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And it's only the beginning. In fact, the development taking place now could be just the proverbial tip of the iceberg for the city.
It's estimated that between 4,000 and 4,500 new homes are now complete and occupied in Maricopa. According to city Planning Director Amy Habersboch-Arco, 26,976 additional housing units are already platted within the city's planning area with a possible 12,896 more units in the planning stage.
To prepare for the growth, the city is in the process of creating a General Plan that will serve as a living blueprint for Maricopa's future.
"The general plan is a comprehensive document that guides the long-term growth and development of the city," explains General Plan consultant David Williams. "It's a blueprint based on public input."
Citizen suggestions for the General Plan have been taken at a series of public meetings held earlier this year. Williams says that input is crucial to the creation of the plan, which will go through a six- to eight-month drafting and approval process before a targeted final adoption date of December 2005.
Economic development
In addition to the General Plan process, the city is working to encourage economic development to support the area's residential growth. By bringing in commercial and industrial development, city management hopes to prevent Maricopa from becoming just another "bedroom community," where residents commute outside the city limits for work.
"Economic development, in particular, will play a key role in building a sustainable city for the years and decades to come," says City Manager Rick Buss. "Last November, the City Council approved the addition of one of the nation's premiere economic development professionals to the city's team. By doing so, the City Council made a noble and prophetic investment in Maricopa's future."
That investment was in Ioanna Morfessis, one of the foremost experts in municipal economic development, whom the council brought on as a consultant. Since November, Morfessis has been working closely with staff to target commercial and industrial development that will be key components to Maricopa's future. The city also continues to enjoy the benefits of membership in the Greater Casa Grande Valley Economic Development Foundation.
Affordable housing
With new home prices rising at a thousand dollars or more a week, the city is also seeing a need to provide affordable housing. The average price of a new home in Maricopa today is just over $200,000. While there are currently no multihousing projects such as apartments or condominiums on the city's radar screen, the need is growing.
"Is there a need for high density?" says Habersboch-Arco. "Affordable homes? Absolutely. It is all about location. There is a need for both, but the location must coincide with the need.
"We need to require a range of densities in order to provide choices and meet wide-ranging personal needs of our community." | 
