems and pipe spools for Sundt’s construction efforts throughout Arizona and other locations.
The building design accommodates modern industrial needs with a 45-foot height limit, exceeding the standard 35-foot restriction through the planned development overlay. This increased clear height allows for equipment movement and efficient storage racking systems.
Office Space and Training Programs
The facility includes approximately 11,000 square feet of office space distributed between ground floor and second-floor mezzanine areas. Economic Development Director Ryan Kaup highlighted this as unusual for industrial buildings: “This is a particularly high office build-out within an industrial building, so there’s 10,000 square feet of office in a 65,000-square foot building. So typically, a building of this size would only have about 2,000 square feet.”
The office component will support extensive regional training programs. “They have mentioned with this office space, and this part is really cool, is that they will be doing some of the training for their Sundt employees throughout the whole region coming to Apache Junction,” Kaup explained. “Very similar to with WW Clyde, they’re doing a similar thing here. That office build-out will bring employees from throughout the region to come to this Apache Junction building to do some of their training.”
Future Development Plans
While the initial phase focuses on the nine-acre building site, Sundt has indicated plans for future expansion. The west side of the initial building was designed specifically for expansion, with removable tilt-up panels that would allow the building to grow westward.
General Plan Alignment and US-60 Corridor Development
Senior Planner Nick Leftwich emphasized how the project supports the city’s economic development goals along the US-60 corridor. “We need a lot more industrial land uses, we need a lot more employment land uses here in the city. And one of the general plan goals was to have those along the US-60 corridor, which facilitates transportation, it facilitates a lot of economic development,” Leftwich said.
Regarding employment, Leftwich confirmed that “Sundt has noted that they expect to provide around a hundred jobs.”
Economic Impact and Industrial Market Context
Economic Development Director Ryan Kaup provided crucial context about Apache Junction’s industrial market position compared to neighboring East Valley cities:
Industrial Inventory (East Valley Cities)
| City | Inventory (sq. ft) |
|---|---|
| Apache Junction | 500K |
| Queen Creek | 1.8M |
| Gilbert | 11M |
| Chandler | 30M |
| Tempe | 31M |
| Mesa | 41M |
Source: From council presentation using data from Moody’s (July 2025)
Kaup noted that Apache Junction’s industrial vacancy rate stands at 3.5%, well below the region-wide rate of over 10%, indicating strong demand for available industrial space.
Largest Industrial Buildings in Apache Junction
| Building (Address) | Square Footage | Date Built |
|---|---|---|
| Sundt | 65,000 | TBD |
| Empire Rental (3215 S Winchester Rd) | 55,000 | 2008 |
| WW Clyde (1353 S Vista Rd) | 38,000 | 2025 |
| KC Turbo (2954 W 4th Ave) | 25,000 | 2007 |
| Ikon Steel (3515 S Winchester Rd) | 23,000 | 1999 |
Source: From council presentation using data from CoStar (May 2025)
“This would be the largest industrial building in Apache Junction, and also, we have not had, until WW Clyde last month, a new industrial building in over 10 years,” Kaup said. “So this is some big momentum for us.”
Modern Industrial Jobs and Retail Support
Kaup addressed misconceptions about industrial work, explaining that modern industrial jobs differ significantly from traditional manufacturing. “There’s kind of an older preconception of these dirty, loud industrial environments. That’s not what the majority of all the new industrial jobs that are coming to the region are. These are clean jobs. They’re safe jobs. And the salaries that they bring, whether it’s industrial or office, pay a lot higher than retail jobs.”
He also explained how industrial development supports retail growth: “Projects like this give us the opportunity to bring the retail sooner because we have that disposable income with the type of jobs that these provide.”
Regarding job density, Kaup noted that office space typically generates about five jobs per 1,000 square feet, making the extensive office component particularly valuable for employment generation.
Public Input and Community Support
During both the work session and council meeting, community members expressed support for the project. Andre Meek was the only resident to speak during the public hearings, offering favorable comments about the development: “You look at this project, and to the east of it, you got the Ford dealer. To the west of it, you got CAT and Sunwest Rentals. Then further west, you got the U-Haul. I mean, it’s just a perfect fit for that area. And you know, we can use the employment. We can use the tax base. We can use everything that they’re offering.”
The project received unanimous approval from both the Planning and Zoning Commission (5-0 vote on June 24) and the City Council (7-0 votes on both the general plan amendment and rezoning on July 15).
Project Timeline and Development
With approvals complete, Sundt has suggested a possible late 2025 groundbreaking, though the timeline remains unconfirmed. The company will need to complete civil review processes, obtain construction permits, and finalize site preparation before construction can begin. The development represents a significant investment in Apache Junction’s economic future and positions the city as an emerging industrial center along the US-60 corridor.
