The community development director briefed the Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 4 about several townwide development and infrastructure items. The director said the town council recently approved final plats for Anthem Merrill Ranch, representing a substantial portion of planned homes in the East of Felix area, and that staff reviewed and recommended more than 30 plats involving roughly 1,300 homes.

The director reported the council enacted an ordinance amending Chapter 150 of the town code to align administrative-review procedures with House Bill 2447; staff will continue to emphasize public participation during administrative reviews. He also updated commissioners on the Attaway and Hunt Highway project, noting the project would be on the council agenda on Jan. 6, and—if approved—work could begin in February 2026 pending contracting and mobilization. The town is advancing a right-of-way acquisition for roughly 19.5 acres from Arizona State Lands for another Hunt Highway segment, with a mid-2026 construction timeline discussed.

The director said the town is engaged with EPCOR on water service and that progress is being made on Pulte Homes models and inspection schedules. He also noted pre-application discussions on additional cell-service facilities in the area and that brokers, not specific carriers, are currently evaluating potential locations.

Why it matters: These items affect the town’s capacity for growth, local roadway improvements and utility provisioning for large planned subdivisions. The director asked for patience as construction begins and urged residents to watch for traffic impacts near work zones.

Next steps: The Attaway/Hunt Highway project will return to council on Jan. 6 for consideration; right-of-way acquisition and contracting are the immediate follow-ups for road projects. Staff will continue to coordinate with EPCOR on water allocations and with developers on site-plan and permitting reviews.