Development Services staff outlined long‑range planning work including a wildlife‑corridor effort and an Arizona Technical Advisory Panel (AZTAP) review focusing on housing and economic opportunities.

Interim Development Services Director Stacy Bristow introduced the department’s role in permitting and plan review, then Senior Planner John Jacobson summarized the wildlife corridor project. Jacobson said the team completed a foundation plan and is entering a second phase to define corridor limits and identify sensitive habitats and connectivity across ownerships. “We’re learning along the way… it goes over land of different owners. So a lot of the focus is what's that process? If it's state land, what's their process for either having an easement over their property or is it by right if you have private owners?” Jacobson said.

Jacobson also described the AZTAP (Arizona Technical Advisory Panel) program from the Urban Land Institute that will convene about 15 professionals for a panel day. He said AZTAP will review prior studies — including the wildlife foundation plan — and produce recommendations focused on housing and business opportunities; staff planned a day-long tour and panel workshop the following Monday.

Stacy Bristow and John Jacobson described process improvements the department has instituted, including an online portal for permit applicants and electronic plan review, and noted permit volumes: about 2,300 applications since January, 248 residential certificates of occupancy and 30 commercial certificates of occupancy to date.

Staff said the wildlife corridor work will require outreach and negotiation with private landowners and state agencies to define limits and potential conservation or easement approaches; no regulatory changes were announced at the meeting.