(NEWS RELEASE) The City of Apache Junction and the Town of Queen Creek recently formalized a cooperative agreement as the two municipalities approach each other geographically under their general plans.
The respective councils have approved a “Memorandum of Shared Intent” that calls for the two communities to acknowledge “shared goals of planning for appropriate growth while sustaining communities financially, culturally and environmentally for an improved quality of life for current and future residents.”
“We are growing together,” said Apache Junction Mayor John Insalaco. “It is imperative that we work closely with our neighbor Queen Creek as our area develops to ensure the best economic and social setting for future residents in our municipalities.”
“The memorandum is an important piece of our future growth,” said Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney. “Queen Creek is a growing community, as is Apache Junction, and communicating our shared interests now will pave a solid foundation for future councils and residents.”
The borders of the two municipalities are currently just five miles apart but general plans depict the two sharing a border in the future on what is now state trust land, informally know as the “Superstition Vistas” tract.
The memorandum was partly the result of a joint public meeting held by the councils in August. At the meeting, the councils discussed municipal planning and future growth as well as the future extension of State Route 24, the spur off the Loop 202 near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
The memorandum notes the proximity of the route to the possible joint boundary of Queen Creek and Apache Junction and says, “As a result, it is generally agreed that the final positioning of the State Route 24 could serve as a practical, physical and geographic boundary for the common municipal boundaries.”
The memorandum was approved by the Queen Creek Town Council on Nov. 18 and the Apache Junction City Council on Tuesday.
