By Caroline Yu | YourValley
Tempe’s Development Review Commission has recommended that city council approve the updated General Plan 2050 in August, despite community concern for the city’s growing population and a lack of housing.
General plans provide cities with guiding policies for city land use, and Tempe is in the process of developing its latest plan.
In Tempe, the city uses it to guide physical and economic development, land use, sustainability, transportation, historic preservation, neighborhood enhancement, open space and recreation, public art and cultural amenities and human services.
The latest update with the plan was discussed at the July 25 Development Review Commission meeting, where the commissioners unanimously recommended that city council approve the 2050 plan.
June projections from the Maricopa Association of Governments report that Tempe is expected to see the population grow from 181,600 in 2020 to 258,000 in 2050 — an increase of over 76,000 residents, a city staff report explained.
To accommodate this population growth, other notable changes show job numbers increasing from 192,400 in 2020 to 264,409 in 2050, and housing units are expected to increase from 82,626 to 111,635 in the same time frame.
Knowing that Tempe is expecting great growth in coming years, General Plan 2050 builds off of the previous General Plan 2040, including the city’s strategic priorities and trends in sustainability, land use management, public health, inclusiveness and technology among others.
