City Council Item Report

City of Surprise — City Council (2026-04-07)

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PRELIMINARY PLAT
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
1 Case:
FS20-823
2
3 Project Name:
Bonita Ranch – Preliminary Plat
4
5 Council District:
1 - Acacia
6
7 City Council Date:
October 19, 2021
8
9 Planner:
Robert H. Kuhfuss, AICP
10
11 Owner:
Sun Belt Land Investment Limited Partnership, et. al.
12
13 Applicant:
Atwell, LLC
14
15 Request:
Preliminary Plat for a 208-lot single-family residential subdivision in 
16
the Rancho Mercado PAD and RM-6 PUD zoning districts  
17
18 Site Location:
Generally located south of Jomax Road and west of 147th Avenue  
19
20 Site Size:
73.01 acres (approx.)
21
22 Gross Density:
2.85 DU/Ac.
23
24 General Plan Conformance:  The proposal is consistent with the Surprise General Plan 2035
25
26 Support/Opposition:  
None known
27
28 Findings:
29

The proposed Preliminary Plat is consistent with the Rancho Mercado PAD and the RM-6 
30
PUD (Bonita Ranch) zoning districts.
31

The proposed Preliminary Plat is consistent with applicable City of Surprise regulations.
32

The reviewing agencies have indicated no objections to the request.
33
34 Commission
35 Recommendation: 
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of case 
36
FS20-823 to the City Council, subject to stipulations ‘a’ through ‘d.’
37
38
39
40

October 19, 2021 City Council
Case: FS20-823 Bonita Ranch Preliminary Plat
Page 2 of 7
41 PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
42
43 Michael Park of Atwell, on behalf of Sun Belt Investments Limited Partnership et. al., seeks approval 
44 of a Preliminary Plat covering Rancho Mercado Parcels A23 and A24 (Rancho Mercado PAD), as well 
45 as Bonita Ranch Parcels A, B, and C (all zoned RM-6 PUD).  The applicant seeks to subdivide the subject 
46 property into 208 lots and 15 tracts, to be developed in two (2) phases.
47
48 SURROUNDING LAND ZONING:
49
50 The following map depicts the existing zoning of the subject site and its surrounds:
51
PAD (Rancho 
Mercado)
PAD (Rancho 
Mercado)
RR
RU-43
(County)
RL-5 PUD
(Saddlehorn)
PAD (Tierra 
Verde East)
RM-6
(Bonita Ranch)
PAD (Rancho 
Mercado)
Subject Site
Jomax Rd
Frontier
Frontier Rd
Rd
14
14
7th
th 
Av
Av
e
52
53 BACKGROUND:
54
55 July 11, 2006:  The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a request for a Development 
56 Master Plan (DMP) and associated Zone Change for the Rancho Mercado project in what was then 
57 unincorporated Maricopa County.
58
59 October 11, 2007:  The Surprise City Council approved the Rancho Mercado PAD under case PAD06-
60 276, Ordinance #2007-46.
61
62 November 10, 2007:  The City Council approved the annexation of the Rancho Mercado property 
63 under Ordinance # 2007-47.
64
65 December 8, 2010:  Staff approved a Minor Amendment to the Rancho Mercado PAD under FS10-
66 210.

October 19, 2021 City Council
Case: FS20-823 Bonita Ranch Preliminary Plat
Page 3 of 7
67 August 15, 2017:  The City Council approved the annexation of Bonita Ranch Parcel A under case 
68 FS17-107.
69
70 August 15, 2017:  The City Council approved the rezoning of Bonita Ranch Parcel A under case FS17-
71 108.
72
73 August 15, 2017:  The City Council approved the rezoning of Bonita Ranch Parcels B and C under case 
74 FS17-109.
75
76 October 8, 2020:  The applicant discussed the proposed development during a regularly scheduled 
77 Concept Review meeting under CR20-604.
78
79 December 28, 2020:  The applicant filed the subject request under FS20-823.
80
81 September 16, 2021:  The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the proposed 
82 Preliminary Plat (FS20-823) subject to staff-recommended stipulations ‘a’ through ‘d’.
83
84 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION:
85
86 The subject request includes two (2) parcels located within the Rancho Mercado PAD designated as 
87 single-family residential, as well as three (3) parcels that are zoned RM-6 PUD and are associated with 
88 Bonita Ranch.  The proposed lots will be 58’ in width and will range from 110’ to 115’ in depth.   There 
89 are a total of 208 lots over approximately 73 acres for a density of 2.85 DU/Ac.
90
91
92
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94
[Continued on following page]

October 19, 2021 City Council
Case: FS20-823 Bonita Ranch Preliminary Plat
Page 4 of 7
95
Rancho 
Mercado 
Parcel A24
Rancho 
Mercado 
Parcel A23
Bonita Ranch 
Parcel A
Bonita Ranch 
Parcel B
Bonita Ranch 
Parcel C
North
96
97 Phasing
98
99 The site will be developed in two (2) phases with the Rancho Mercado Parcel A24 comprising the 
100 second phase.  Rancho Mercado Parcel A23, together with Bonita Ranch Parcels A, B, and C will 
101 comprise the first phase.
102
103 Access
104
105 Access to Phase 1 will be via 147th Avenue on the east and via 148th Drive on the south. 148th Drive 
106 actually extends northward from Rancho Mercado Parcel A22, the Final Plat of which is scheduled for 
107 City Council on September 7, 2021 under case FS20-664.  148th Drive will also extend northward into 
108 Phase 2, as will 147th Drive, while the northernmost portion of Phase 2 will also take access from 147th 
109 Avenue. 
110
111 Open Space
112
113 The Rancho Mercado PAD, as well as the RM-6 PUD zoning associated with Bonita Ranch, each 
114 requires no less than 15% open space.  The applicant proposes between 18.7% and 32.5% open 
115 space, depending upon the parcel; however, overall, the applicant proposes 29.3%, consisting of 7.3 
116 acres of Active open space, 8.4 acres of Passive open space, and 4.8 acres Natural open space as 
117 depicted on Sheet 16 of the attached Preliminary Landscape Plans and captured below.
Comment [AL1]:  I think this may need 
updated to reflect the outcome of the 
meeting?

October 19, 2021 City Council
Case: FS20-823 Bonita Ranch Preliminary Plat
Page 5 of 7
118
119
120
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123
124 Amenities
125
126 Within the aforementioned open space, the applicant proposes three (3) pocket parks, several turf 
127 play areas, a nature overlook and butterfly garden, two (2) trail plazas, eight (8) seating nodes and a 
128 trail system consisting of 6’ internal concrete trail, 8’ regional concrete trail and 8’ DG trail.
129
130 Landscaping
131
132 The site will be well landscaped using a variety of drought-tolerant species appropriate for the desert.  
133 Areas that have been disturbed to accommodate drainage that are not being utilized for internal turf 
134 play areas will be revegetated using a Sonoran Desert wildflower and shrub seed mix.
135
136 Walls
137
138 Primary Theme Walls will consist of 6’ high smooth-face CMU panels with a split-face cap, punctuated 
139 by stone-veneer columns.  View walls will consist of 6’ high smooth-face CMU panels and split-face 
140 columns topped with wrought iron.  There will also be several segments of 4’ high split rail fencing 
141 providing visual interest.  The plan also calls for three (3) 8’ tall entry monuments to be located along 
142 the 147th Avenue frontage.  These entry monuments will be located within the Rancho Mercado 
143 parcels.  Section 3.a of the Rancho Mercado PAD which will allow the height of the entry features to 
144 be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and approved administratively if deemed appropriate. 
Active
7.23 AC
Passive
8.45 AC
Natural 
4.79 AC
Total
20.47 AC

October 19, 2021 City Council
Case: FS20-823 Bonita Ranch Preliminary Plat
Page 6 of 7
145 Utility and Services Table:  
146
Water:
City of Surprise.
Wastewater:
City of Surprise
School District:
Dysart Unified 
147
148 Conformance with Adopted Plans:
149
150 The Surprise General Plan 2035 shows the subject property as lying within the Neighborhood 
151 Character Area, which supports residential development of up to 8 DU/Ac or more.  
152
153 Reviewing Agencies: 
154
155 In addition to the standard city reviewing agencies, Maricopa County, Arizona Department of 
156 Transportation, Maricopa Water District, and Luke AFB were included in the routing of this request, 
157 who have indicated no objections to the request.
158
159 Summary:
160
161 The applicant seeks a Preliminary Plat across the subject property.  The proposed development is 
162 compatible with the neighboring land uses and the amenities included will provide recreational 
163 opportunities for the neighborhood residents.
164
165 Findings:
166
167

The proposed Preliminary Plat is consistent with the Rancho Mercado PAD and RM-6 PUD 
168
(Bonita Ranch) zoning districts.
169

The proposed Preliminary Plat is consistent with applicable City of Surprise regulations.
170

The reviewing agencies have indicated no objections to the request.
171
172 Commission Recommendation:
173
174 Based on the findings noted above, the Planning and Zoning Commission moved to recommend 
175 approval of the subject Preliminary Plat to the City Council, subject to stipulations ‘a’ through ‘d’ as 
176 outlined below:
177
178
a. Development and use of the site shall be consistent with the Preliminary Plat entitled 
179
“Preliminary Plat for Bonita Ranch”, prepared by Atwell and received July 29, 2021.
180
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b. Landscaping of the site shall be consistent with the Preliminary Landscape Plan entitled 
182
“Bonita Ranch Preliminary Landscape Submittal”, prepared by RVi Planning + Landscape 
183
Architecture and received July 29, 2021.
184

October 19, 2021 City Council
Case: FS20-823 Bonita Ranch Preliminary Plat
Page 7 of 7
185
c.
Prior to the City recording a final plat or approving a site plan or building permit within the 
186
property, the applicant shall provide the City with a Notice of Payment from William Lyon 
187
Homes, Inc., that the Happy Valley West (“HVW”) Buy-in Fee, the Happy Valley East (“HVE“) 
188
Buy-in Fee, the Sewer Buy-in Fee, and the Water Buy-in Fee, as applicable, all as described in 
189
the Rancho Mercado Supplemental Development Agreement (Regional Improvements 
190
Overlay Agreement), as amended, have been paid.
191
192
d. Non-compliance with the stipulations of approval of this case will be treated as a violation in 
193
accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the Surprise Unified Development Code.
194
195 Attachments:
196
197 01 Vicinity Map
198 02 Case Map
199 03 Preliminary Plat
200 04 Preliminary Landscape Plan