By Richard Smith | Independent Newsmedia
A majority of negative opinions from public commentary and a lengthy presentation by Mayor Sharon Wolcott in opposition to the Mattamy Homes project at Surprise Civic Center led into a divided city council denying the developer’s plat by a 4-3 margin June 6.
The three-hour-plus process with more than 20 public speakers going on the record and more sending in comments via email, appears to move the development of — in effect — downtown Surprise into limbo. Mayor Wolcott proposed a meeting between several council members, property owner Surprise Center Development Company, city staff, City Attorney Robert Wingo and three members of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
