Richard Smith
Independent Newsmedia

The Surprise Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of two new fast food restaurants during its March 16 meeting. They are:



• A Raising Cane’s at the Surprise Center, just south of Bell Road near Civic Center Drive. Kerpan Planning and Design, LLC, on behalf of Surprise Center Development Company, LLC, brought in the site plan for a drive through restaurant facility. Site improvements will include a new 3,616-square-foot building, landscaping, paving and signage.

• A Filiberto’s at Surprise Point, south of the southeast corner of Litchfield and Waddell roads, in the same development as Uptown Alley. The commission approved a conditional use permit to allow a drive through restaurant facility constructed on a currently vacant pad within the larger retail center. Site improvements will include a new 3,017-square-foot building, landscaping, paving and signage.

Neither item was on the City Council agenda for approval during its March 21 meeting.

The council approved the entire eight-acre plat that Raising Cane's is a part of in its Dec. 22 meeting.

Chris Hake, Vice President of Development for the Southwest region for Thompson Thrift Retail Group, said Mark Bramlett with Cushman & Wakefield was the Raising Cane's broker who worked directly with Thompson Thrift brokers Zach Pace and Torrey Briegel of Phoenix Commercial Advisors.

"Raising Cane's has had interest in being on Bell Road for a while and decided to join this project early during our marketing efforts," Mr. Hake said in a February interview.

After some debate Dec. 20, the Surprise City Council unanimously approved the eight-acre plat. During the meeting, Thompson Thrift representatives said they will directly develop two buildings on two of the eight acres, while working in conjunction with others on the rest of the parcel — which includes the Raising Cane’s.