May 15, 2006

MARICOPA - Somebody might want to show the Maricopa City Council a map of the city.

The council has approved the purchase of 10 acres west of Maricopa, not currently within the city limits, that will serve as the future home of City Hall. The site, known as the PEED property, is literally on the opposite side of town from what had originally been determined as the future City Hall site near Porter and Honeycutt roads. The city will initially purchase 10 acres at Rachel Road and Arizona 238 for $970,000, with an option for another 140 acres at $13,638,200 within a year.

Last March, the council approved a donation from developer El Dorado Holdings for 20 acres at Porter and Honeycutt. According to City Manager Rick Buss, the change of plans is due to a number of deed restrictions placed on the original agreement by El Dorado Holdings, including a controversial requirement to agree to maintain the property as a City Hall site for at least 50 years.

To the surprise of many, city officials have been searching for a new location for several months. However, discussions and details have been kept behind closed doors. City officials say they feared that once sellers found out the city was in the market, the price of their real estate would skyrocket. The real estate agent representing the property is City Councilman Steven Baker, who has recused himself from council discussion about the site.

Showing deep concern over the situation, Councilman Will Dunn scorned city officials for not looking harder.

"There's a ton of people out there that didn't even know we were looking. There could be other sites, but if nobody knows you're buying, they're not offering to sell," Dunn said. "I met with one of the top real estate brokers in town. He didn't even know we were looking at land. I wonder how many other people there are out there that may have the forty or fifty acres we need."

He also vented concerns about the size, location and cost of the property.

"Our whole city is going east. The bulk of everything is east and you've gone to the far western end and picked this property that's more than we need," Dunn said. "Our business is taking care of the public's money.... You're too excited, too desperate to jump, so you can have a piece of something.... You're making a mistake and doing a disservice to our voters."

Councilman Joe Estes defended the move, saying the city would have outgrown the original property in five years.

"I don't think anyone on the council is jumping into this because we're excited. This city is growing by five percent a month," Estes said. "The people, the employees, need to have a City Hall and the resources available that the community needs. We don't have a facility to provide those needs.... I think the time is now. Although this may not be the best location, right now it's the only location we have."

Mayor Kelly Anderson shared excitement about the location, saying Arizona 238, which bounds the property, could become the area's largest employment corridor, especially with the potential of the roadway someday connecting with Loop 303, which feeds the West Valley.

The council approved the purchase 5-1, with Dunn dissenting and Baker abstaining from the vote.

©Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. 2006