Two people showed up at a public review meeting for Tempe's General Plan 2030 held Wednesday at ASU: one planner and one citizen.
The meeting was one of several being held to inform the public about the upcoming election for the general plan, according to Tempe senior planner Diana Kaminski. Its purpose was to give faculty, students and citizens a chance to voice their opinions and have their questions answered.
General Plan 2030 replaces General Plan 2020, Kaminski said. A new plan must be devised every 10 years, and 2000 Census data has been used to develop demographic analyses, leading to the formation of the new plan.
"Increased cooperation" will be sought between ASU and Tempe. ASU has still not completed its master plan, Kaminski said. The University will be able to modify General Plan 2030 as its needs change.
Both ASU and downtown Tempe have been identified as two "growth areas," according to the released plan. Tempe is going to experience a population explosion within its landlocked borders, Kaminski said. Creating new residential space would be a priority.
"The big question is, where do you put all these new people?" Kaminski asked.
The city had maps drawn up to show vacant parcels of land and their various uses, Kaminski said. "Open space" would be left alone, while recreational space would allow for parks and recreation facilities.
With so little space left over for building construction, the population increase would be absorbed through infill and mixed-use development. A proposed new zoning ordinance would allow for a use permit for special uses of land, Kaminski said. Commercial and residential space would be combined when possible.
But mixing residential development and industrial buildings could lead to complaints by residents about noise, Kaminski said. Heavy industry, important to the city, will be left alone.
"Someone could come in and apply for a use permit," Kaminski said. "We want to protect those zoning areas in the future so we don't end up with a hodge-podge of use areas."
The city will strive for light office and industrial development intertwined with some residential development, Kaminski said. The developments have to work well with people's lifestyles. She cited the Islamic Cultural Center's presence as a community center and place to worship as a good example.
"It's one of the oldest mixed-use developments in the Valley," Kaminski said.
As part of its 2000 Growing Smarter Plus amendment, Arizona recently started requiring municipalities to hold public elections for their general plans, Kaminski said. Arizona is the first state to require elections for planning documents.
Phoenix, Scottsdale and many other cities have already held their elections. Tempe's upcoming election has been somewhat behind schedule compared to other cities, and will be held in May 2004. The election will be the city's first, Kaminski said. Public review sessions started April 1 and run until August 8.
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Nicole Saidi is the Content Editor of the Web Devil. Reach her at nicole.saidi@asu.edu.