‘Village center’ concept would bring urban life to Maricopa
by Joey Chenoweth | Maricopa Monitor
Several examples of village centers were presented to the planning and zoning commission. via Joey Chenoweth/PinalCentral
As the city of Maricopa approaches its 15th birthday, there are still questions of what its identity should be. As of now, it’s seen as a bedroom community and known for its vast, affordable subdivisions. But could it become something else?
That was the question at the heart of a presentation during Monday’s planning and zoning commission meeting, which focused on the concept of a “village center.” This would be a high-intensity urban center somewhere in the city, with a minimum of 18 dwelling units per acre. This would be quite the departure for Maricopa, which currently has a norm of three to five units per acre.
According to city planner Ryan Wozniak, the purpose of such a place is to provide a more efficient use of land. By bringing buildings closer together and having less area specifically designed for parking, village centers have proven to have more return on investment for cities and businesses alike.
