The city of Surprise gave the green light to a developer seeking to add hundreds of acres of housing to the city’s stock.
The project, which is tied to Phoenix-based real estate consulting firm Elliott D. Pollack & Company, won rezoning approval for a 422-acre site near Pinnacle Peak Road and 227th Avenue, the Phoenix Business Journal reported. The development, called Buena Vista Ranch, would span 371 acres with residential uses in varying densities.
The development agreement approved by the city calls for roadwork improvements the developer will be required to complete. The developer hasn’t been identified.
The development site is next to the Festival Ranch residential community. Pederson Group is developing a 100,000-square-foot retail complex called Festival Ranch Marketplace, anchored by a Safeway store, at Canyon Springs Boulevard and Sun Valley Parkway. Phoenix-based Pederson purchased the 15-acre site from Festival Ranch developer PulteGroup in May for $2.5 million. The retail addition is expected to open at the end of next year.
In order to keep up with growth and plug current housing shortage gaps, the City of Surprise must plan for nearly 13,700 new units over the next five years, per Housing Forecast.
The Buena Vista Ranch site is just south of the town of Wittmann, where residents have been fighting a $3.2 billion railway hub and logistics center slated for the community. BNSF Railway Company for years has been pursuing the development of the 4,200-acre site for its planned logistics and freight operations in the community, despite locals opposing the project. Late last year, Maricopa County denied the company’s rezoning request for an 800-acre piece of the property, though BNSF is continuing with work on the property, beginning with grading work on a 350-acre section earlier this year.
— Chris Malone Méndez
Read more
BNSF Railway amasses 56 more acres for controversial freight hub project in Wittmann
BNSF’s $3B logistics hub gets Surprise opposition
America has a housing shortage. These cities have homes sitting empty
