Planning workshops to give residents a voice in Pinal County’s future

Do you want a say in planning the future of Pinal County?

If so, Pinal County’s Planning and Development Department wants to hear from you.

“We are holding a series of workshops throughout Pinal County to solicit the residents for their ideas,” said Planning and Development Director David Kuhl. “These workshops are part of our Comprehensive Plan update and so far the public has really turned out to tell us what they want Pinal County to look like in the next 10 years and beyond.”

Kuhl went on to elaborate that over 700 people turned out for the first round of meetings held two months ago.

“We want people to attend; it’s not too late to be involved,” Kuhl stated. “This is a perfect opportunity for residents to have a say in the process. This is the time where their ideas will have a maximum impact in the Comprehensive Plan update.”

Participants at the workshop will be divided into small groups and will map out what they feel will be the best use of the land in Pinal County.

“We are open for any ideas,” Kuhl said. “If people feel that an open space designation for a piece of land is appropriate, we’ll listen. If they feel commercial development would be great in another location, we’ll listen.”

A workshop will be held in Maricopa on Thursday, Oct. 11, 6 to 8:30 pm, at the Pima Butte Elementary School Multipurpose Room, 42202 W. Rancho El Dorado.

Kuhl invited the residents who participated in the first round of meetings to feel free to attend the next stage of workshops.

“The slogan of this project is called ‘We Create our Future,'” Kuhl said. “Each of the workshops will be like a mini-planning session. It should be fun and informative at the same time. I know our staff is really looking forward to these workshops,”

For more information on the upcoming workshops contact Audra Koester Thomas at (480) 816-1811 or log onto the Comprehensive Plan update website.

Maricopa residents can register for the workshops online and will receive a pre-event confirmation packet.

County planners want to know what Maricopans see as future needs.