Maricopa planning commission approves rezoning to allow car wash at Honeycutt and Porter

The City of Maricopa Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 8 approved ZON25-05, a rezoning request to convert a property from CB2 (general business) to GC (general commercial) to allow a car wash on part of a 3.6‑acre parcel near the southwest corner of North Porter Road and West Honeycutt Road.

Lori Mason, of the planning division in development services, said the applicant Westwood Professional Services is acting on behalf of property owner Porter 20 LLC and that the application seeks entitlements only. Mason said about 1.25 acres of the parcel would be developed for the car wash, which the staff report lists as being under 5,000 square feet. Mason also gave the APN as "510.71.016 H," said the application proposes 32% open space, 32 trees and 211 shrubs, and that the applicant agreed to add sidewalk connectivity along West Honeycutt Road.

Commissioners framed their questions around scope and process. Commissioner Robertson reiterated that the commission's decision was limited to zoning, noting, "this rezone is required in order for the site plan to proceed," and staff confirmed the site could not be built under existing county zoning. Several commissioners, including Commissioner Club, raised traffic and circulation concerns and urged staff to negotiate access and buffering at the next design review stage. Club criticized piecemeal rezoning and told staff the site's preliminary flow pattern "scares the hell out of me," urging a closer look at ingress/egress and neighbor impacts.

Chairman Singleton and other commissioners requested that preliminary materials shown in the meeting be posted to the public records system (Legistar) so residents could review them; staff agreed to make preliminary drawings available. Mason noted prior outreach: a legal notice published Oct. 21, mailed notices, a neighborhood meeting attended by two members of the public and that the applicant had also published notices in the Maricopa Monitor.

Commissioner Robertson moved to approve the rezoning and Commissioner Yocom seconded. The chair called the vote and announced the motion passed. One commissioner voiced opposition on the record, but the formal outcome recorded by the chair was approval of ZON25-05.

The rezoning now proceeds to the next steps in the city's entitlement process; staff noted additional reviews (engineering, fire, building) and that future site‑plan and development review permits will address the detailed circulation, stormwater and other operational elements. The commission did not receive public testimony during the hearing.

The commission's formal action was recorded on the meeting minutes; staff will forward the matter to City Council where final approvals and any conditions will be considered.