The yellow lines on this map mark the boundaries for the 320 acres rezoned by the Surprise City Council at its Nov. 1 meeting. The tan portion of the map is nor low-density residential, the brown area is high-density residential and the red corner is now commercial. (MAP COURTESY CITY OF SURPRISE)
By Richard Smith | YourValley
The stipulation was more about peace of mind than practical purposes.
But a majority of the Surprise City Council wanted that assurance. So before approving several rezonings to a 320-acre property in the city’s far western end, they added the stipulation that a small portion of Trilby Wash in the development is protected from any development pursuant to city code.
With that, the council approved the rezoning of land from Deer Valley Road north to Pinnacle Peak Road, and from 227th Avenue west to 231st Avenue. Six council members voted in favor of the rezoning with Roland Winters voting no.
“This might not be developed for another five or six years, and people forget, or we’re all gone,” Mayor Skip Hall said. “I think it would be good to put it in the language somehow.”
Councilor Chris Judd originally brought up the concern about the wildlife corridor, saying there was no way he can support the rezoning unless this portion of the wildlife corridor is protected.
Councilor Aly Cline said adding the stipulation was worth it, while Councilor Jack Hastings argued the city was creating more work for itself.
“I believe under our current code, what this is being rezoned under, it is going to protect that wash and not allow development in it,” City Attorney Robert Wingo said.
