Residents urge clearer navigation, mobile fixes and a bookmarked PDF during Oro Valley plan preview

Residents who participated in a planned focus-group review of Oro Valley's web-based comprehensive plan told town planners that the site is visually attractive but can be confusing to navigate, especially on mobile devices.

"It's when you get behind the home page that things get kinda sticky," said Sherry, a resident participant, summarizing a common concern about how to reach subtopics such as public safety or parks. Several participants recommended bringing a clickable topic "tree" to the home page and increasing the top navigation font so users can get directly to the topics they want.

Rosa and others said the phone experience sometimes displays inconsistent photo sizes and odd spacing; they suggested choosing a single image shape and providing a banner or executive summary so first-time visitors understand the plan's scope. "Maybe a one-page summary or ... a PDF version to print it," Maureen said, arguing that a linear, bookmarked PDF helps people who prefer a document to a site.

Participants also described friction with the site's tab behavior: when many pages open in new tabs, users can accumulate dozens of tabs while reviewing related goals. Sims, the town's principal planner, said staff will investigate whether the site can be adjusted to reduce tab clutter and will consult with communications about accessibility features.

On suggested outreach and supports, residents recommended short instructional videos focused on navigating the site and message points that explain "why should I vote for this" in plain language. Sims said the town could post navigation webinars, link the PDF on every page and explore more polished videos ahead of the vote.

No formal action was taken; staff asked participants to continue submitting feedback during the six-week community review beginning next week and offered one-on-one meetings for residents who want deeper input.