The Scottsdale General Plan Update Citizen Review Committee and associated city staff are not letting COVID-19 get in the way of planning and examining the municipality’s future guiding …
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Editor's Note: A previous version of this story identified Ms. Scutari as president of the General Plan Update Citizen Review Committee. All committee members serve equally, and her title of president refers to her position on the Industrial Development Authority.
Secondly, the May 4 meeting has been cancelled. According to Scottsdale Public Affairs Supervisor Holly Walter: "The General Plan CRC meeting scheduled for May 4th has been cancelled to allow for time for us to convert to City Council type - and - consistent with rest of organization. (We were first out of gate with our meetings and are adapting to a process that is easier for the public to follow along with in real time, online)."
The Scottsdale General Plan Update Citizen Review Committee and associated city staff are not letting COVID-19 get in the way of planning and examining the municipality’s future guiding document.
It has been nearly 20 years since the City of Scottsdale has updated its General Plan --- a keystone planning document meant to illustrate how future development ought to unfold. As Scottsdale rapidly approaches build-out, those guiding principles have never been more paramount, both elected and senior planning staff contend.
The General Plan Update Citizen Review Commission has been formed to review the draft 2035 General Plan as an initial step prior to the document moving through the public forum, Scottsdale city officials say.
The Citizen Review Commission is made up of representatives from each of the General Plan-relevant city boards and commissions. The group is comprised of primary members:
Given the social distancing guidelines in place, the committee’s meetings are being conducted online, in a somewhat unique fashion.
Unlike City Council meetings where the group meets at one time telephonically and the public can tune in to hear all discussions, this committee has a week-long meeting.
The public has the opportunity to view the online “discussion” of the Citizen Review Committee via the minutes of the meeting --- which is available through screen shots of the forum some time later.
Adam Yaron, project coordination liaison for Scottsdale, says the verbatim written discussion will be posted publicly on the city’s website for residents to view.
“Although there will not be a link to attend the online meeting itself, it is intended that all members of the public --- residents, business stakeholders, and City Council members alike --- may stay involved in reviewing upcoming meeting materials and/or reviewing the verbatim screenshots of what occurred at a meeting so as to submit their comments online (similar online forum as the Council meeting process is using) for the CRC to view and ‘discuss’ in written format online,” Mr. Yaron stated in an email to the Independent.
This process has been reviewed and approved by the city attorney’s office, he said.
Mr. Yaron also points out that a committee vote on the General Plan will not occur for several months due to social distancing.
“Please note, the CRC will be providing feedback on the draft 2035 Plan content in these online forums, and staff will be mocking up the suggested feedback into the draft plan,” Mr. Yaron said. “However, the actual CRC vote on plan content will not occur until December 2020, in hopes that we will be back to more normal, in-person public meetings by that time.”
Scottsdale has attempted to update its 2001 General Plan in both 2011 and in 2014 --- neither received approval.
The city continues to operate on its 2001 plan, but a full update ought to be before voters November 2021, officials say.
Citizen thoughts and upcoming meetings
The Citizen Review Committee’s second meeting occurred April 20-Friday, April 24. The first meeting was April 6-10; while the upcoming third meeting originally scheduled for May 4 has been cancelled to allow for time to convert to a new type of meeting.
Members of the public are encouraged to submit comments for the Committee to review and consider.
Comments gathered during the first meeting period included Rob Fishman, who commented on review workflow of the plan.
His public comment included:
“The plan workflow should necessarily change due to the pandemic. Staff needs to provide projections for revenues and expenses to better enable the community to determine what projects should continue as well as what projects should move forward. This should include best to worst cases. It also includes understanding the financial soundness of meeting our debt payments as well as essential services. While I recognize that the plan is supposed to provide a vision for Scottsdale’s future, the process has to include understanding the gap between where we are and where we want to get.”
Scottsdale resident Nancy Cantor said she was surprised by the variety of values statements and who gave voice to them. She pointed to one vision statement that included:
“Scottsdale will continue to offer a variety of multi-generational lifestyle choices that are responsibly planned, connected, attractive, and supported with appropriate infrastructure and services for urban, suburban, and rural living. Our neighborhood experiences will advance well-being and safety through promotion of physical and social connection.”
Ms. Cantor says this statement not only covers inclusion of all residents, but also states the need for planning policies and processes that can be supported by all community members.
“Having served on City Shape 2020 and Future in Focus and helping to create the Southern Scottsdale Character Area Plan, the vision and values expressed brought together many of the thoughts of many, many people regarding impacts on mature neighborhoods throughout our city,” Ms. Cantor stated in her comment.
“My only wish is that those vision and value statements could have been in place five years ago. If you look at the final pages of the 2035 update draft, you will find two pages of small print showing the names of citizens who contributed to the process.”
The Committee’s schedule is planned out to be:
May 4: Character & Culture chapter including character and design element; arts, culture and the creative community element.
May 18: Character & Culture chapter including land use element and amendment criteria.
June 1: Environment chapter including open space, environmental planning, conservation, water resources and energy elements.
June 15: Collaboration & Engagement chapter including community involvement element; and Community Well-Being chapter including healthy community, housing, recreation and safety elements.
Sept. 8: Connectivity chapter including circulation and bicycling elements
Sept. 21: Revitalization chapter part 1 including neighborhood preservation and revitalization, conservation, rehabilitation and redevelopment, and growth areas elements.
Oct. 5: Revitalization chapter part 2 including cost of development, public services and facilities and public buildings elements.
Oct. 19: Innovation and Prosperity chapter including economic vitality and tourism elements.
Nov. 2: Implementation chapter including General Plan format and organization.
A plan recommendation is scheduled for Dev. 7, and Dec. 21 if a continuation is needed.
Melissa Rosequist Managing Editor | East Valley @mrosequist_
I first started my journalism portfolio at the age of 15 while in high school before going on to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Being in the journalism field is the only professional avenue I was ever interested in, and have worked hard covering topics from school boards to hard news while working for the Independent, where I have been awarded for my reporting.
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