OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting – December 19, 2025

Planning and Zoning Commission — Friday, December 19, 2025
BodySurprise, Arizona
SessionPlanning and Zoning Commission
DateFriday, December 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:02:39

Transcript — Verbatim
1:57

Do you have one of these over there?

2:00

I'd like to call this uh to order this planning zoning commission meeting on this Thursday, December eighteenth, uh, two thousand twenty-five.

2:10

Could uh Renee Wee please have roll call.

2:15

Commissioner Perry.

2:16

Here.

2:17

Commissioner Holland.

2:18

Here.

2:18

Commissioner Leonard.

2:19

Here.

2:20

Chair Chapman.

2:21

Here.

2:21

Vice Chair Spada.

2:22

Here, Commissioner Bash.

2:23

Here.

2:24

We have a quorum.

2:25

Okay, thank you.

2:26

If you'd please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:30

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

2:39

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:47

Thank you.

3:06

And uh he's gonna be with us from now on.

3:10

Due to the promotion of Lloyd Abrams, I he's still gonna be a director for uh assistant, but he's been promoted to the assistant city manager.

3:23

And for those of you that uh have not read it, there's a great article about uh Director Abrams' biography in the local independent newspaper.

3:32

And Director Abrams is with a great wealth of knowledge and always the guy, uh the go-to guy, literally to answer any questions that we've had in the history or in the planning for the future.

3:47

We're gonna miss you and uh can count on your positive impact on our cities future.

3:53

Congratulations on your new assistant managing position.

3:57

I don't know if they but anyway, thank you for your service.

4:02

It's been been great.

4:13

Thank you, Chair Commission.

4:14

Uh, I just want to say it's an honor to be up here, and it's an it's an honor to be um promoted to acting assistant director for um the community development department.

4:24

We have some um good update presentations for you later tonight, but nothing additional at this moment.

4:29

Okay, thank you very much.

4:32

Okay, with that we have uh opportunity for those who would like to uh speak on a non-agenda item tonight.

4:41

We have a public hearing for that.

4:42

We'll open the public hearing.

4:44

Is there anyone, Renee, that we have that would like to speak?

4:46

No, Chair.

4:47

Okay, thank you.

4:48

We'll close the uh public hearing.

4:51

And we'll move to our consent section and uh item number one.

4:56

Consideration and action to approve or disapprove the November sixth, twenty twenty-five planning and zoning commission meeting minute.

5:03

Any discussion?

5:04

If not, I'll accept a motion.

5:07

I move to approve the November 6th, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting minutes.

5:14

I'll take it.

5:16

Second, any further discussion?

5:18

Then we'll go ahead and vote.

5:29

Motion passes with five votes in favor.

5:32

Okay, thank you.

5:33

We'll move on to item number two.

5:38

Consideration and action to approve or disapprove the December 4th planning and zoning commission meeting minutes.

5:45

Do we have any discussion?

5:47

If not, we'll accept a motion.

5:49

I move to approve the December 4th, 2025 planning and zoning commission regular meeting minutes.

5:53

Second, it's been moved and seconded.

5:55

Any further discussion?

5:57

See none, then we'll go ahead and vote.

6:10

Motion passes with four votes in favor.

6:13

Okay, thank you.

6:16

We'll move on to uh item number three.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety███████████████████████████████31%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████20%
Procedural█████████████13%
Zoning Regulations███████████11%
Economic Development███████████11%
Community Engagement██████6%
Personnel Matters███3%
Affordable Housing███3%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting – December 19, 2025

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on December 18, 2025, but the provided instruction specifies the date as December 19, 2025. This summary uses the instructed date.

The Planning and Zoning Commission convened on December 19, 2025, to approve consent items, consider a conditional use permit for a McDonald's drive-thru, and receive presentations on citywide transportation and community development activity. The meeting began with a recognition of Lloyd Abrams on his promotion to Assistant City Manager.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1 – Minutes of November 6, 2025: Approved with 5 votes in favor.
  • Item 2 – Minutes of December 4, 2025: Approved with 4 votes in favor.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public hearing for non-agenda items or during the public hearing for the McDonald's conditional use permit.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3 – Conditional Use Permit (CUP) with Site Plan for McDonald's at Sycamore Farms (Case FS 250515): The project proposes a 3,843-square-foot drive-thru restaurant on a 0.85-acre site located west of Cereval Avenue and south of Cactus Road. Staff reported that the site meets all applicable requirements, including 27 parking spaces (25 regular + 2 ADA) and drive-thru stacking distances exceeding minimums. An in-person neighborhood meeting on September 30, 2025, had one attendee with general questions. Staff recommended approval subject to stipulations A–E. The commission voted 6–0 to approve the CUP with those stipulations.
  • Item 4 – Fiscal Year 2025 Citywide Transportation Update: Eric Boyles, Transportation Director, presented an overview of ongoing and planned projects. Key statistics include over $100 million in roadway improvements under construction, over $100 million in design, and $7.5 million in signal projects. Completed projects: 163rd Avenue widening (US 60 to Happy Valley, first phase done), Cactus Road phases (Little Cactus completed August 2025, Big Cactus completed November 2025). Future designs: Cactus Road (175th Ave to Beardsley Canal), Happy Valley Road widening (163rd to eastern city limits), Waddell Road widening, and JoMax Road extension (with Peoria). Regional improvements: near-term upgrades at US 60/303 (e.g., additional turn lanes), a new interchange at 303 and 155th Avenue (planned for construction in 2028), and a full system interchange at 303/US 60 (construction targeted for 2033). Commissioner Perry asked about access points and possible rerouting of 163rd Avenue; Boyles noted that design details are still being developed and emphasized the city's goal to minimize impacts during construction.
  • Item 5 – Fiscal Year 2025 Community Development Department and Planning and Zoning Commission Activity: Tiffany, Mindy, and Trevor presented an overview of departmental operations. The PZC reviewed 65 cases (mostly site plans and final plats), approved 4 preliminary plats (~1,300 lots), and 29 final plats (914 lots). The department processed 2,711 residential permits, 305 commercial permits (over 1 million square feet), and 223 tenant improvement permits. Building plan reviews were 97.3% on time. Code enforcement opened 5,300 cases and closed 4,100. Major development projects highlighted include Sycamore Farms, City Center, Asante Trails, Prasada North, and multifamily communities. The department is also undertaking Project Utopia, a software replacement initiative, and has completed a general plan update.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes:
    • Consent minutes approved (November 6: 5–0; December 4: 4–0).
    • McDonald's conditional use permit approved (6–0) with stipulations.
  • Referrals/Next Steps:
    • Transportation staff will continue advancing design and construction of road projects, with many expected to begin in FY2027.
    • The community development department will proceed with external requirements gathering for Project Utopia and continue code enforcement and development review.
  • Recognition: The commission congratulated Lloyd Abrams (promotion to Assistant City Manager) and Trevor (new Assistant Director).

Meeting Transcript

Do you have one of these over there? I'd like to call this uh to order this planning zoning commission meeting on this Thursday, December eighteenth, uh, two thousand twenty-five. Could uh Renee Wee please have roll call. Commissioner Perry. Here. Commissioner Holland. Here. Commissioner Leonard. Here. Chair Chapman. Here. Vice Chair Spada. Here, Commissioner Bash. Here. We have a quorum. Okay, thank you. If you'd please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And uh he's gonna be with us from now on. Due to the promotion of Lloyd Abrams, I he's still gonna be a director for uh assistant, but he's been promoted to the assistant city manager. And for those of you that uh have not read it, there's a great article about uh Director Abrams' biography in the local independent newspaper. And Director Abrams is with a great wealth of knowledge and always the guy, uh the go-to guy, literally to answer any questions that we've had in the history or in the planning for the future. We're gonna miss you and uh can count on your positive impact on our cities future. Congratulations on your new assistant managing position. I don't know if they but anyway, thank you for your service. It's been been great. Thank you, Chair Commission. Uh, I just want to say it's an honor to be up here, and it's an it's an honor to be um promoted to acting assistant director for um the community development department. We have some um good update presentations for you later tonight, but nothing additional at this moment. Okay, thank you very much. Okay, with that we have uh opportunity for those who would like to uh speak on a non-agenda item tonight. We have a public hearing for that. We'll open the public hearing. Is there anyone, Renee, that we have that would like to speak? No, Chair. Okay, thank you. We'll close the uh public hearing. And we'll move to our consent section and uh item number one. Consideration and action to approve or disapprove the November sixth, twenty twenty-five planning and zoning commission meeting minute. Any discussion? If not, I'll accept a motion. I move to approve the November 6th, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting minutes. I'll take it. Second, any further discussion? Then we'll go ahead and vote. Motion passes with five votes in favor. Okay, thank you. We'll move on to item number two.

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