Surprise voters will get a chance to officially sound off on the city’s 2040 general plan in August.

The Surprise City Council approved the plan at its Dec. 19 meeting, marking a key point in the process that started early last year.

Nearly 20 members sat for an advisory group to shape community feedback and direction to come up with the plan.

Chaired by Steve Doolittle, with help from Vice Chair Margaret Lieu, the 19-member group was comprised of residents, business owners and other commission members.

They met nine times over 14 months between July 2022 and September to come up with the plan. In all, group members spent more than 600 hours on putting it together.

Arizona State law requires every municipality and county to create a general plan to address growth and allow voters to ratify an update every 10 years.

The blueprint document helps guide the city on upcoming decisions about land development, public safety, parks and recreation, economic development, environmental concerns and social issues over the next 15 years.

The general plan will guide the city on future decisions if voters approve it in the August primary election.

“This includes examining what places best support growth and which areas need thoughtful reinvestment,” the city wrote in a news release.

The document is centered around six community-initiated values: a welcoming place, livable community, connected city, a sustaining environment, a healthy lifestyle and a competing economy.

The city was able to get feedback from community workshops, pop-up booths at local events, social media and the project’s website.

Learn more at surpriseGPUpdate.com.