Surprise council approves rezone for Pure Heart Church campus with stipulations

The Surprise City Council on May 19 approved Ordinance 2026-14, rezoning roughly 10.7 acres at the southeast corner of 163rd Avenue and Dynamite Boulevard from rural residential to community commercial to accommodate a planned Pure Heart Church campus and associated commercial uses.

Staff member Ms. Carney described the site and explained that the rezoning applies to the parcels within the city's neighborhood character area; the applicant submitted a conceptual campus plan and staff said the project will meet C2 (community commercial) standards. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval on May 7.

Applicant Adam Baugh told the council the campus would be built in phases and said much of the 40-acre ownership includes an undevelopable wash; he said commercial uses adjacent to the church help offset infrastructure costs such as required street improvements, a traffic signal and landscaping. Mark Hendricks, a project representative, detailed community programs the church runs, including school partnerships, resource centers and preschools.

Council members asked about zoning stipulations and enforcement. Baugh said —stipulation A— requires the development to match the project narrative submitted and —stipulation B— treats noncompliance as an ordinance violation. Council also questioned probable building heights, traffic mitigation and lighting; the applicant and staff said building heights would match what is allowed under current residential zoning, traffic improvements would be made along both streets, and lighting would be down-shielded per a photometric plan.

After discussion Councilman Haney moved and Councilmember seconded the motion to approve Ordinance 2026-14; the ordinance passed by voice vote.