A developer representative and local residents told the City Council on June 3 that unresolved drainage and long‑term water supply questions are constraining plans for a mobile‑home and single‑family housing project at Southern and Meridian.

Sean Lake, who said he represents the property owner Michael Thesman, told the council the owner entered a development agreement and a settlement agreement for the site and has worked to secure a home builder under contract. Lake said drainage at the site remains unsettled: "In that development agreement, there's 3,300 cfs. … We as a property owner [are] responsible for 761 cfs," and the city is responsible for the remainder, he said. Lake asked the city to meet with the owner and staff in the coming weeks and to consider an extension while those drainage and entitlement issues are resolved.

Mayor and staff comments at the meeting noted differing local water conditions. The mayor said the Apache Junction Water District has secured water that it can offer to a developer as a "100‑year water supply," while he contrasted that with neighboring Superior, which has limits on new homes because of groundwater rules. Those remarks reflect city officials' account at the meeting; the council did not adopt a final decision on the Southern & Meridian property during this session.

Separately, resident speakers raised statewide water policy concerns. Andre Meek cited House Bill 2753, recently signed by the governor, saying it "mandates that municipal water providers replenish 100% of the groundwater they use" and asked how a municipality would source fully reclaimed water without advanced treatment. Donna Carr also spoke against using treated wastewater for potable supply and raised concerns about Resolution Copper's groundwater use and a reported Tonto lease of land near Florence Junction for a solar project.

Council and staff set no formal timeline or vote in the meeting record; Lake said staff and the developer planned a meeting in the following weeks to try to resolve outstanding drainage and entitlement issues.