City Council Halts Medical Campus Sale Amid Rare Tensions

During a Maricopa City Council meeting on February 18, 2025, members postponed a contentious land sale near Copper Sky, highlighting a rare moment of discord among council members.

This decision follows a similar delay last month, initiated after a heated 30-minute discussion coupled with an hour-long executive session. The core issue at hand involved the language of the contract, which has faced criticism for removing significant features from the development proposal that once appealed to the public.

Previously included was a stipulation for a 100,000-plus square-foot hospital complex, which has now been replaced by plans for a much smaller medical office building or basic hospital offering services similar to those of Exceptional Community Hospital. The revised contract indicates a commitment to construct a hospital with 24 to 54 beds, along with imaging services like CT, MRI, and X-ray. However, the contract lacks assurance for a second phase that would introduce advanced specialty services.

Mayor Nancy Smith initially misinterpreted these contract guarantees, but City Attorney Dennis Fitzgibbons promptly corrected her. The sale proposal also scrapped plans for residential and retail developments, including a hotel with recreational amenities.

BR Healthcare Real Estate Development leaders presented conceptual plans for a medical campus covering a 9½-acre site at the southeast corner of John Wayne Parkway and Bowlin Road. President A.J. Thomas emphasized their mission to address Maricopa’s deficiency in primary and specialty care.

Despite the ambitious presentation of the project, some council members expressed reservations. Newest council member AnnaMarie Knorr articulated concerns regarding the contract’s lack of commitments for the second construction phase. “Since the city is selling the land, we have the ability to require the project to have all the components we want to be included,” she pointed out.

Knorr’s concerns stemmed from her discussion with Fitzgibbons, who clarified that while the first phase was contractually obligated, the second phase with specialty services was not guaranteed. “If it’s not built, we have no recourse,” she added, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability to the public.

Councilmember Vincent Manfredi echoed Knorr’s hesitation to support the sale under the current terms, noting that the contract language warranted further refinement. He acknowledged that although residential components had been removed, they were emphasized by the developer during discussions.

Knorr also highlighted that the land was being sold below its market value, stating, “At a minimum, this land is worth at least $1.10 more a square foot than what we’re in contract to sell it for.” However, Councilmember Eric Goettl maintained that the city would nonetheless benefit significantly from the proposed sale price, given the land’s low acquisition cost decades ago.

Despite the debates, Knorr viewed the discussions as constructive, saying, “Having these discussions in an open meeting are how we all gain a better understanding of what we are voting on.” She expressed confidence in the council’s collective commitment to making decisions that serve the best interests of the city.

Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa.