By Dana Trumbull | Apache Junction & Gold Canyon News
State law mandates that, every ten years, each city and town in Arizona adopt a “comprehensive, long-range General Plan for the development of the municipality.” At its core, the General Plan is a strategic guide that encompasses physical development, infrastructure planning and economic growth, touching on specific elements such as housing, environmental planning, open space, economic development, circulation, downtown redevelopment and growth areas. It is not intended to be a rigid or static document, nor to replace any existing zoning code. It is, rather, an expression of development policies to guide land use and development decisions that benefit the community for generations to come.
At the Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, City Council meeting, the Council heard an overview of the 120 page document, entitled, “Legendary Landscapes and Lifestyles.” The comprehensive document weaves common threads throughout, creating a vision statement that, as Councilman Jeff Struble stated, “moves the city forward while keeping our heritage in place. He added, “It’s a telling sign of what we’re trying to do here to improve the quality of life for our citizens and improve the community.”
