Maricopa planning commission approves rezoning of 2.93 acres; Zeke's Pizza permit introduced

The City of Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 24 to rezone two parcels totaling 2.93 acres from Maricopa County General Business (CB2) to the city's Municipal General Commercial (GC) zoning district. The parcels are located roughly 300 feet east of the southeast corner of North Whiskers Road and West Honeycutt Road. The action followed a staff presentation and a public hearing with no members of the public addressing the commission.

Loree Mason, Development Services, presented the request and said the presentation would cover both the rezoning and a development review permit for one of the parcels. "I'm going to be presenting, 1 it's gonna be 1 presentation that will include both the rezone and the development review permit for 1 of the properties of the rezone," Mason said. Mason told commissioners the proposal conforms with the city's general plan objectives to promote commercial development near neighborhood nodes and arterials, to encourage neighborhood commercial uses adjacent to residential communities, and to transition preexisting county zoning to municipal districts that meet the general plan's goals. Staff recommended the commission forward a favorable recommendation as outlined in the staff report.

Mason described the development review permit (DRP) for a multi-tenant building on one of the parcels, approximately 0.99 acres in size. She said the proposed building is "just over 7,000 square feet" and that "Zeke's pizza itself will occupy, something close to 4,500 square feet of this building." Mason also noted the applicant, Soaring 8 LLC, submitted site plans, floor plans, landscape plans and elevations; and that shared access agreements with adjacent properties were secured in 2022 and 2023. She said preliminary landscape plans have been provided and that the DRP remains under review; the commission did not vote on the DRP at this meeting.

Commissioner Brehm moved to approve the zoning request (agenda item listed as Zoning 25-02 in the meeting), and Commissioner Thomas seconded. The motion carried unanimously. No public comments were offered during the public-hearing period for this case.

In other business, the commission approved the Dec. 23, 2024, meeting minutes (motion and second not identified on the record) and elected officers for 2025: Commissioner James Singleton was chosen as chair and Commissioner Alfonso Juarez as vice chair; both were elected unanimously. Staff member Rick told the commission there will be items on the agenda for March 10 and March 24.

The development review permit for the Zeke's Pizza site will return for formal action after staff completes review of the DRP materials and outstanding plan details. The commission adjourned following the evening's business.