The General Plan - ScottsdaleAZ · General Plan was developed, References and Resources,...

“The General Plan” Page ��

The General PlanGeneral Plan Purpose

TheGeneralPlancontainsthecity’spoliciesoncharacteranddesign,landuse,openspacesandthenaturalenvironment,businessandeconomics,communityservices,neighborhoodvitality,transportation,andgrowthissues.Itsfocusisonshapingthephysicalformofthecity,yetitincludespoliciesandstatementsaboutotheraspectsofcommunityaswell.Humanservices,protectionofdesertandmountainlands,economicvitality,andthecharacterofneighborhoodsarealldiscussedinScottsdale’sGeneralPlan.

TheplanisusedbytheCityCouncilandPlanningCommissiontoevaluatepolicychangesandtomakefundingandbudgetdecisions.Itisusedbycitystafftoevaluatebuildinganddevelopmentandtomakerecommendationsonprojects.Itisusedbycitizensandneighborhoodgroupstounderstandthecity’slong-rangeplansandproposalsfordifferentgeographicareas.Theplanprovidesthebasisforthecity’sdevelopmentregulationsandthefoundationforitscapitalimprovementsprogram.

Why does Scottsdale have a General Plan?

Arizonastatelaw(ARS9-461-05A)requiresthateachcityadoptacomprehensive,long-rangeGeneralPlantoguidethephysicaldevelopmentoftheircommunity.TheScottsdaleCityCharteralsoestablishesthatthecityhaveaGeneralPlan.Scottsdale’sGeneralPlanhasthreeinterrelatedfunctions:

• It is an expression of community goals and priorities;• It is a decision-making guide; and• It fulfills legal requirements created by state law.

AGeneralPlanmayincludemaps,diagrams,tables,andtextsettingoutcommunityconditions,principles,goals,objectives,andstrategies.

TheGeneralPlanrepresentsgoalsandpoliciestoguidethecommunityovera20to25yearperiod.(The Arizona state laws governing general plans currently require readoption and voter ratification of the city’s General Plan every 10 years)ThereisanaturaltendencytopresumethatthePlan,asadopted,willbeappliedinitsentiretywithminimalchangeoverthatperiodoftime.But,suchrigidapplicationwouldnotberesponsivetothenaturalchangesandunforeseenopportunitiesthatariseinacommunityasdynamicasScottsdale.Makinglong-rangedecisionsmeansthatissuesneedtobe

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periodicallyreaddressedto reflect new or emerging circumstances.Beyondthispracticalissue,thereisalsoalegalissue.EachsucceedingCityCouncilhasthediscretiontoreconsiderpreviouslong-rangepolicydecisionsandmaychoosetomodifythem,subjectofcourse,tocommunitydiscussioninpublichearings.TheGeneralPlanisakeyinstrument to reflect changingperspectivesandattitudes.

Scottsdale’sGeneralPlanpromotesthecommunity’svisionbyestablishingpolicies,goals,andstrategiesforeachoftwelveelements.Theseelementsinclude consideration of the issues identified and required by state statute, but are designed to be specific to Scottsdale. As with any flexible policy document,thereisroomforinterpretationonthepoliciesandgoalscontainedin these elements, and flexibility is needed to meet the overall objectives.

Common Misconceptions

Inpractice,thereisoftenconfusionorblurringofthedistinctionbetweentheroleoftheGeneralPlanandtheroleoftheZoningOrdinance.ThePlanisa“general”policydocumentthatguidescommunitygrowthanddevelopmentdecisions.TheZoningOrdinance,andassociatedzoningmaps,arelegalinstruments that define with significant precision the permitted land uses andassociatedperformancestandardsforeverypropertywithinamunicipaljurisdiction.TheconfusionbetweenthetwoverydifferentrolesprobablyhasitsorigininthefactthatZoningOrdinanceamendmentsandzoningmapchangesmustconformtothegeneralizedpoliciesoftheGeneralPlan.

ManypeoplestrugglewithacommonmisconceptionthattheGeneralPlanismerelythelandusemap.Formanydevelopmentdecisions,itistruethatlanduseappropriatenessisthefocalpointofdialogue.However,thisviewwilltypicallydisregardmanyinterrelatedissuesthatcanincludetransportationorotherinfrastructureconcerns,andthecommunity’senvironmentalandeconomicphilosophy.Thebestcommunitydecisionsarethosethatrecognizeandaddressthesecomplexinterrelationships.

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Theterm“GeneralPlan”isoccasionallyconfusedwithotherplanningterms,such as “specific plan” and “master plan.” A General Plan may include specific plans that apply to a specific area or areas of a community; however, itisincorrecttoassumethatoneis,inandofitself,thecompletepolicystatementforanareaofthecommunity.Scottsdalehasathree-levelGeneralPlanstructure(discussedindetaillater)thatincludescharacterplansandneighborhood plans. These more specific plans are a part of the General Plan,butnotthetotalpackage.CityShape2020establishedthethreelevelsof general planning to achieve more specific guidelines, usually in regards todesignandcharacterorneighborhoodissues.Likewise,a“masterplan”mayspeaktoGeneralPlanissues,mostnotablyinfrastructure(forexampleWater/WastewaterMasterPlans),andamasterplanmaybecomplimentarytotheGeneralPlangoalsandpolicies,butamasterplanisnotasubstituteforthelong-rangecommunitygoalsandpoliciescontainedintheGeneralPlan.Masterplansdealwithmuchshortertimeframesthanthe20-25yearsofaGeneralPlan.TheGeneralPlanshouldserveasthefoundationforthecreationofmasterplansfordifferentissuesortopics.

How does the General Plan relate to other City Policies and Procedures?

AsestablishedbytheArizonaRevisedStatutesandtheCityCharter,Scottsdale’sGeneralPlanestablishesanintentanddirectionforthefuturegrowth and character of the community. It is not a specific document, but ratherisaguidingsetofpoliciesthatprovideasenseoforder,coordination,andqualitytothecity’spoliciesandactionsaffectingitsgrowth.

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ThepoliciesintheGeneralPlanareimplementedanddetailedthroughordinancesandongoingformalproceduresofthecity.AfewoftheordinancesandwrittenpoliciesthatcarryouttheplanaretheZoningOrdinance,SubdivisionOrdinance,AirportOrdinance,andDesignGuidelines.TheintentoftheGeneralPlanisimplementedthroughrecommendationsfromcityBoardsandCommissionsanddecisionsmadebytheCityCouncilregardingsuchrequestsasrezoningandsubdivisions,roadexpansionorabandonments,neighborhoodrevitalizationprojects,preservationefforts,economicopportunities,andparkandrecreationfacilities.OvertimetheGeneralPlanis a living document that is manifested by many specific decisions and events thatcauseittorespondtothechangingconditions,needsanddesiresofthecommunity.

General Plan Form - Character Based Planning

AsaresultofCityShape2020recommendations,ScottsdalehasimplementedCharacter-basedGeneralPlanning.TheCharacter-basedGeneralPlanconsistsoftheSixGuidingPrinciples(discussedintheVisionandValuessection)andaformatthatcontainsthreedistinctandinterrelatedlevels:

Level 1 - Citywide Planning: Incorporatesallpoliciesthatapplytothecityasawhole.PerhapsthegreatestdeparturefromtheexistingGeneralPlan is that, for the first time, it describes the origin and purpose of the Plan,andtheuniqueattributesofplanninginScottsdale.

Level 2 - Character Area Planning: DevelopsCharacterPlansonapriority basis over a period of time and speaks specifically to the goals and special attributes of an identifiable and functional area; i.e., its land uses, infrastructure, broadly defined urban architectural design philosophy, and transitions.CharacterPlanswillensurethatqualityofdevelopmentandconsistencyofcharacterdriveScottsdale’sGeneralPlanattheCharacterPlanlevel,allwithinthecontextofcommunity-widegoals.AnadditionalstrengthoftheCharacterPlanapproachisitsabilitytoaddress“edges,”thoseplaceswheretwocharacterareasmeetorplaceswhereScottsdale’sboundariesabutothergovernmentaljurisdictions.CharacterAreaPlanningwillrelyontheinvolvementandparticipationofanarea’sresidentsandpropertyownersintheplanningandimplementationprocesses.

Level 3 - Neighborhood Planning: Becausethehealthandvitalityofaneighborhoodisdependentonitsabilitytoadapttothefuture,stepsneedtobetakentoaddresschangesthatwilltakeplaceintheneighborhood.NeighborhoodPlanswillidentifyandimplementeffortstoimprovespecific neighborhoods within the city. Every neighborhood has different needs,issues,constraints,andopportunities.ANeighborhoodPlanmight

see the Scottsdale Values and Vision

section

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broadly define a neighborhood’s goals and may build an action plan or an issuesbrief.Theneighborhoodplanningprocessmusthavethein-depthinvolvementofthepeoplewholiveandworkinthatneighborhood.

This three-level General Plan approach has many direct benefits in serving as aplatformforcommunitydecision-making.AkeyadvantageofthisGeneral

Principals,organizetheelements.Thetableonthenextpageshowshowthestate-mandatedelementsareorganizedintheScottsdaleGeneralPlan.

TheScottsdaleGeneralPlanvariesfromthestructureoutlinedinstatelawinafewways.We’veaddedthreeelements(CharacterandDesign,Economic

Planformatisitsabilitytoaddressissuesandchallengesinexistingandmatureneighborhoodsthatmayhavereceivedtoolittleattentioninthepast,andinformandinvolveagreaternumberofScottsdalecitizens.

General Plan OrganizationArizonaStatelaw(ARS9-461.05)requiresthattheGeneralPlansforcities the size of Scottsdale contain nineteen (19) sections, called “elements.” Scottsdalehastakenthetechnicalconsiderationsoutlinedbystatelawand combined them into a series of elements that reflect the community’s expectationsforthefuture.Chapters,basedontheCityShape2020Guiding

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see the Scottsdale Values and Vision

section

Character & Lifestyle Chapter

Economic Vitality Chapter

Neighborhoods Chapter

Open Space Chapter

Sustainability Chapter

Transportation Chapter

Vitality,andCommunityInvolvement)andatechnologycomponent(includedintheCommunityMobilityElement).Althoughtheadditionalelementsaddresstopicsnotrequiredbystatelaw,theissuestheyaddressarebasictothecurrentandthefuturequalityoflifeinScottsdale.Wealsohavecombinedsomeoftherequiredelementsandexpandedthescopeofothersbeyondwhatisrequiredbystatelaw.OnceadoptedbytheCityCouncil,allelementshavethesamelegalstatus.Nosingleelementorsubjectsupercedesanyother.

Theelementscontainacommonformatandsimilartermsandreferences.Eachelementbeginswithanintroductionthatprovidesreferenceinformationandhistoricalbackground,andestablishesthebasisforthepoliciesthat

elementsincludeavisionstatementandvaluesfollow. The introduction identifies the significance to Scottsdale of the topics coveredintheelement.Mostregardingtheelement’stopicarea.Theseshouldbeconsistentwiththeoverallcityvisionandvalues.Nextcomegoalstatementsdescribingthegeneralendtowardswhichthecitywilldirectitsefforts.Followingeachgoalareapproachesthatdescribethegeneraldirectionthatthecitysetstofollowto

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meetitsgoalsandvision.Whereappropriate,goalsandapproachesinotherelementsordocumentswillbereferencedtohelpthereadergraspthecomprehensiveandinterconnectednatureoftheGeneralPlan.Theelementsmayincludemaps,graphs,charts,anddiagramstoclarifythegoalsandapproaches.Itisimportanttorememberthatthepoliciesareequallyasimportantasthegraphicallydisplayedinformation.

Finally,theGeneralPlancontainsaReferenceGuidewithaGlossaryofTerms andAppendices.TheAppendicesdiscusstheprocessbywhichtheGeneralPlanwasdeveloped,ReferencesandResources,DemographicData,aGovernancechapterandanImplementationSection.TheReferenceGuidewillnotbeadoptedbytheCityCouncil,butisareferenceandbackgrounddocumentfortheGeneralPlanpolicies.

Administration of the General Plan

The General Plan is designed to be a broad, flexible document that changes asthecommunityneeds,conditions,anddirectionchange.Itcanberevisedthroughcity-initiatedamendments,throughcitizen/propertyownerrequests,orthroughreferenda(citizenpetitionandvote).Ultimately,thedecisiontoamendtheGeneralPlanisinthehandsoftheCityCouncil.

TheGrowingSmarter(1998)andGrowingSmarterPlus(2000)legislationchangedsomeoftherequirementsregardingtheadministrationofGeneralPlansthroughoutthestate.Inmanycases,Scottsdalewasalreadydoingthenewthingsrequired.GrowingSmarterdeclaredthatGeneralPlansmustbeupdatedeverytenyears,andgaveadeadlineofDecember2001toaccomplishthis first update. It required the addition of four new elements, and provided a new way to define a major amendment to the General Plan. It proposed a moreinvolvedcitizenprocessintheGeneralPlan.TheGrowingSmarterPluslegislationaddedanotherrequiredelement,putintoplacemorerequirementsfor community acceptance of the General Plan, and re-defined major amendmentstotheGeneralPlan.

The state statutes now define a major amendment as a proposal that results in a“substantialalterationofthemunicipality’slandusemixtureorbalanceasestablishedinthemunicipality’sexistingGeneralPlanlanduseelement.”Thelegislationfurtherrequiresthateachcityestablishcriteriatodetermineifaproposed change qualifies as a major amendment. If a proposal is determined tobeamajoramendment,a2/3orsupermajorityvoteoftheCityCouncilisrequiredtoapproveit.MajoramendmentsmayonlybeheardatonepublichearingduringthesamecalendaryearinwhichtheyareinitiatedandrequiretwoPlanningCommissionpublichearings.Scottsdalehaslonghadasix-monthreviewprocessforwhatthecityconsidered“large”generalplanamendmentcasestoallowforthoroughreviewbystaffandthepublic.Thisreview process is consistent with the state statute though the definitions of

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largeandmajoraredifferent.Scottsdale’sprocessforlargeamendmentsdealsmorewiththesizeoftheaffectedpropertyandpublicinvolvementprocessthanthesubstantialalterationoftheplannedmixtureorbalanceoflandusesdescribedinthestatuteforamajoramendment.

An amendment to Scottsdale’s General Plan shall be defined as a major amendmentifitmeetsanyoneofthecriteriaoutlinedonthefollowingpages:

Criteria for a Major Amendment to the General Plan(City Council approved 2/6/01 and revised to reflect the land use designations of the updated Conceptual Land Use Map)

Scottsdale’s Mission: Inguidingtheformationofthemajoramendmentcriteria,itisimportanttoconsiderthemajormissionelementsofthecity,thesebeing–

a. PreserveScottsdale’suniquesouthwesterncharacter;b. Planforandmanagegrowthinharmonywiththenaturaldesert

surroundings;c. Promotethelivabilityofthecommunity;d. Enhanceandprotectneighborhoods;and,e. Ensureandsustainthequalityoflifeforallresidentsandvisitors.

Proposedchangestothelanduseelementofthecity’sGeneralPlanthatcompromisethespiritandintentofthesemissionstatementswillqualifyforconsiderationasamajoramendmenttotheGeneralPlan.

Scottsdale’s Land Use Element: Itisimportantthatasproposalsareconsideredinregardtothefollowingcriteriathatthevaluesandstructureofthelanduseelementbeusedasaguide.Thesevaluesareanimportantpartofthecity’slanduseplan:

a. Landusesshouldrespectthenaturalandman-madeenvironment;b. Landusesshouldprovideforanunsurpassedqualityoflifeforbothits

citizensandvisitors;c. LandusesshouldcontributetotheuniqueidentitythatisScottsdale;d. Landusesshouldcontributetothebuildingofcommunityunityand

cohesiveness;e. Landusesshouldworkinconcertwithtransportationsystemsinorder

topromotechoiceandreducenegativeimpactsuponthelifestyleofcitizensandthequalityoftheenvironment;

f. Landusesshouldbebalancedinordertoallowforthecommunitytoprovideadequatelive,workandplayopportunities,and;

g. Land uses should provide opportunities for the design of uses to fitandrespectthecharacter,scaleandqualityofusesthatexistinthecommunity.

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Itisrecognizedthataproposedchangeoflanduseswithinanygivenportionofthecitymayhaveasubstantialimpactuponthebalanceoflanduseswithinthecityasawhole.TheGeneralPlanLandUseElementwasformulatedandadoptedwithfullconsiderationofthecharacterandbalanceoflandusesthatareappropriatewithinalldistinctareasofthecity.Beyondthislevelofconsideration,theplanconsiderstherelationshipsbetweenandamongthevariousplanningareasandstudiesthathavehelpedtobuildtheplan.Thisleads to a balance and pattern of land uses that reflects the community’s values,aspirationsandthecity’sstatedmission.

Character of Land Uses: Achangeintheplannedlandusesmayhaveasubstantialimpactuponthecitybytransformingthecharacterofthelanduseswithinagivenplanningarea.Thecharacterofthelandusesmaybeindicatedbythephysicalintensityoftheuseintermsofmassing,heightorrelationshipsbetweenuses;theblendingofdifferenttypesofusesandthepatternsandscaleinherenttoeach;ortherelativeamount,typeandplacementofopenspaces.Significant changes in the established land use character will be considered in determiningwhetherornotaproposalisamajoramendment.

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1. Change in Land Use CategoryAchangeinthelandusecategoryonthelanduseplanthatchangesthelandusecharacterfromonetypetoanotherasdelineatedinthefollowingtable

To: Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E

From: LandUsePlanCategory

Group A Rural Yes Yes Yes YesNeighborhoods

NaturalOpenSpace

Group B Suburban Yes Yes YesNeighborhoods

DevelopedOpenSpace

Cultural/InstitutionalorPublicUse

Group C Urban Yes YesNeighborhoods

Resorts/Tourism

Group D Neighborhood Yes Yes YesCommercial

Minor Office

MinorEmployment

Group E Commercial Yes Yes

Office

Employment

MixedUse

RegionalUseOverlay

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2a. Area of Change CriteriaAchangeinthelandusedesignationthatincludesthefollowinggrossacreages:

* PlanningZonesA1,A2,B 10acresormore* PlanningZonesC1,C2,C3,D,E1,E2,andE315acresormore

• Zone A Includes Old Town Scottsdale, the Indian Bend Park System, and the most mature neighborhoods in the community

• Zone B Includes the Scottsdale Airpark, the fastest growing and one of the three largest employment centers in the metropolitan area

• Zone C Covers the East Shea area, Scottsdale Ranch, McDowell Mountain Ranch, and part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

• Zone D Includes Grayhawk, DC Ranch, the Pinnacle Peak and Desert Highlands communities, several Troon communities, the Sonoran Regional Core employment center along Loop 101 Freeway, and part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

• Zone E Includes Troon North, Estancia, Terra Vita, the Boulders, Desert Mountain, Legend Trails, and part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

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2b. Acreage Criteria Overriding IncentivesCertainexceptionstocriteriacontainedin2aareconsideredtobeintheinterestofthegeneralpublicandinkeepingwiththemissionandvaluesofthecommunity.Aproposalthatincludesanyofthefollowingconditionswillnotbeconsideredamajoramendment:• Apropertyownerinitiateddecreaseintheresidentiallanduse category

ofunitsplannedbythelanduseelement,or• Aproposalforachangeinthelandusedesignationthatresultsin no

increaseintheplannednumberofdwellingunitsandincludes atleast30%moreNaturalAreaOpenSpacethanisrequiredbytheEnvironmentallySensitiveLandsOrdinanceforthepropertyandthatis:- ofsubstantialsize,thatbeingatleastsevenormorecontiguous

acres,andprotectedinsuchamannersoastobedesignatedwiththelandusecategoryofNaturalAreaOpenSpace,

- andwheresuchopenspaceprotectssensitivenaturalfeaturesand isvisuallyand/orphysicallyaccessibletothegeneralpublicand doesnotincludelandscontainedwithinsceniccorridorsorvistacorridors,or

• AproposaltochangethelandusecategorytoCultural/Institutional orPublic Use with a municipal, public school or non-profit culturalfacilitywhensuchaproposedfacilityisnotadjacenttoasingle-familylandusedesignation(designationsofRuralorSuburbanNeighborhoods)ordoesnotsharedirectaccesstoanystreetthathassingle-familyresidentialdrivewayaccesswithinone-half(1/2)mile oftheproposal.

• AproposalwithintheOld Town Scottsdale Character AreaPlan thatmaintainsthesame developmentstandardstype(e.g.Type1,Type 2,Type 2.5, or Type 3)and contains no more than fifteen (15) gross acresor less.

3. Character Area CriteriaCharacterareashavebeenaddedtothecity’splanningprocessinordertorecognizeandmaintaintheuniquephysical,visualandfunctionalconditionsthatoccurindistinctareasacrossthecommunity.Thecityrecognizesthattheseformacontextthatisimportanttothelifestyle,economicwellbeingandlongtermviabilityofthecommunity.Theseareas are identified by a number of parameters including but not limitedtobuildingscale,openspacetypesandpatterns,ageofdevelopmentandtopographicsetting.

Ifaproposaltochangethelandusecategoryhasnotbeenclearlydemonstratedbytheapplicanttocomplywiththeguidelinesandstandardsembodiedwithinanapprovedcharacterareaplanitwillbe

see location map on next page

considered a major amendment. (Note: The character area plans thatqualify for consideration include the Cactus Corridor Plan, Shea AreaPlan, Desert Foothills Plan, Dynamite Foothills Plan, Southern ScottsdalePlan, Greater Airpark Plan, and Old Town Scottsdale Plan.)

32 egaP”nalP lareneG ehT“

4. Water/Wastewater Infrastructure CriteriaIfaproposaltochangetheplannedlandusecategoryresultsintheprematureincreaseinthesizeofamasterplannedwatertransmissionorsewercollectionfacility,itwillqualifyasamajoramendment.

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IfaprojectapplicantwishestoappealthedesignationofaGeneralPlanmajor amendment, the Chief Planning Officer, or the position equivalent, will evaluatetheappealandmakeamajoramendmentdetermination.

Followingpublicreview,andrecommendationstoapprovefromcityadvisoryBoardsandCommissions,theScottsdaleCityCouncilwilladopttheGeneral Plan. Once adopted by the City Council, the General Plan must be ratified by a vote of the citizens. This will take place at an election coordinated with the Maricopa County election process. If the citizens do not ratify the updated General Plan, the existing General Plan will remain in effect until there is an affirmative vote on a new one.