Maricopa County begins Framework2040 comprehensive-plan update; highlights housing, county-island and water concerns

Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commissioners heard a presentation Feb. 20 on the county's comprehensive-plan update, Framework2040, and the public outreach and data the consultant team used to inform potential revisions to goals and policies for unincorporated areas.

"The comprehensive plan is a state mandated plan," consultant Matt Kliesico said, describing the plan as the county's long-range policy document that guides decisions about land use, circulation and water for unincorporated Maricopa County. Kliesico told the commission the project team has completed phase 1 (existing-conditions analysis and outreach) and is preparing to move into phase 2, saying, "we're just kind of finalizing our phase 1 effort."

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan applies to the county's unincorporated area — not municipalities — and the update will shape policy that county staff and the commission use when reviewing zoning and subdivision proposals. County staff and the consultant emphasized the update is intended to align the county's long-term vision with current data, anticipated growth and other departmental master plans.

Key findings and data presented

- Geographic scale: Maricopa County covers more than 9,000 square miles; unincorporated Maricopa County is roughly 6,600 square miles, the presenters said.

- Growth and density: Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) population projections show continued population and employment growth through 2060, though at slower rates than earlier decades. The team reported unincorporated-area…