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Record of Proceedings

Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting – October 2, 2026

Planning and Zoning Commission — Friday, October 2, 2026
BodySurprise, Arizona
SessionPlanning and Zoning Commission
DateFriday, October 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 38:54

Original source
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

2:14

Commissioner Perry.

Speaker 2

2:15

Commissioner Perry has an excused absence.

Speaker 1

2:18

Commissioner Holland.

Speaker 2

2:19

Here.

Speaker 1

2:19

Commissioner Leonard.

Speaker 2

2:20

Here.

Speaker 1

2:21

Chair Chapman.

Speaker 2

2:22

Here.

Speaker 1

2:22

Vice Chair Spada.

2:23

Here.

2:24

Commissioner Everett.

2:25

Here.

2:26

Commissioner Bash.

2:27

Here.

2:27

We have a quorum.

Speaker 2

2:29

Okay, thank you.

2:29

Could you please join me in the pleasure of leaving?

Unassigned speaker

2:34

I

Speaker 2

2:34

pledge at least.

2:51

And uh Trevor, do we have uh

Unassigned speaker

2:56

any

Speaker 2

2:56

current events or reports to give tonight?

Speaker 3

2:59

Yes, thank you, Chair.

3:00

Uh uh assistant city manager would like to make an introduction.

Speaker 4

3:04

Good evening, Chair.

3:06

Commissioners, I'd like to introduce the new community development director, Mindy Davis.

3:11

She's been with the city for years in the role of assistant uh community development director.

3:16

She comes from us from Phoenix, where she has twenty-eight plus years of experience there.

3:23

Welcome.

Speaker 3

3:25

And then uh Trevor.

3:39

So we just finished that recruitment, so I'd like to introduce our new planner one, Aiden Murray.

3:44

He grew up in surprise and uh graduated from Shadow Ridge High School in 2023.

3:50

He just recently graduated from ASU um on an accelerated timeline with a bachelor's of science in planning uh just last month.

3:58

And while he was still completing his coursework at ASU, he interned with us for a year, uh, before accepting a full-time code enforcement position over the past few months.

4:09

Um, before getting this promotional opportunity to planner one.

4:13

So we're glad to have him.

4:15

Um, he's interested in sustainable planning practices and walking walkability.

4:20

So we're we're excited to have him on the team.

4:22

Welcome.

4:25

And

Speaker 2

4:25

do we have any other

Speaker 3

4:29

now, Chair?

4:29

Thank you.

4:36

Yes.

Speaker 2

4:39

Thank you.

4:44

Welcome.

4:45

Okay, we'll t move on down to our consent agenda before we have our presentation.

4:51

And uh we'll serve if you would like to.

Unassigned speaker

5:04

I

Speaker 5

5:04

still move

Speaker 2

5:05

second.

5:06

Are there any corrections?

5:08

If none, then please vote.

5:15

Okay, with that, then uh we have uh back to Trevor.

5:22

Uh you have a staff report tonight.

5:24

Is that correct?

Speaker 3

5:25

Sorry, Chair.

5:26

We have we have one more

Speaker 2

5:27

item for the for

Speaker 3

5:28

the calendar.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Transportation Safety████████████████16%
Affordable Housing██████████████14%
Procedural███████████11%
Zoning Regulations█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Economic Development████4%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting – October 2, 2026

The Planning and Zoning Commission met on October 2, 2026, to receive a comprehensive update on development activity, community development operations, and transportation improvements across the city. The meeting began with staff introductions and the approval of the 2027 meeting calendar.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission unanimously approved the consent agenda (motion carried with six votes in favor).
  • The commission unanimously approved the 2027 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting calendar (motion carried with six votes in favor).

Discussion Items

  • Staff Introductions: Assistant City Manager introduced new Community Development Director Mindy Davis (28+ years experience in Phoenix) and new Planner I Aiden Murray (a Surprise native, graduate of ASU, previously a code enforcement intern).
  • Development Activity Update: Trevor Fleetham and other staff presented an overview of planning and zoning activity, noting a decline in cases due to administrative approvals and market conditions. Key statistics for fiscal year 2026 included:
    • 4 preliminary plats approved covering 992 lots.
    • 38 final plats (26 residential, 12 commercial) with just under 1,500 platted lots.
    • Community Development generated approximately $15.9 million in revenue.
    • Building plan reviews: 14,039 completed with a 99% on-time rate.
    • Permits issued: 2,020 single-family, 27 multifamily, 180 condominium/townhome, 391 pool, and 255 commercial permits (573,000 sq ft, $65.6 million valuation).
    • 210 tenant improvement permits ($50.5 million valuation).
    • 44,533 building safety inspections (avg. 17 per inspector).
    • Code enforcement opened 6,234 cases, resolved 6,245, completed 15,810 inspections, removed 1,300 illegal signs, and a cleanup event collected nearly 10 tons of trash and 83 tires.
  • Transportation Improvements: Stephen Chang presented road projects by district, including completed, under construction, and planned roads, as well as new traffic signals. Notable projects: 163rd Avenue extension, Happy Valley Road bond project (60% design), and new signals at multiple intersections. Commissioner Holland raised a safety concern about visibility at Greenway and Saroval due to a fence on a well site; staff noted future road narrowing will improve sight lines. Commissioner Everett asked about making the presentation publicly available; staff confirmed it will be part of the meeting record on the city website.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval of the consent agenda.
  • Unanimous approval of the 2027 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting calendar.
  • No non-agenda public comments or future business items.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Commissioner Perry. Commissioner Perry has an excused absence. Commissioner Holland. Here. Commissioner Leonard. Here. Chair Chapman. Here. Vice Chair Spada. Here. Commissioner Everett. Here. Commissioner Bash. Here. We have a quorum. Okay, thank you. Could you please join me in the pleasure of leaving? I pledge at least. And uh Trevor, do we have uh any current events or reports to give tonight? Yes, thank you, Chair. Uh uh assistant city manager would like to make an introduction. Good evening, Chair. Commissioners, I'd like to introduce the new community development director, Mindy Davis. She's been with the city for years in the role of assistant uh community development director. She comes from us from Phoenix, where she has twenty-eight plus years of experience there. Welcome. And then uh Trevor. So we just finished that recruitment, so I'd like to introduce our new planner one, Aiden Murray. He grew up in surprise and uh graduated from Shadow Ridge High School in 2023. He just recently graduated from ASU um on an accelerated timeline with a bachelor's of science in planning uh just last month. And while he was still completing his coursework at ASU, he interned with us for a year, uh, before accepting a full-time code enforcement position over the past few months. Um, before getting this promotional opportunity to planner one. So we're glad to have him. Um, he's interested in sustainable planning practices and walking walkability. So we're we're excited to have him on the team. Welcome. And do we have any other now, Chair? Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Welcome. Okay, we'll t move on down to our consent agenda before we have our presentation. And uh we'll serve if you would like to. I still move

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