The Surprise City Council on April 2 approved a rezoning of the Nobella master-planned development that will actually reduce the density in the north Surprise neighborhood.

The Council OK’d to the change of two parcels — one which ended up with 41 more units than planned and another that was approved for 42 less units, making it a net of one less unit than originally planned.

The parcels are on more than 31 acres of land west of 155th Avenue and north of Jomax Road.

City Planner Trever Fleetham said the developer will be required to improve Jomax and construct 159th Avenue, which will go into the north end of the property.

Wendy Riddell of law firm Berry Riddell stressed to the Council that the owner is downsizing.

“Single-family residential product can’t be built in that higher-density category,” Riddell told the Council. “We’re actually downzoning this to allow for a single-family, for-rent product.”

The applicant held an in-person neighborhood outreach meeting in September with 20 people in attendance. Residents voiced their concerns ranging from traffic to water.

A second neighborhood outreach meeting in January with 13 people in attendance brought out some of the same concerns.

Vice Mayor Nick Haney, who serves the district, said it’s not the normal rezoning case for the area.

“This is one of the unique cases were a yes (vote) is actually for downzoning,” Haney said.

Jason Stone can be reached at jstone@iniusa.org. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.