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Director: Attaway/Hunt Highway work moving forward; water and plats update
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Summary
The community development director told the commission Dec. 4 that recent council action advanced multiple final plats for Anthem Merrill Ranch, the town code was updated to conform with House Bill 2447, and progress continues on Attaway and Hunt Highway right-of-way acquisition. Pinal County is the lead agency for part of Hunt Highway; some construction is projected for mid-2026.
At the Dec. 4 Planning and Zoning meeting, the Florence community development director provided updates on infrastructure and development projects affecting the town’s growth corridors.
The director said seven final plats for the Anthem Merrill Ranch project (east of Felix) were approved by Town Council at a recent meeting, bringing to more than 30 the number of final plats reviewed and approved by staff for that project and supporting what the director described as build-out activity for roughly 1,300 homes in the area. He also reported that an ordinance amending town code chapter 150 to comply with House Bill 2447 was approved by council, and that staff will work to preserve public-engagement practices while implementing the new administrative-review provisions of the law.
On transportation and right-of-way work, the director said the Attaway and Hunt Highway project is advancing and is expected to appear on the Jan. 6 agenda for action to move it forward; he and staff anticipate physical construction could begin in early 2026 if contracting and mobilization proceed on schedule. Council approved acquisition of just under 19.5 acres of right-of-way for a portion of Hunt Highway from Arizona State Trust Lands, and the director said Pinal County will be the lead agency for a significant segment of that corridor. He cautioned residents about expected construction impacts and urged care in work zones.
Water supply remains a gating issue for commercial development in parts of town. The director said the town continues coordination with EPCOR and the development community as projects advance and noted pre-application activity for additional cellular coverage in the Felix corridor; brokers have been evaluating land for colocated facilities that would later be occupied by providers. The director characterized progress on water and utilities as ongoing and said timelines remain somewhat uncertain, citing developer-led design work on a water-reclamation facility and related water-campus plans.
The director closed by thanking staff and council, and by reiterating that the town will keep officials and the public informed as these projects move through contracting, permitting and construction stages.
