Pinal County Comprehensive Plan process moving forward

The Pinal County Comprehensive Plan process is in full swing and will pay another visit to Maricopa next month.

The next visit to Maricopa is slated for Thursday, Oct. 11, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Pima Butte Elementary School’s Multipurpose Room, 42202 W. Rancho El Dorado.

To date, more than 600 people have participated in the plan. Following successful road shows in July and visioning workshops last month, the countywide planning projects are moving forward with the next public involvement opportunities slated for October.

Design Charrettes, or planning workshops, are an opportunity for residents to become a planner for a day. After having the opportunity to complete a community characteristics survey, participants will have the chance to work in small groups with a facilitator and designer or planner to create a future land use and transportation plan. Using the plan’s concepts, this activity offers a hands-on opportunity to contribute to the Pinal County Comprehensive Plan.

Audra Koester Thomas of Partners for Strategic Action Inc. said Pinal County officials are happy with the turnouts so far at the shows and workshops.

“We are excited about the participation so far in the Pinal County Comprehensive Plan process, and the supervisors urge residents to continue to participate in public involvement activities, such as the upcoming planning workshops,” Thomas said. “Input from residents is the cornerstone of this project.”

Thomas believes the Maricopa event next month is another opportunity for residents to come out and learn more about the future of Pinal County.

“This will be an exciting opportunity for residents of Maricopa to help plan the future of Pinal County hands-on,” Thomas remarked. “Good participation throughout the county during the planning workshops is critical to formulating the county vision and subsequent plan.”

Individuals interested in participating in the Maricopa Design Charrette should register online at http://www.PinalCountyPlan.com/WorkshopReg.html or contact Audra Koester Thomas at (480) 816-1811.

Workshops will also be held next month in Apache Junction, Coolidge, Mammoth, Queen Creek and Eloy.

The workshops are the third round of public involvement events, with more planned during the various stages of the plan’s process.