[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6212391,"mediaKeyId","3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3","parentId",3685457,"title","City staff outline timeline to adopt 2024 International Building and Fire Codes","audioSeconds",531,"startMs",3847000,"endMs",4378000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3&start=3847&end=4378","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3/thumbnail_3847000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212391/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/City-staff-outline-timeline-to-adopt-2024-International-Building-and-Fire-Codes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212391-1b4de5d25cc855dc149202e94713cc49/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436880&Signature=iyjuEYIj3VPTkJlQsl5BNsSEcxLuXi8vggGlDo5AKvwquf2oxUY85rNecBMfN9MI3FcmBtEvKlDIDHtKFNzkM9Cw8vTD5MPJ2BzT5K6wv9fyL9HRjl3l8mwoqurxh0AD2cbCwsbZ9nkuKrgldbV02pU21V33QTA0RK1rw1J3JldQikzMPWKDht9kQ1pB~bwdOvYLDpsLS8NNk~KQmOFSFDnfRcm4Ou08K4-V02iXorIIrV8ceePByztVuJnJt3FX43Wdn9BLKjR0GTb5vQgg3DB1JuQSp-Vw8dAa~jHCcu3slkN2SaPeOwywXZcvmCTaNBLVuZCKlx5NYqJVFrgINA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","AZ / City of Surprise ","date","2025-06-05T00:00:00Z","article","City of Surprise Community Development staff presented an overview of the city’s planned adoption process for the 2024 International Codes (I-Codes), describing a staged public review, limited local amendments and a proposed timeline for Council adoption in December 2025.

Mindy Davis, Assistant Director with Community Development, introduced the presentation and identified key staff participants including Carl Montgomery, chief building official, and Keith Tanner, fire marshal for Surprise Fire-Medical. Davis said the city would move from the 2018 to the 2024 I-Codes using a six-year cycle that balances staying current with resource and cost considerations.

Davis said the city’s local amendment draft is relatively small—about 80 pages of local amendments out of roughly 4,718 pages of the base code—and that staff’s philosophy is to stay with the base code where possible. Examples of local amendments include regional best practices such as alternative energy compliance options (ResNET) and an exemption for replacement windows and like-for-like residential HVAC replacements from permit requirements based on customer feedback; staff noted such changes will align Surprise with neighboring jurisdictions.

Davis reviewed coordination with Maricopa County, other cities and industry stakeholders and said the draft will be posted for a minimum 60-day public review with web-based comment collection. Staff plans two public outreach meetings in September, a Council work session update in October, a commission update in November and a Council adoption item in December. Davis noted Buckeye and Chandler have adopted the 2024 I-Codes and several other Valley jurisdictions are in various adoption stages.

Davis said adopting updated I-Codes supports public safety, industry predictability and alignment with federal, state and county regulations. She reiterated that Arizona state law restricts local adoption in some areas—for example, state law prohibits requiring fire sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings—and that staff is working with the City Attorney’s Office on legal review of local amendments.

City staff invited commissioners to the outreach process and said meeting dates would be posted online once scheduled. No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational and staff will return with proposed local amendments for commission and Council consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Surprise City Planning and Zoning Commission - June 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Community Development staff described the City of Surprise’s plan to transition from the 2018 to the 2024 International Codes, proposing limited local amendments and a public review process leading to Council adoption in December 2025.","taxTitle","Surprise, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2566,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212396,"Surprise Center Development Company outlines 30-year vision and employment focus for City Center",1227,2346000,3573000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3&start=2346&end=3573","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3/thumbnail_2346000.jpg","/articles/6212396/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Surprise-Center-Development-Company-outlines-30-year-vision-and-employment-focus-for-City-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212396-5bd76d1c6e5ec264b5a9043b9caca8fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436880&Signature=SRH7gBiUXRvtDrbIto0H~p~Ar~vM3-rqO78~NxyBvqbMvcUrWDXkh8FEjem58Ah7MAXiQ1B4pgpaXVj3KvOJziJYoAq-5u9fI~W6PjznsQfIddIEg387nA-0Oh-sCEMtSgc-n4ecWweqAurxsOL6sy6RUlUN8p-KY2B2~mTfCiYr1Qbp1xmwTDsnIdw0iEwIxUhHKVGgZwbcUmCx1OCueZTvpPkk5U4QWwNog9AXzCBB5A88i0FeVDEdgphMPU2cgwJ812Yvn5uEa2mrB2zomp1Vwoh1QAuIpgNICtBnU2GNx427TD3RyHup4KfwmTq6Dp7KNmWAtZfz4mj53yOVMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scott Phillips of the Surprise Center Development Company updated the Planning and Zoning Commission on the City Center master plan process, saying the company is preparing a long-term (30-year) strategy that emphasizes preserving land for employment, attracting higher-wage jobs and coordinating infrastructure and education to support growth.

Phillips said the company has held mayoral business roundtables and is preparing to engage a consultant. He described a vision that protects about 160 acres for employment and allows for taller development along Civic Center Drive, with proposed 15-story height limits in certain areas to support dense corporate campuses. \"We are stewards of the property,\" Phillips said, adding that much of the West Valley’s future employment growth is still forthcoming.

Phillips outlined macro trends he said are reshaping the West Valley: a shift toward technology, higher-density employment, healthcare technology and significant investments tied to semiconductor and supply-chain projects. He cited examples including Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) and other large employers in the region and said Surprise Center is positioning its land inventory and marketing to capture portions of that growth.

He highlighted infrastructure needs—power, fiber, transportation and education/workforce development—and said the City Center team is coordinating with Ottawa University on workforce programs such as electrical engineering certificates. Phillips said power capacity is a key constraint and emphasized cooperation with utilities and regional partners.

Commissioners responded with support and suggestions. Commissioner Perry urged a focus on jobs paying in the $150,000–$300,000 range to improve local job opportunities and reduce commuting. Commissioner Keating suggested a destination attraction that puts Surprise on the map; he proposed an armed forces museum as an example of a distinctive draw. Commissioners expressed general support for intentional, employment-focused land preservation and for continued coordination with the city on recruitment and infrastructure.

Phillips said the master plan update will include public outreach, consultant engagement and continued coordination with the city; he invited feedback from the commission on employment types and community culture to guide the process. No formal action or vote was taken; the presentation was informational and will inform later master plan steps.","Representatives of the Surprise Center Development Company presented a master plan update emphasizing employment-focused land preservation, long-term intentionality, and the need for infrastructure including power, fiber and workforce development to support projected regional growth.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212401,"Commission approves Panda Express conditional use permit with double drive-through at Litchfield and Waddell",519,1770000,2289000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3&start=1770&end=2289","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3/thumbnail_1770000.jpg","/articles/6212401/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Commission-approves-Panda-Express-conditional-use-permit-with-double-drive-through-at-Litchfield-and-Waddell","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212401-b59c0fae839b69f6c844e92c67f70882/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436880&Signature=kdMq4lTeRI3xmGV2yEPiELC4ZUY72h05OLVpGfPIYRS0DKs6EZUxb5VmccR3iNVZft68xEUh3XbmsErA0-Cxem8bQvQwITPEVaMfC-r4ZZcqspy6eKF4KnXO3rOeCXuofJqf01EslRGJ4wYyCmFzY41-qyEqmFqf92k~e3bumDiL3h4jx2iROPyFLQxEr5m80F-uKllf1O6M4SpDSHz-45SkOSsTk5YRXsa0kG6W0CxzgJlCm25jC9FpsLgt68Cu9hw30oeE2ofJXbd3tqTF9GBkgFm9Cglhiu7hX9eox1vCdUbkZO7RINITpmTiwX0zFOf6dHrspfOyPb4-DV9vIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning and Zoning Commission on June 5 approved a conditional use permit (CUP) with site plan for a 2,700-square-foot Panda Express restaurant with a double drive-through lane at a site north of the northwest corner of Litchfield Road and Waddell Road (case FS24-1192).

Leslie, planning staff, said the parcel is inside the Sierra Verde employment PAD, that the drive-through queuing capacity is 12 vehicles and that 49 parking spaces are provided where 18 would be required for the building size. Staff reviewed the application under Title 17 and the PAD; staff recommended approval subject to stipulations A through E.

The applicant provided no separate presentation and staff said the architecture and materials match the master site plan for Litchfield Place. Transportation staff reviewed signage and a dashed ADA-compliant pedestrian pathway to the public way was shown on the plan. Leslie said the project held a neighborhood meeting on April 30 with no attendees and that the city had received no correspondence opposing the CUP.

Commissioners asked about site circulation. Vice Chair Chapman and others noted that the commerce center parcels rely on internal access drives and patrons would likely drive through adjacent lots to reach the Panda Express parcel. Leslie confirmed interior circulation would be used and that neighboring uses include Express Oil and a coffee shop. One commissioner said the location might generate more interior circulation than anticipated and expressed concern about congestion where access is shared.

Commissioner concerns focused on queuing and pedestrian crossings; staff said Transportation had reviewed signage for the drive-through crossing and that the landscape plan provides 26 percent landscaping, exceeding the 10 percent requirement. Commissioner concerns were also directed to potential added traffic from adjacent businesses and the 12-car queue for the double lane.

After discussion the commission voted to approve the CUP and site plan subject to staff stipulations A through E. The record shows “Motion passes with 6 votes in favor.” The project will proceed into standard building permit and construction review under the city’s development regulations.","The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit and site plan for a 2,700-square-foot Panda Express with a double drive-through and 12-car queue in the Litchfield Place Commerce Center, 49 parking spaces provided; commissioners raised concerns about interior circulation and queuing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212407,"Planning commissioners recommend Circle K rezone at 160th Street and Jomax to City Council",1509,254000,1763000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3&start=254&end=1763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685457-02f9e0e65b3ad3c2c2dc826f08cb80d3/thumbnail_254000.jpg","/articles/6212407/Surprise/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Planning-commissioners-recommend-Circle-K-rezone-at-160th-Street-and-Jomax-to-City-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212407-b8ddcdc61d3b8daf86d63f8f6d40b8b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436880&Signature=YAc5y292KLgfd3bgFCGrmuFK2H3ccbsQsD9ZMt00dyKcxPQCOZXW6bzIrryafRrfy20AXqN1ROJslOKP--eCnIJA55pd9n14HkvedbNF4IYtpyGCLBPuGHGAxbRhm2iupfpBqtpRLle-KEcYhY053fZkTd3PwoC12ApuB4CEvPBSfDZppOQ3tTwzV-G0OGjISOYbLUPr87SkiGcC-qta9RALC6ZuKq~6WLFok2fk2N1ZllTvrAma6ZwrdS8P8gnlAPUQYG8fKB0TnU9GeYQ1u5B~30Onhcevk4mBXSEOp6zcKmDOEcqbbv0IVnHHzJtgRYb1qTiOdwjvEztjfxWhcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 on June 5 to recommend that the City Council approve a rezoning of about 2.39 gross acres at the northeast corner of 160th Street and Jomax Road from rural residential (RR) to community commercial (C2) for a proposed Circle K convenience store and fuel station.

The rezone, case FS24-0762, would allow a Circle K with a 5,200-square-foot prototype building, above-ground storm retention and expanded landscape buffers along the arterial streets, staff and the applicant said. Leslie, a planning staff member, told the commission the proposal “meets the rezone requirements set forth in the LDO” and staff recommended approval subject to stipulations A and B.

The applicant's representative, Bridal Ray, speaking on behalf of Circle K Stores, said the site was appropriate for commercial use at the intersection of two arterials and described security and design measures. Ray said the company follows “CPTED principles, crime prevention through environmental design,” uses downward-directed site lighting and plans “somewhere between 20 and 25 cameras that will be, inside and outside on the periphery of the store.”

Several residents expressed opposition in written comment read into the record. A letter from resident Sherry Kisling said she and other homeowners moved north of Jomax for rural residential zoning and wrote, “We are a % against this project,” citing traffic, light pollution and safety concerns and asserting limited evacuation routes in the area.

Commissioner John Perry (first reference: Commissioner Perry) said he had “mixed feelings” and that his concern was not the applicant but the 24-hour nature of a gas-and-convenience operation. He asked about nighttime staffing and security; Ray said Circle K routinely surveys employees about safety, coordinates with local police, and provides camera access to law enforcement across the valley. Commissioner Keating noted the location will eventually be at the geographic center of Surprise and said existing rural residential zoning for nearby homeowners would not change; he urged that the site plan accommodate trucks with horse trailers.

Commissioners also discussed coordination with an ongoing CIP at the intersection. Ray said the developer will provide half-street improvements, right-of-way dedications and turn lanes, and that a shared future driveway is being provided to facilitate access to potential future commercial development north of the parcel.

After discussion the commission made a motion to recommend approval to City Council subject to stipulations A and B. The motion passed unanimously, with the record noting “Motion passes with 6 votes in favor.” The recommendation will be considered by the City Council as the next review step.

The planning staff noted a neighborhood meeting had been held on Oct. 29 with nine residents in attendance and that the conceptual site plan remains under city review. The commission did not modify staff stipulations during its recommendation.

The City Council will receive the commission’s recommendation at a future meeting; no City Council action occurred at this hearing.","The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend rezoning 2.39 acres at 160th Street and Jomax Road from rural residential to community commercial (C2) to allow a Circle K convenience store and fuel station, amid neighbors' safety and traffic concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff outline timeline to adopt 2024 International Building and Fire Codes

Surprise Center Development Company outlines 30-year vision and employment focus for City Center

Commission approves Panda Express conditional use permit with double drive-through at Litchfield and Waddell

Planning commissioners recommend Circle K rezone at 160th Street and Jomax to City Council