By Scott Schumaker | East Valley Tribune
Following a summer of public engagement that included surveys and public meetings called “urban labs,” city planners and consultants are sitting down to draft the once-a-decade map for Mesa’s future growth.
The General Plan is a document required by state law that Mesa voters will see on the ballot next year.
Besides setting the overarching vision and policies for what Mesa should look like in the future, the General Plan sets legal limits on how land can be rezoned.
If a proposed rezoning doesn’t conform with it, a builder must seek an amendment approved by the city council.
Million-dollar deals can be at stake in General Plan interpretations.
And matching the General Plan closely to residents’ desires could minimize conflict over future development or redevelopment.
“Sometimes the General Plan is the only support you have against a developer and their attorney,” said Natascha Ovando-Karadsheh, a member of Mesa Economic Development Advisory Board at a recent meeting.
