Floodplain issues were slowing growth. FEMA just lifted them

The federal agency responsible for flood safety has removed much of Maricopa’s developable land from designated flood plains.

The significant move allows for substantial future development to the city’s east and southeast, such as the massive Eagle Shadow subdivision along Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

Eagle Shadow’s planning process has taken nearly 20 years of revisions to reach its final stages before the first shovel of dirt is turned.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently approved a conditional letter of map revision, or CLOMR, with the city.

CLOMR is a letter from FEMA regarding a proposed project, saying if built as proposed, or proposed hydrology changes are made, it would meet minimum National Flood Insurance Program standards.

“It took four years, but now there is a solution that will effectively remove much of the land from the floodplain,” Stephen Kenna, assistant city engineer, said in a Facebook post addressed to InMaricopa . “The eastern and southeastern portion of the city can develop using this solution without having to go to FEMA with their own solution that historically has taken years to approve.”

“This opens the door to development, including both residential and commercial,” Kenna said.

The city will now see the land south of Tortosa begin to develop because of the CLOMR, which allows developers to come up with their own solution to floodplain management, he said.

Eagle Shadow, the city’s first master-planned residential development in Maricopa is proposed along Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, bounded by Farrell and Hartman Roads and south of White and Parker Road.

Scottsdale-based El Dorado Holdings has submitted an Eagle Shadow pre-application request with city planners to update its latest adaptations to evolving city planning standards.

The project narrative the City of Maricopa released to InMaricopa this week states the project will include different levels of residential densities intermingled with commercial development on 975 acres. City leaders originally approved the planned area development in 2005.

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