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El Mirage staff review 2020 general plan, note adoption and resident ratification
Summary
City staff reviewed the 2020 general plan, describing the outreach used for its development, required plan elements, and the plan's adoption and voter ratification in 2020.
City planning staff reviewed the city's 2020 general plan during a March 18 work session of the El Mirage Common Council.
The presentation noted that the 2020 general plan "was approved by the City Council in May 2020, and it was ratified by the residents in November of 2020," and that state law requires jurisdictions to adopt and re-adopt a general plan on a regular cycle.
The general plan presentation explained why the plan matters: it documents the city's history and regional context, population and growth trends, and establishes land-use, circulation, open space, parks and recreation, economic development, public facilities and safety, water resources, environmental stewardship and other elements that guide future development.
Planning staff described the outreach used to prepare the 2020 plan, including an advisory committee composed of residents, stakeholders and appointed officials; two mobile workshops at city events (the El Mirage Carnival and the Spring Fair); a workshop at the senior center; and an online survey with a traditional component and a map-based component that allowed residents to leave location-specific comments.
Council members asked for copies of the survey instruments and the timeline for outreach; planning staff said the process began in 2019 and that staff would provide links and, if requested, printed copies. Councilmember Gentry asked for the dates and distribution methods for the surveys; staff said they would review the project documents and forward that information to council.
City Attorney John Paladini reminded council members that the general plan is a guide rather than a regulatory document but that rezoning decisions must be consistent with the plan's land use designations; he also reviewed the difference between legislative decisions (rezoning and text amendments) and administrative land-use actions.
The presentation closed with staff offering to provide the plan document and outreach materials to councilmembers for their review.
The work session recessed at 5:45 p.m. and the council staff indicated a 15-minute break before the regular meeting.
