The first of three community workshops for Maricopa’s General Plan was held Thursday night at the Maricopa Library & Cultural Center.
The General Plan is a document created every decade that lays out the future of Maricopa, looking 10 to 20 years into the future. Analogous to a teenager’s vision board, the plan outlines the goals and actions the city needs to take to guide its “physical, economic and social decisions.”
“The General Plan acts as the foundational policy document guiding the future vision for the city for the next 10-20 years,” according to the planning website. “The plan addresses community issues across the full spectrum of the built environment from land use and growth to infrastructure and parks.”
Every decade, Maricopa has to update the General Plan. It has to be updated, adopted and then voted on by residents. The last General Plan, adopted May 17, 2016, focused on “mixed-use development” to reduce sprawl and walkable spaces that connect residential and commercial spaces.
Arizona statutes require the municipal plans to think through land use, growth areas, recreation, neighborhood preservation, environmental planning, conservation, safety and cost of development.
Thursday’s public meeting was the first of three where public officials heard from community members. Last year, newly elected council member Bob Marsh sought input from the public on this plan.
“ We’re only starting our growth, and I think that’s great to see,” said Desert Sunrise sophomore Brendan Smal, who was at the meeting with a teacher.
“I thought seeing the map was really interesting and how growth happens,” said Desert Sunrise sophomore Katie Hein before asking the most important question of the night: “How far do we want to go with Maricopa?”
Hidden Valley residents expressed concern that their community was a part of the Maricopa plan but might not have the same voting rights.
“ My biggest concern is: If the voters vote on this, can [officials] just change it?” asked Glennwilde resident Tina Dugan, who owns a farm in Stanfield. “They changed a lot. You move in somewhere, the general plan says this, and then the developer can put whatever they want there. Then why do we vote on a general plan if you’re just going to change it without the voters’ approval?”
As a county supervisor and former City of Maricopa official, they are concerns heard by Rich Vitiello, who was also at the meeting. The county will also weigh in on the plan before it’s finalized.
“ It’s always better to work with each other,” said Vitiello, a Cobblestone Farms resident, outside the meeting. “I need to listen to both sides of the coin because I represent both. That’s logical growth and if you’re too far apart, you’ll never make anybody happy. So, you need to just bring it back to the middle.”
There are two more public hearings planned for the general plan before it’s put before the Maricopa City Council for approval and ultimately, put in front of voters in 2026.
To share input, subscribe for updates, view upcoming community meetings and learn more about the General Plan, click here. If you have project-related questions, email [email protected] or call 520-316-6921.
Brian Petersheim Jr. contributed reporting.
