Maricopa city council approves rezoning for proposed surf park

Last month, the city’s planning and zoning commission approved the rezoning for the surf park.

Pew & Lake PLC, on behalf of PHX Surf LLC, requested the rezoning for the proposed surf and water park with restaurants, retail, on-site hospitality and an outdoor entertainment center at Monday’s meeting.

It was previously industrial zoning with a request to change it to planned area development.

This 71-acre property is located at the southwest corner of Smith-Enke Road, State Route 238 and North Loma Road.

The surf park will be at competition level and host international surf competitions.

There’s also surf lessons and recreational surfing opportunities for those who sign up in time slots to use the large pools

To the west, there’ll be villas or bungalows for hospitality rent on site with the possibility of a hotel. To the east/southeast, there’ll be an RV parking area.

In the southern area by the parking lot, there’ll be retail and a surf academy. In the northeast area, will be more recreation for all types of facilities such as a lazy river, pools and waterslides.

In the center, toward the north, there’ll be a concert venue with smaller-scale concerts.

Councilmember Rich Vitiello wanted to know what type of lighting will be used at the surf park.

City Manager Rick Horst reminded council Tuesday’s meeting was for zoning, but mentioned it would be direct lighting. Those types of details will be presented later on for review and approval.

Councilmember Henry Wade wondered why it’s named PHX instead of something related to Maricopa.

He was told it’s a regional approach. It’s currently under consideration to create a name associated with Maricopa.

Councilmember Vincent Manfredi brought up the concern of water usage for the surf park.

Global Water has provided a certificate of water assurance since they’re supplying water for the surf park.

They’ve collaborated with the applicant and determined they’re working with the need of about 150 acre feet of water. It’s about 1.5 times the amount seen in a residential subdivision.

However, it’s about less than half the amount of water used for similar acreage in agriculture.

Horst clarified Global Water doesn’t provide water for agriculture purposes, so this area won’t be affected.

They have a designated assured water supply of 22,914 acre-feet from the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Right now, the company is using about 8,000 acre-feet.

Global does not use a sophisticated groundwater model of the local aquifer projecting 100 years of pumping groundwater. However, groundwater will be used for the surf park.

Based on the project demand, net water would be supported by around 189 acre-feet per year.

There’ll be some reuse that reduced it from 0.83% of the designated assured water supply to 0.65%.

Global doesn’t see the park taking away from the rest of the city’s water abilities.

Later on in the meeting, Horst provided answers to a question Manfredi had.

According to initial economic studies, the surf park benefits include construction at $287 million, $95 mil a year to the city for shops, restaurants and more, 500 jobs during construction and 179 jobs after construction.