MARICOPA, AZ – A 2.1-acre site near West Bowlin Road and North Maya Angelou Drive is one step closer to development after Maricopa’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a rezone on Feb. 9, 2026. The Bowlin and Maya Angelou rezone converts two vacant parcels from the county’s Transitional zoning district to the city’s General Mixed-Use district. The site is adjacent to the City Center Complex and surrounded by a mix of civic, commercial and vacant land.
What the Rezone Means for the Area
The two parcels — known as Lots 4E and 4F of the Maricopa City Complex — are along Bowlin Road, south of City Hall, the Maricopa Library and Cultural Center, and the Maricopa Police Station. A proposed city park with family amenities is planned to the east. Nearby residential communities include Ironwood Ranch, a multifamily development, and Desert Passage, an existing single-family neighborhood. Both are roughly a tenth of a mile from the site.
The new General Mixed-Use zoning permits retail, personal and business services, public and institutional uses, and residential development. However, no site plan has been submitted. The property owner, ETP Investments LLC, has not announced specific plans for the land.
Commissioner Reactions to the Bowlin Road Rezone
Commissioner Robert Klob supported the rezone. “I think this is a great first step in getting this site developed,” he said. “I’m really excited to see this change and evolve into hopefully a nice — some type of shopping or entertainment or restaurants or whatever this area is to become.”
Commissioner Ted Yocum, meanwhile, pointed to the city’s General Plan. “The only comment I have, in adherence to the general plan, the purpose of the employment designation explicitly states residential uses are not intended,” he said. “And I fully agree with that.”
The city’s long-range plan envisions the site for office, industrial and commercial activity — not housing. However, zoning rules operate separately from the long-range plan, and both the old county zoning and the new city zoning allow residential as a permitted use. Staff said the rezone simply converts the county zoning into its closest city equivalent.
Background on the Site
The City of Maricopa filed the rezone application. The city divided the original parcel into smaller lots in February 2024 and then transferred the two parcels to ETP Investments in September 2024. Most of the surrounding land is vacant. Properties to the south and west are zoned for neighborhood-scale commercial use.
Commission Vote and Conditions
No members of the public spoke at the hearing or contacted staff about the rezone. The commission recommended approval unanimously. The case now advances to the Maricopa City Council for final approval. Future development must include off-site improvements such as roads and sidewalks and a traffic impact analysis.
General Plan Update and Upcoming Meetings
Planning and Zoning Division Manager Rick Williams said the next meeting is March 23 at the Maricopa Library at 6 p.m. for a discussion on the city’s General Plan update. The action meeting on the General Plan is planned for April 27 at City Hall at 6 p.m.
