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About 20 head of cattle have been placed on the northeast corner of Bullard Avenue and Greenway Road on about 75 acres of land that is supposed to become part of a downtown commerce hub with millions of square feet of medical research, retail and employment.
The sudden appearance of cows is designed partly to serve as a wake-up call to the city, which has been discussing the site’s commercial project since 1995.
“The vision has been lost, or had been lost with the old council,” said Scott Phillips, development manager of Surprise Center Development Co., the ownership group. “I think the new council has raised this as a major priority.”
Phillips said another reason for locating the herd there was to serve as a deterrent for public dumping and off-road driving. It will also control brush on the property and will enable the ownership group to receive a tax break for using the land for agricultural purposes.
The group owns about 650 acres bounded to the north and south by Bell and Greenway roads, and to the east and west by Litchfield Road and Bullard Avenue.
Three of the bigger property owners include investor groups Airfield Capital Partners LLC, Tal Wiwi Ranches and Sun Health Properties, an investment and real estate arm of the non-profit health-care group Sun Health.
The total area is 765 acres, but about 115 acres near that site have already been donated to the city for its development.
When the cattle were placed last week, it raised eyebrows at City Hall. The cattle are located just east of Surprise Stadium and also near a city aquatic center, the Northwest Regional Library, the Surprise Public Safety Facility and the future City Hall.
Mayor Lyn Truitt drove out to see the cattle Friday, and took the move in stride.
“I think we’re going to be having a big barbecue coming up here at some point,” he said.
He added that the property is a “major priority” for the city.
“That’s where our 24/7 city center is going to be,” he said. “We want to see them successful.”
Phillips would not provide specific details of what the city could do to improve the property’s development outlook, but stressed the importance of a good relationship.
As for the present land use, city spokesman Ken Lynch said there is nothing illegal with placing cattle there.
“Winter visitors might find it kind of charming,” Lynch said.
The plan is to bring in about 20 more head of cattle to graze over 400 acres fenced on the property, with no set lease time. The rancher using the property is paying only 10 cents per acre per year to place cattle there, Phillips said.
A cowboy has been hired to monitor the property, he said.
Surprise police Sgt. Mark Ortega said if cows should get loose, livestock officials would be called in to handle the situation.
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