By Parker Leavitt | The Arizona Republic
Town officials plan to form a committee to revisit Gilbert’s vision for its more-rural Santan Character Area after years of rapid growth have put developers and residents at odds over the neighborhood’s future.
At Tuesday’s joint meeting of the Town Council and Planning Commission, officials acknowledged the difficulty of balancing growth and preservation and said a group of “stakeholders” would be formed to study the issue.
The Santan area in south Gilbert is one of four “character areas” outlined in the town’s voter-approved General Plan, which acts as a road map.
While the plan calls for a mix of suburban neighborhoods and rural lifestyle that reflects the area’s unique agricultural heritage, several recent zoning changes have approved developers’ plans for more homes on smaller lots.
Frustration is mounting among some residents who question how much the value of the voter-approved General Plan is if elected officials can change it so easily.
