18.55.010 Purpose.
The purposes of the open space and public-institutional districts are to:
A. Provide areas for a wide range of public facilities, including parks and open space, private open spaces, educational facilities, cultural and institutional uses, health services, municipal offices, general government operations, utility and public service needs, and other public or quasi-public facilities;
B. Ensure that the development and operation of public and semi-public uses protects and enhances the character and quality of life of surrounding residential areas;
C. Ensure the provision of services and facilities needed to serve residents, businesses, and visitors and maintain a high quality of life; and
D. Provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and meet the recreational needs of Maricopa’s residents.
Additional purposes of each open space and public-institutional district:
1. OS-PR Parks and Recreation Open Space. This district is intended for developed and undeveloped park lands and permanent recreation open spaces in the community. This district may include trails and other low impact public recreational uses to implement the city’s parks, trails and open space master plan. Access may be restricted to areas of sensitive habitat or which pose a danger to the public.
2. OS-POS Privately Owned Open Space. This district is for privately owned parkland and privately owned recreational open space. Uses allowed include parks and recreational facilities and supporting commercial and entertainment facilities and agricultural and other open space uses.
3. OS-C Conservation Open Space. This district is intended for permanent open spaces in the community, including environmentally sensitive lands and wildlife corridors, waterways, and deserts. It is also intended to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the people by limiting development in areas where police and fire services, protection against flooding by storm water, and mitigation of excessive erosion are not possible without excessive costs to the community.
4. PI Public-Institutional. This district is for public or quasi-public facilities, including but not limited to city facilities, utilities, schools (including but not limited to colleges and trade schools), health services, public works yards, utility stations, telecommunications facilities, and similar uses. Accessory retail uses and services, including food facilities and childcare, are permitted. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 206.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]