Planning and Zoning Commission recommends rezoning of 295‑acre Surprise site, requires R‑3 develop only with or after R‑1

The Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6‑0 to recommend that City Council approve a rezoning of roughly 295 acres from Rural Residential (RR) to Residential Low Density (R‑1) and Residential High Density (R‑3) for the area generally bounded by the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Canal to the north, the future 250 First Avenue alignment to the east, Beardsley Road to the south and the City of Buckeye to the west (case FS230350).

The recommendation matters because the site will require major off‑site infrastructure and will change the allowed housing types on a large, currently rural parcel; commissioners pressed for limits to ensure higher‑density housing does not appear in isolation before basic roads and utilities are in place.

Staff member Chris presented the rezoning request and noted the general plan designates the area as "neighborhood." The staff presentation described a conceptual layout with two required points of access (primary access from the future 250 First Avenue alignment)…