6.2.3 Goals and Policies

Biological and natural resources within the Surprise Planning Area are enhanced and protected.

Protect and enhance the wash corridors and environs through a comprehensive management strategy.
Discourage mass grading of large parcels to prevent environmental damage.
Encourage the retention of washes with 100-year flows of 250 cfs and greater in their undisturbed condition.
Encourage new flood control projects to consider storm water recharge designs alternatives to channelization and to impermeable bank protection.
Preserve wildlife ecosystems and sensitive habitat areas.
Protect special status species and supporting habitats within Surprise, including species that are state or federally listed as endangered, threatened, or rare.

Natural scenic qualities within the city of Surprise are maintained.

Encourage nighttime lighting to be kept at a minimum to maintain dark skies.
Encourage the preservation of the scenic quality and vistas of all mountain ranges in the city.
Designate scenic routes and discourage development patterns that reduce scenic qualities.
Discourage industrial and commercial uses on slopes greater than 10 per cent and residential uses on slopes over 15 per cent unless the natural form of the hillside setting is reflected and visual and environmental impacts are minimized through appropriate planning and architectural design techniques.
Require establishment of development and design standards to ensure retention of ridgelines and prominent hillsides.

Risks of property damage and personal injury posed by geologic hazards are minimized.

Require geotechnical studies prior to development approval in geologic hazard areas.
Ensure that new development on hillsides is constructed to reduce erosion and other hazards.
Ensure vegetation of cut and fill slopes to control erosion.