Commission recommends Surprise code updates to home-occupation rules

The Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 18 voted 6-0 to recommend approval of a zoning text amendment updating Surprise Municipal Code sections on home occupations, forwarding case FS250655 to mayor and council for consideration on Oct. 7.

Staff said the amendment is largely clerical and preparatory work tied to the forthcoming Desert Rural Overlay adopted as part of the general plan. Mindy (planning staff) told commissioners staff identified scrivener’s errors, incorrect references and minor cleanup items that are appropriate to correct now, with additional changes to be proposed later when the Desert Rural Overlay is formally presented.

Mindy said staff held a neighborhood outreach meeting Aug. 20 at City Hall that drew one in-person attendee and that staff received one email inquiry; she reported no opposition to the proposed text amendment. No members of the public spoke during the commission’s public hearing on the amendment.

Commissioners did not request substantive edits at the hearing. After a motion to recommend approval, the commission voted 6-0 in favor. Staff indicated the commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to mayor and council with a proposed council hearing on Oct. 7.

The zoning text amendment as described in the staff presentation is procedural: correcting references, fixing typographical errors and clarifying existing home-occupation provisions; the transcript does not detail the specific code sections amended beyond the staff slide notes. Staff said the item is intended to precede broader changes that will be proposed with the Desert Rural Overlay.