Plan Tucson Public Involvement
PLAN TUCSON, the City of Tucson General & Sustainability Plan, Appeared as Proposition 402 on the ballot for the November 5, 2013 General Election.
View the Summary, Fast Facts, and Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 1MB)
For more detailed information about the Plan's preparation, public participation process, and formal review and adoption by Mayor and Council, please take a look at associated links on the Plan Tucson website.
Mayor and Council adopted the Plan on July 9, 2013, and then on August 6, 2013, amended the Plan to address a request from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Planning staff has now completed inclusion of the amendment within the Plan document, as well as undertaking multiple reviews of the Plan to correct scrivener’s errors (typographical/grammatical).
The Attorney General’s request involved adding the State’s official map showing the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base High Noise & Accident Potential Zones with an accompanying paragraph regarding future development in the vicinity of the base. That map can be seen on pg. 3.138, along with a reference to the map on pg. 3.136.
A copy of the Final Plan is also available for viewing at each Ward Office, City Hall, and at the City’s Office of Integrated Planning.
FINAL Plan Tucson adopted 7/9/2013, as amended 8/6/2013 - ENTIRE DOCUMENT(PDF, 106MB) [245 pages]
Arizona Attorney General's Request
After Mayor and Council adopted the Plan on July 9, 2013, the adopting resolution and a copy of the Plan were sent to the Arizona Attorney General's Office in compliance with Arizona law. The Attorney General is required to review the General Plan for compliance with A.R.S. 28-8481, which pertains to planning and zoning and land use compatibility in relation to military airport and ancillary military facilities.
The City Attorney's Office heard from the Office of the Attorney General, which requested the inclusion of the official State of Arizona map that depicts the 3 high noise and 2 accident potential zones associated with DMAFB. Additionally, the Attorney General's Office requested that a statement be added to this additional map that cites the specific State law in regard to residential uses in the high noise and accident potential areas. The requested statement is as follows:
"For purposes of preserving public health and safety pursuant to A.R.S. § 28-8481, no new residential development within the high noise and accident potential zones as depicted in this map is allowed unless the subject property had a building permit, had a residence constructed or was approved for development in a development plan prior to December 31, 2000. If the City of Tucson and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base mutually agree that an individual use is compatible with the high noise and accident potential of this military airport the use shall be deemed to comply with A.R.S. § 28-8481."
Per the Attorney Generals Office suggestion, the statement and map were proposed for inclusion in Plan Tucson, as part of Exhibit LT-5, Airport Environs Overlay Zone beginning on pg. 3.137. The draft of the proposed changes can be viewed at the Mayor and Council Agendas and Minutes site, under supporting documents (Plan Tucson is item 17 in the agenda):
The City Attorney presented the Attorney General's requested statement and map to Mayor and Council at the August 6, 2013, meeting, The Mayor and Council approved the statement, and documentation of the approval, as well as a copy of the revised pages, were provided to the Attorney General and the preparation for the Plan's placement on the November 5, 2013, ballot continued.
Mayor and Council Adopt Plan Tucson and Refer It to the November 5, 2013 Ballot
On July 9, 2013, the Mayor and Council unanimously adopted Plan Tucson: The City of Tucson General & Sustainability Plan 2013 and referred it to the Nov. 5, 2013, ballot for ratification. Below is the adopted Plan with typos corrected as permitted by Mayor and Council:
Plan Tucson Adopted by the Mayor and Council - ENTIRE DOCUMENT [246 pages]
Plan Tucson Meetings on Outstanding Issues
At the 6/11/2013 public hearing held by the Mayor on Council on the Final Draft of Plan Tucson, staff was directed to work with stakeholders to address outstanding issues and to finalize the proposed new General Plan in time for the Mayor and Council to consider its adoption on July 9, 2013.
Staff has identified the following issues for additional attention based on written and oral comments: (1) Organization of and policy for economic development (2) Policy related to DM benefits and to impacts, (3) Neighborhood & Area Plan process language, (4) Illustrative Opportunity Areas Map content and use language
The following meetings were held, at which staff will provide draft recommendations on how issues might be addressed, and participants will work toward agreement on what should be included in Plan Tucson.
- Economic Development Meeting, 6/17/2013, and Continuation of Economic Development Meeting, 6/18/2013, 11:30 - 1:30 pm, City Hall Conference Room (1st Flr. East Wing). The following links provide the generally agreed upon outcomes:
- Economic development coverage in the Plan – goals and policies - Comments were due by Tues. JUNE 25, 2013 NOON
Please Note: This link was replaced on June 22 at 11:30 AM due to a mistake in Goal #1, which included some language about home ownership that belongs in Goal #1 in the Social Environment Focus Area.
Also, note the FULL TEXT for the agreed upon new focus area titled “The Economic Environment” posted below.
- Economic Development Focus Area(PDF, 2MB) - Comments were due by Wed. JUNE 26th, 2013
Please Note: This full text incorporates the goals and policies for this focus area as posted on Friday, June 21, 2013.
- Policy language related to Davis-Monthan Airforce Base Meeting, 6/19/2013, 4:30 - 6:30 PM, City Hall Conference Room (1st Flr. East Wing). The following link provides the generally agreed upon outcomes:
- Neighbobrhood and Area Plan process language and Illustrative Opportunity Areas Map content and use language Meeting, 6/20/2013, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM, City of Tucson Parks & Recreation Administration Building, Mesquite Meeting Room, 900 S Randolph Way. Tucson, AZ 85716. The following links provide the generally agreed upon outcomes:
Planning Commission Public Hearings
The Planning Commission of the City of Tucson held five public hearings on Plan Tucson. Interested persons had the opportunity to express their opinion about the revisions to the Plan Tucson draft. Visit the Planning Commission's website to take a look at the material provided by staff. The public hearings took place on:
- February 13, 2013, in the Abrams Building Meeting Room, Pima County Health Department, 3950 South Country Club Road, Tucson, Arizona, 85714
- February 27, 2013, in the Mayor and Council Chambers of City Hall, 255 West Alameda Street, Tucson, Arizona, 85709,
- April 3, 2013, in Building C, Community Room 105 of the Pima Community College District Offices, 4905 Eas Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona, 85709,
- May 22, 2013, in the Mayor and Council Chambers of City Hall, 255 West Alameda Street, Tucson, Arizona, 85709, and
- May 29, 2013, in the Meeting Room of the Westside Police Service Center, 1310 West Miracle Mile, Tucson, Arizona 85705.
The Planning Commission is established to advise the Mayor and Council and various City Departments on the adoption of long-range plans, policies, specific plans and regulations that affect development.
Conversation with Neighborhoods on Plan Tucson in February 2013
THANK YOU to those who attended. On Saturday February 9, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, the Plan Tucson team met with neighborhood leaders to discuss the Plan Tucson draft and efforts to strengthen City planning going forward.
Did you miss the meeting? Take a look at: The Flyer(PDF, 140KB) [pdf]
Open Houses on Plan Tucson Draft held in December 2012 and January 2013
THANK YOU AGAIN to everyone who participated in the Open Houses! With the Plan Tucson Draft available for public review, five Public Open Houses were held in December 2012 and January 2013 in different locations around the city. At each Open House a presentation on the Plan Tucson draft took place during the first half-hour, and participants shared their comments and talked one-on-one with the Plan Tucson team. Comments received at these Open Houses, along with comments received by other means, will be shared at Planning Commission and Mayor and Council public hearings in early 2013.
Did you miss the open houses? Take a look at the:
October 2012 Community Workshop — Materials & Participant Input
THANKS to everyone who participated in the October 2012 Community Workshop, which was repeated 5 times in 5 different locations around the City. The Workshop focus was on the City’s physical form and included opportunities for participants to learn about trends and projections relevant to Tucson’s potential growth; to consider how goals and policies relate to the City’s physical form; and to share ideas about Tucson’s future land use and transportation.
Did you miss the workshop? Take a look at the:
- Presentation: The workshop began with a presentation on possible ways Tucson could grow in the future and presented two build-out scenarios as a starting point for thinking about other possible development scenarios. The presentation concluded with an activity in which participants reviewed a sampling of draft goals and policies and indicated whether and how well they were met by either scenario.
PowerPoint Presentation(PDF, 7MB) [pdf].
- Mapping Exercise: The second part of the workshop was dedicated to a mapping exercise for which participants divided into small groups. Participants began by sharing BIG ideas for Tucson’s future, and then proceeded to mark up a base map, beginning with areas not to be developed. Next the groups indicated their ideas for Tucson’s growth based on five primary land use types, including (1) Housing, (2) Business Centers, (3) Mixed-use, (4) Industrial, and (5) Other. Finally, they marked up the base map to show what type and where transportation facilities should go.
Exercise Base Map(PDF, 5MB) [pdf]
Policy Forum held August 13 and 14, 2012
THANKS to everyone who participated in the Public Policy Forum held on August 13 and repeated on August 14, 2012. At the forum, Plan Tucson staff presented and participants discussed the initial draft goals and policies for elements in each of the three focus areas being considered: (1) Socioeconomic Prosperity, (2) Environmental Integrity, and (3) Smart Growth. Participants included among others agency, organization, and individual stakeholders, who attended one or more of the 39 Policy Working Groups over the past year.
If you missed the Forum, take a look at the material below.
— Review Draft Goals and Policies(PDF, 290KB)
— PowerPoint Presentations. Please note that all three presentations begin with the same introductory slides on purpose, process, and schedule.
-- Read Transcription of Flipchart Notes(PDF, 278KB). These notes reflect ideas captured by Plan Tucson during forum discussion.
Thirty-nine Policy Working Group Meetings held between July 22, 2011 and May 23, 2012
The Plan Tucson public outreach included a series of 39 Policy Working Groups in which agencies and organizations — governmental agency, organizational, and neighborhood association representatives, as well as members of the public — that worked with staff on the development of goals and policies for Plan Tucson. These groups actively participated in the discussion of elements within the three Plan Tucson focus areas:
- Socioeconomic Prosperity
- Environmental Integrity
- Smart Growth
Here's the Policy Working Group Schedule of Meetings(PDF, 94KB).
Stakeholder Orientation Meeting held on May 20, 2012
The focus of this meeting was on agencies and organizations that are involved with policy related to one or more of the elements to be addressed in Plan Tucson. At the meeting Plan Tucson staff reviewed the steps and timeline for preparing and adopting the plan; asked participants to help identify challenges and opportunities related to the areas of interest of the agency or organization they represent; and detailed ways for agencies and organizations to be actively involved in drafting Plan Tucson.
Did you miss any of this meeting? Take a look at:
General Public Introductory Meetings held throughout April 2011
Six meetings were held at different locations, days and times, where those who attended learned more about Plan Tucson, ways to be part of the process, and shared their thoughts. Did you miss any of these meetings? Take a look at:
Public Participation Program
On March 22, 2011, the Mayor and Council adopted the Public Participation Program for Plan Tucson.