Development on future Copper Sky hospital campus inches forward

Edited at 3:20 p.m., Feb. 20.

Maricopa is one step closer to seeing a medical campus rise near Copper Sky Regional Park, according to Rodolfo Lopez, development services director for the city.  

Lopez announced Thursday the department issued an at-risk grading permit for the initial phases of the S3 Biotech campus on the southeastern corner of John Wayne Parkway and Bowlin Road. The permit allows preparation of the site for a hospital component and medical offices on the 10-acre parcel.  

City Council previously approved rezoning the area for mixed-use in September, which would include condominiums and a hotel. Lopez said building permits for the hospital and medical offices are expected to be submitted within 3 months.  

Lopez said the greatest impact in the city’s economic development will be creating new jobs with a significantly shorter commute.  

“The biggest improvement will be the diversity of jobs,” Lopez said. “It will bring in options and bring in jobs, plus less traffic and less cars on SR347.”  

In September, S3 Biotech board member Ed Johnson said the campus could create an estimated 3,000 permanent medical jobs in the city after the project’s completion. A proposed innovation campus, located south of Copper Sky, was also approved for rezoning in September but an update was not provided.

The date for a groundbreaking ceremony has not been announced.  

View a drone video of the site below.