Arizona Is First to Require Voter Approval of General Plans

PHOENIX-Beginning next month, residents throughout Arizona will begin voting on growth plans that will impact how those communities allow future commercial and residential development.

“Growing Smarter” legislation passed in November requires cities and towns greater than 10,000, as well as fast-growing cities as small as 2,500 residents, to get voter approval on their general plans. Most cities are expected to take their existing general plans, get public input on them, redraft the plans, get city council approval and then put it on the ballot. Arizona is the first state in the nation to require voter approval of general plans.

The “Growing Smarter” legislation requires cities to address several issues, including: transportation and land use, open space, cost of development, growth area, environmental planning and water. Under the legislation, once a general plan is adopted it will be harder to change.