Tempe makes ‘extensive changes’ to its general plan

Tempe has taken information received online and at neighborhood meetings to make changes in its general plan, chief among them is a reduction of density in neighborhoods.

“Most of the input received was on the proposed land use map, where many respondents asked for reductions in residential densities,” city officials said in a release.

“There were also requests to change the proposed mixed-use designations in some locations and retain the current commercial land-use designation.”

Officials said based on the information “extensive changes” have been made to the initial draft for Tempe Tomorrow - General Plan 2050, which was released on May 5.

The new draft is available at tempe.gov/2050.

The plan is designed to become the guide for boards and commissions, the Tempe City Council and others to consult for “best practices and community-driven principles,” the release stated.

It covers land use, circulation, open space, economic development, historic preservation, sustainability and public services.

In addition, the plan incorporates “vision and innovative principles for sustainability and resilience and provides a planning framework for projected growth while providing a high quality of life for Tempe residents,” officials said.

The Maricopa Association of Governments projects that before 2050 Tempe could add approximately 71,874 new residents and 72,047 new jobs.

Since May 5, according to Tempe officials, city staff has attended several neighborhood meetings, met with individual community members and also asked for online comments regarding the initial draft plan.

Some changes, according to the city:

• Land Use Map reduces the proposed densities where appropriate. This change proposes mixed-use designations to commercial, retaining the current designation. The initially proposed Central Tempe Growth Area map and text have been deleted.
   
• Downtown Historic Core area for downtown Tempe. The revised draft includes the concept of this location-specific preservation plan “to better preserve the downtown’s historic properties and cultural resources.”

• Add Cultural Resources Areas over old neighborhoods. CRA designation has now been proposed on several properties in the neighborhoods that meet the CRA criteria. For example, new CRA designations are proposed to be added for Wilson Arts and Garden, parts of Mitchell Park, Brentwood Cavalier, Broadmor, Date Palm Manor and other locations. The CRA designation freezes the residential densities on the sites as applicable on the date of adoption of the plan.

Community members can comment on the revised draft plan online or attend any of these public hearings:

• Tuesday, July 25 at 6 p.m. Development Review Commission
  Second hearing at the City Council Chambers at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St.
• Thursday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. Tempe City Council regular meeting
  Introduction and first hearing at the City Council Chambers at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St.
• Thursday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. Tempe City Council regular meeting
  Second and final hearing at the City Council Chambers at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St.

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