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Safford planners report public survey results, growth-area preferences and voter ratification requirement
Summary
The Planning Center presented early survey results for Safford’s 2026 general plan (77 responses so far), which showed top priorities of restaurants/retail, public services and affordable housing; staff noted the update will be ratified by voters because Safford’s population exceeded 10,000 and solicited input on east-growth-area annexation.
City planning staff and consultants from The Planning Center presented progress on the Safford 2026 general-plan update and asked for public input on growth areas and priorities.
Garrett Aldrrete and Brian Underwood described outreach to date, including a QR-code survey and 77 early responses. The online inputs and in-person exercise showed top community priorities clustered around new restaurants and retail, high-quality public services (water/sewer/police), and a range of safe, affordable housing options. Recreation facilities and indoor aquatic options also received substantial interest.
Consultants reviewed where residents reported growth is occurring (south of the city, along US-70 and near Mount Graham Regional Medical Center) and where respondents would like to see additional growth (an eastern growth area along Lonea Road/US-70 and near the Thatcher border). Staff noted a recent large annexation in the east growth area and said a feasibility study for an additional northeast annexation is under way.
City staff emphasized that because the city’s population has topped 10,000, Arizona Revised Statutes require the general plan update be ratified by voters; the council and planning & zoning commission will incorporate public input into a draft that will be presented for community review and ultimately a public vote. Consultants said they will streamline the 2016 plan’s structure, focusing on concise goals, policies and implementation measures.
Next steps: planners will continue outreach, close the online survey on Feb. 20, compile a full summary for the Feb. 23 council meeting and propose draft growth-area maps for future council consideration.
