Maricopa council approves plan to place special-election question on November ballot to allow sale of large city land parcels

The Maricopa City Council voted June 20 to place a special-election question on the November 2023 ballot asking voters to authorize the sale of city-owned parcels whose value exceeds $1,500,000.

City Manager Horst told council members that Arizona Revised Statutes require voter approval for sales above that threshold, a rule he said has constrained the city’s ability to pursue public-private partnerships and to move quickly when developers express interest. “Private investment will not come unless investors have assurance that they can purchase, control at least portions of the property,” Horst said during the presentation.

The council’s action follows staff presentations on a proposed Maricopa Commerce Park south of the railroad tracks, a planning area that the city says could encompass roughly 1,262 acres (with about 230 acres the city has already purchased). Horst described a multistep strategy: complete a master development study (the city and a private partner have pledged $200,000), activate the industrial development authority, identify funding sources such as bonds or grants, and fund infrastructure — including roads, utilities and possibly a rail spur — to create shovel‑ready parcels.

Horst estimated master-plan work at about $200,000 and potential infrastructure costs in the $8 million range for the primary parcel discussed. He also presented example sale-price scenarios for the 230-acre parcel: selling at $2.50 per square foot could produce roughly $4.13 million in surplus after recouping acquisition and improvement costs; $3.00 per square foot could yield about $9 million; and $3.50 per square foot about $14 million. Horst told the council the city would not be required to sell every parcel at once and could approve piecemeal sales if the ballot measure passes.

Council members asked for clarifications during the discussion. Councilmember Gettle asked whether any authorization granted by voters would expire; Horst replied that the authorization applies only to the parcels the city places on the ballot and that future parcels would require additional voter approval unless state law changes. Councilmember Manfredi noted the council would be able to sell parcels incrementally rather than all at once and urged moving forward with the election rather than waiting for 2024.

The council discussed the estimated cost to run the election: staff estimated about $200,000 for a standalone municipal ballot question under county and state rules. Horst recommended that the city cover the ballot cost with an internal loan from the general fund to the project fund and repay it with interest.

Mayor Smith and several council members described economic development and job creation as primary goals of the measure. Councilmembers emphasized that the lands proposed for authorization do not include City-owned community facilities such as Copper Sky; a council member pointed out that the map presented did not include Copper Sky and said the proposal was limited to excess lands intended for economic development.

A motion to place the question on the November 2023 ballot was made by Councilmember Lierman and seconded by Councilmember Marsh. The council voted to approve the motion; the minutes record the motion carried without a roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

The ordinance and ballot language that staff will draft should specify which parcels are covered, the exact ballot question, and whether any conditions or minimum sale terms apply. If voters authorize the sales, the council will be able to proceed with master planning and marketing to private developers, and to sell parcels piecemeal subject to the ballot authorization.

Implementation steps discussed by staff included formalizing a master development agreement, pursuing infrastructure funding, and activating the city’s industrial development authority. The council directed staff to proceed with preparing the ballot item for the November election and to return with draft language and schedule details for formal action.

The council’s approval does not itself sell any land; it only asks voters to permit future sales of specified city parcels valued above $1.5 million.