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Residents press council on Project Bacara risks and ask for changes to home-occupation rules
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Summary
During public comment residents urged Surprise to oppose Project Bacara over air, water and health concerns and asked the council to revise home-occupation rules to allow licensed personal services (nail technicians) to operate from homes with restrictions; the mayor said the county has permitting authority but the city will monitor and share information.
Several residents used the Jan. 20 call to the public to press the Surprise City Council on local development and code issues, most prominently opposition to a proposed industrial project and requests to ease home-occupation restrictions for licensed personal-service professionals.
Roy Dunbar, speaking for a grassroots opposition coalition, asked the council to adopt a unanimous resolution opposing Project Bacara (also referenced in the meeting as Project Pekara in the transcript) and criticized what he described as city hesitancy to publicly oppose the proposal. Dunbar said residents expect the city to represent their interests on a project he described as a large industrial development.
Alexis Young, a nearby resident, urged the city to publicly fight the development, which she characterized as "a massive power plant with 18 gas powered combustion turbines" adjacent to homes. Young cited figures she attributed to the project's air-permit application ("89.9 tons of nitrogen oxides" and "nearly 200 tons of greenhouse gases annually" and "over 59,000,000 gallons of groundwater each year") and said the area is already in serious ozone nonattainment. These are claims she attributed to permit materials; the city's staff and mayor noted permitting decisions rest with Maricopa County and said the city will continue to monitor and provide information.
Lauren Donovan spoke about the home-occupation code that she said prevents licensed personal-service professionals, including nail technicians, from operating in residences despite state licensure and inspections. Donovan asked the council to reconsider the code and allow in-home services under controls such as one client at a time and no employees, noting that state boards regulate ventilation and safety for such practices.
Tim Jacarino urged the city to address local street maintenance in Coyote Lakes, saying the cul-de-sac where he lives has deteriorated and that scheduled resurfacing or street-cleaning vehicles have not serviced his area.
Mayor Sarter and staff responded that the city has limited jurisdiction over some aspects of the Bacara project because county approvals are required, but said staff is tracking the matter and will share materials publicly. Council asked staff to follow up on Donovan's ordinance concerns and the city manager offered to connect staff with the resident who raised the street-maintenance issue.
The meeting recorded these concerns in the public-comment portion and council did not take immediate policy action on Project Bacara, but members acknowledged residents' concerns and requested staff follow-ups where appropriate.
