Pinal Today

The city of Maricopa has acquired 2.5 acres of land south of West Papago Road and east of North John Wayne Parkway with the agreement that the city will use the land to build a new fire station.

According to a story by InMaricopa, the cost of the land was $137,500, and the city is obligated to use it to build a fire station as part of the purchase agreement. The station will serve those in the annexed area of 5,700 acres south of the city, as well as other areas, the story stated.

“It will serve the area of the South Maricopa Fire Association south of current city limits," Quinn Konold, Director of Government Relations and Communications, said in the story. "However, it can be used to serve within city limits as needs require.”

The annexed areas are already under the jurisdiction of local fire crews, Konold stated.

“The city will be providing fire service to the area immediately, however, the actual building of the fire station is on the separate timeline,” he said. “The city is collecting fees from the South Maricopa Fire Association. Once the city collects $2.5 million, the city will begin construction on the fire station within a six-month period."

He gave no indication for when the station should be completed, saying there were too many variables involved.

"Since fee collection is based on development in the area, there is no definitive timeline on when the station will be built,” he said.

Maricopa City Manager Rick Horst pointed out that the decision to annex the land came at the request of the landowners, adding that fire service has to be provided for the land to be developed.

“I do want to indicate that these lands are represented by the landowners, and they are voluntarily moving into these agreements,” Horst added. “We do respect the fact that landowners have the right to choose what they want to do with their property.”

Pre-annexation does give physical, financial and legal protection to landowners through various fees, Horst said, and those fees don't impact current landowners because they are assessed only on new development.

“This assures that property owners and future homeowners who buy homes on that land will pay for those services through development and impact fees, while current residents will not be financially impacted,” he said.