Council bolsters economic development

As the Maricopa City Council’s newest member, Peggy Chapados, pointed out, nine of the measures approved during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday directly impact the city’s economic development.

The council approved several measures that increase local business or will improve infrastructure.

Business measures included the approval of the site plan for the new Fast and Friendly Car wash.

Another car wash service, Maricopa Auto Spa, became permanent with the council’s approval of its amended site plan.

Two street improvement projects also moved forward.

The first project will move a gas main as part of widening Porter Road south of Honeycutt Road. The council voted to approve a facility relocation agreement with Southwest Gas Corporation for $30,220.

The second project will widen the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway between White and Parker and Porter roads. To get that started, the council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The council also approved a zoning change from general rural to general business for two plots of land within the Seven Ranches subdivision.

In a letter to Maricopa’s Planning and Zoning Commission about the change, Dick Dressel, consultant for Maricopa 30 LLC, said the owner hopes to develop the area into a future commercial center.