A large chunk of desert land on the border of the cities of Surprise and Buckeye will be developed for a large residential development.
On June 17, Surprise City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to rezone 295 acres from rural residential to a combination of low-density and high-density near the northwest corner of 251st Avenue and Beardsley Road, clearing the way for "Surprise 295" on the far west end of city limits.
The project will divide those 295 acres between single-family homes and multifamily units. The vast majority is going toward single-family lot development. Approximately 272 acres are eyed for 945 single-family lots, while the remaining 23 acres will allow for 240 multifamily units, bringing 1,185 total homes planned for Surprise 295, according to project documents.
Scottsdale-based The Hampton Group is leading the development for Surprise 295. The firm, along with its affiliate company, Levine Builders, owns the land through the entity Old Westbury Land and Cattle Co. LLC, according to the Maricopa County Assessor's Office.
The Hampton Group has developed a handful of multifamily and retirement communities across Arizona. The bulk of The Hampton Group's completed projects are concentrated in the West Valley, where Surprise is located, according to its website.
The Hampton Group could not be immediately reached to comment.
Project documents show initial submittals were filed in 2022. A neighborhood outreach meeting was held in August 2023, with residents expressing concern over development standards, improving infrastructure and access to the development, according to a staff presentation before the vote.
Those issues appeared to have been ironed out between neighborhood engagement when Surprise 295 was heard and approved by the city's planning and zoning commission in May. No public comments were made addressing Surprise 295 at the June 17 city council meeting.
"We can talk about smart growth and where that really comes in is working with developers and zoning attorneys to make sure that the infrastructure is in place," said councilmember Nick Haney before taking action. "I can't believe how much a road costs these days, and it's only going to go up. So, the fact that you're bringing that infrastructure — I like that you're paying for it — and the fact you're addressing the needs of the community, I want to commend you for that."
Set about 22 miles northwest of Phoenix, 79% of Surprise residents are homeowners, according to Census data.
This area is primed for long-term housing development. By 2030, the Maricopa Association of Governments projects that one out of every seven homes built in the Phoenix metropolitan area will be built within the city of Buckeye, according to a 2024 report from the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.