City begins process of annexing 1,786 acres east of town

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The City of Maricopa has begun the process of annexing this land east of White & Parker Road. The parcel includes part of the University of Arizona's 2,100-acre Maricopa Agricultural Center, that conducts research on agricultural technology. [City of Maricopa]

Maricopa will grow by nearly three square miles if the City is successful in its efforts to annex 1,786 acres east of town.

On Tuesday, City Council unanimously passed a resolution to begin the annexation process for a large piece of unincorporated land bounded by White and Parker Road on the west, Honeycutt Road to the south and the Gila River Indian Community to the north.

The process is expected to take about six months, according to a timeline produced by City staff.

The land is owned by the Arizona Board of Regents, and will remain so if annexation is completed.

The site includes a portion of the University of Arizona’s Maricopa Agricultural Center, a 2,100-acre farm used by the university’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to conduct research on agricultural technology. Part of the UofA facility already lies within Maricopa city limits.

Annexation could open the door to a variety of development opportunities, including some tied to UofA, which has its main campus in Tucson and several satellite campuses around the state.

Through annexation, future residents will receive the benefits of a higher level of municipal services. Development would also be subject to municipal building codes, subdivision requirements and zoning ordinances. Additionally, residents in an annexed area get a voice in community affairs that affect them.

Likewise, the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council would have a voice in how the property is developed.

While the Board of Regents’ land is tax-exempt, development could generate tax revenue for the city.

There are no immediate plans for the site, and the City will undertake a feasibility study to determine the best uses for the land, City spokesman Quinn Konold said.

“The U.S. EDA (Economic Development Administration) has approved a grant to conduct a feasibility study to explore the possibility of expanding the UofA Maricopa Agricultural Center,” Konold said, adding that additional details on the study would be coming soon.

Konold said there is no cost to the city to annex the land. The 1,786 acres are not being considered part of the City Center development area, which lies south of the site.

The facility will continue to operate as a research farm, Konold said.

According to “A Guide for Annexation,” published by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns http://www.azleague.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/312, the annexation process can be completed in as little as two months. It provides the following chronology of events for annexation of property and deadlines for specific action:

Prepare map of area proposed for annexation. Careful review of the boundaries and the description is suggested to make sure it meets contiguity, size and shape requirements. No deadline.

Prepare a plan, policy or procedure to demonstrate how services and infrastructure are to be provided to anticipated development within the annexed area in the next 10 years. Deadline: Prior to the adoption of the final annexation ordinance.

If state land, other than state right-of-way or land held by the state by tax deed is included in the proposed annexation, prepare information required by state land department and request approval of state lands selection board and state land commissioner. No deadline.

Request from the county assessor’s office and the Arizona Department of Revenue the name and address of each owner and the assessed value of all property within the boundaries of the proposed annexation (both offices have a maximum of 30 days to respond). The request should include a letter and map of the area. DOR requests eight copies of the submittal. No deadline.

Waiting period: The city will file in the county recorder’s office a blank petition setting forth a description, an accurate map of all the exterior boundaries of the territory that is proposed for annexation and a sworn affidavit verifying that territory is not subject to an earlier filing for annexation. State lands selection board and state land commissioner approval will be filed if applicable. Send notice and copies of filings to Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and county assessor. Deadline: County holds blank petition for 30 days

City will advertise in local paper the area proposed to be annexed. Newspaper must be published or circulated in the city or town and the territory proposed to be annexed. Deadline: 15 days before the end of the waiting period

City receives value data from the county assessor and Department of Revenue. Six days prior to the public hearing, city must:

Post notice of the public hearing in at least three conspicuous public places in the territory proposed to be annexed

Provide notice by mail to chairman of county board of supervisors

Provide notice by mail to each owner of real and personal property within territory proposed to be annexed, include a proposed map.

City council has public hearing to discuss the annexation proposal. Deadline: within the last 10 days of the 30-day waiting period

Obtain signatures on annexation petitions, within one year of the last day of the waiting period

– One-half or more of the persons owning real and personal property that would be subject to taxation by the city in the event of annexation. (assessed valuation)

– More than one-half of the persons owning real and personal property that would be subject to taxation by the city in the event of annexation. (ownership)

Petition complete. Signed petition, copy filed with city clerk, with original filed in the office of the county recorder. Deadline: within one year of the last day of the waiting period

City posts public notice of special city council meeting for reading of annexation ordinance. Deadline: 24 hours before meeting

City council adopts annexation ordinance. (Time frame for this step depends on ordinance adoption procedure such as number of readings, optional public hearing, etc.)

Annexation protest/contest period ends and annexation becomes final. Deadline: 30 days after the adoption of the annexation ordinance

Clerk files copy of annexation ordinance with clerk of the board of supervisors. Deadline: 60 days after annexation ordinance becomes final