2.1.2.c History of Growth Management
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Surprise has seen explosive population growth in the past decade. Infrastructure shortages and sprawling subdivisions were seen to overtax the environmental and aesthetic quality of the neighborhoods. With the rapid growth neither the infrastructure nor other public facilities were able to keep pace. As a result the city instituted a system of controls to set the pace for growth.
Milestones in the city’s growth management history include:
1987 Comprehensive Development Guide
Due in part to the inadequacy of existing planning guidelines, dated municipal ordinances, and constant development pressure, the then town of Surprise felt the absence of a general plan to guide orderly growth in the future. In October 1985 Surprise requested proposals from urban planning and design consulting firms to assist the city in the preparation of the Surprise Comprehensive Development Guide. The development guide included six subcomponent elements: land development, environmental design plan, open space and recreation, circulation plan, public facilities and services, and redevelopment plan elements. A zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, capital improvements program, and a public administration and management plan were to be prepared based on the 1987 Comprehensive Development Guide.
2020 General Plan
The 2020 General Plan was an update of the 1987 Surprise Comprehensive Development Guide. Due to the tremendous growth of Surprise and West Valley as well as new state law requirements, the City Council contracted with a team of consultants led by partners for Strategic Action, Inc. to update the Comprehensive Development Guide. The growth management philosophy included ensuring a well-balanced community, development master planning, economic development opportunities, providing mobility and transportation choices, and special planning areas.
Special Planning Areas
To effectively plan for the entire planning area, smaller regions were identified called the Special Planning Areas (SPAs). There are six SPAs that comprise the entire planning area and the boundaries for the SPAs were determined by analyzing current and projected development trends, land ownership boundaries, community needs, and physical delineation features. These areas were designated to ensure that land resources are utilized efficiently and that the community’s long-term development needs are addressed. The goal of each of the SPAs was to ensure a balanced mix of land uses, adequate support resources, proper ratio of people to jobs, and an efficient and effective multi-modal transportation network.
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