Proposition 460: General Plan – Our Town, Our Future

Proposition 460 in a nutshell

  • Why is the Town of Florence updating its General Plan? State law mandates that each city / town in Arizona must update their General Plan every ten (10) years. The Town of Florence’s current General Plan was last ratified by voters in 2011.
  • What is the purpose of the General Plan? The General Plan is an aspirational planning document intended to help guide the future growth and development of the Town over the next decade
  • What is the Town’s 2022 General Plan and how is it used? The Plan will be used for a variety of applications. For instance, the Town Council will use the General Plan in its decision-making processes and in prioritizing infrastructure projects, programs, and community needs. Town staff will use the plan in its review of development applications, capital improvement programming, departmental budgeting, and to make recommendations on projects and programs. The Plan will also be used by residents, existing businesses, and the development community seeking guidance for preserving and enhancing the character of Florence.
  • Will implementing the General Plan bring added costs to taxpayers? NO, The General Plan is a planning document, so it does not impose taxes, fees, or new costs on residents or businesses, and it does not modify the Town’s zoning ordinance, development regulations, or building codes.
  • Was there any community input in the development of the Plan? YES, The extensive public outreach included multiple press releases and newspaper articles, public meetings, in-person and virtual surveys, a robust project website that included an online mapping tool, stakeholder interviews, and two Joint Town Council and Planning & Zoning Commission Work Sessions.
  • The Community Workshops provided an in-person and virtual opportunity for the public to give feedback at key stages throughout the Plan’s development process. Public hearings on the General Plan were held by the Planning Commission on April 7 and 21, 2022. The Mayor and Town Council also held a public hearing before adopting the Plan at its May 16, 2022, Council meeting.
  • What happens if voters in this general election approve the 2022 General Plan? The Florence 2022 General Plan becomes effective after ratification by the voters in the general election scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2022. If the election vote fails, the current Florence General Plan will remain in effect until a new plan is adopted and ratified by the voters.
  • Where can I get more information on the 2022 General Plan? The Florence 2022 General Plan is available online at florencegpupdate.com and Council Adopted Draft can be viewed here:
  • 2022 Council Adopted Draft
  • The Plan is also available for review at the Community Development Department front desk located at 224 W. 20th Street, the Florence Town Hall located at 775 N. Main Street, and the Florence Community Library located at 778 N. Main Street.

Voter Information

Prop. 460 Public Presentation

As part of the November 8, 2022, General Election, the Florence 2022 General Plan, Proposition 460, will be submitted to the voters of Florence.

  • A “YES” vote shall have the effect of adopting the 2022 General Plan.
  • A “NO” vote shall have the effect of not adopting the 2022 General Plan

For 2022 General Election

  • Voter Registration Deadline: October 11
  • Pinal County Early Voting Period: October 12 – November 4
  • Last Day to Request Early Ballot by Mail: October 28
  • 2022 General Election: Tuesday, November 8
  • Additional voter Resources and Information:
    https://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/Elections/Pages/home.aspx

Through extensive community outreach efforts, seven broad community goals were identified to help guide the Town’s growth and development over the next ten to twenty-year planning horizon. These goals are intended to be aspirational, but attainable through a series of policies that have been developed and organized by General Plan Elements and cross-referenced within the document. The Community Goals are as follows:

GOAL 1: ATTRACT NEW DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTE REDEVELOPMENT

GOAL 2: IMPROVE LOCAL AND REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

GOAL 3: GROW NEW BUSINESSES AND PROMOTE JOB CREATION

GOAL 4: CELEBRATE COMMUNITY VALUES, AESTHETICS, AND HERITAGE

GOAL 5: ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND GENERAL WELL-BEING OF OUR RESIDENTS

GOAL 6: ALIGN NEW DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH WITH AVAILABLE OR ACCESSIBLE WATER RESOURCES

GOAL 7: PROVIDE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AND ATTRACTIVE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

LAND USE: This Element serves as the backbone of the General Plan since land use decisions are critical to the growth of Florence. Balancing the community’s demand for housing, employment, goods, and services is the primary consideration in defining the most appropriate mix of future land uses. The Land Use Element sets forth a series of land use designations called “Place Types” that indicate the general character and appropriate uses for specific areas of the Town. The Place Types include Rural Living, Suburban Neighborhood, Neighborhood Center, Town Center, Highway Mixed Use, Innovation District, and Industry District.

 

GROWTH AREAS: The Growth Areas Element focuses on policies that support the concentration of new development and redevelopment in areas of the Town which are suited for multimodal transportation and infrastructure expansion. Policies in this Element will assist Florence in strategically expanding its development pattern and maximizing investments in infrastructure and public services.

 

COMMUNITY CHARACTER: The Town of Florence encompasses several areas with a distinct character. As such, the General Plan intends to retain and enhance the unique character of each of these “Character Areas”, which include Historic Florence, Central Florence, Suburban Florence, and Rural Southeast Florence.

 

HOUSING: The Housing Element provides policies focusing on the improvement of housing quality, choice, and affordability. This Element complements the Land Use Element’s residential component by addressing the housing needs of residents of all household income levels, as well as responding to the Town’s dynamic and growing housing demand.

 

CIRCULATION & MOBILITY: Policies in this Element provide for the creation of a multi-modal approach to transportation by addressing existing and future roadways and intersections, pedestrian and bicycle paths, off-road paths, public transit (bus and rail), and airports. These policies are designed to achieve and maintain the safe, efficient, and reliable mobility of residents, visitors, and goods and services throughout the community. This Element, which is consistent with the recommendations of the 2020 Florence Transportation Planning Study (FTPS), includes future land use scenarios and densities outlined in the Land Use Element.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE & PUBLIC SERVICES: The purpose of this Element is to provide policies that will ensure quality public services, facilities, and infrastructure distributed equitably throughout the Town of Florence. Public infrastructure is essential to the fabric of the Town, and therefore, it is a key contributor to providing an increased sense of safety and security for the Town’s residents.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & ENERGY: The intent of this Element is to support quality of life and strong economic development in Florence with the goal of creating a resource-efficient community. The Town’s energy and environmental policy aim to address the conservation, protection, sensitive development, and sustainable use of existing natural resources, land, air, energy, and water.

 

WATER RESOURCES: The purpose of the Water Resources Element is to provide policies that will ensure that the Town of Florence has a long-term, safe, and reliable water supply. Connecting water resources with the cost implications of land use planning is critical for effectively managing sustainable growth in the future. This Element was prepared in concert with the development of the Town’s comprehensive Water Sustainability Report.

 

PARKS, TRAILS & OPEN SPACE: The Parks, Trails, and Open Space Element, along with the 2016 Pinal County Open Space and Trails Master Plan, and the 2019 Florence Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, define an approach for the next 20 years to ensure a balanced system of conveniently located parks, interconnected paths and trails, open spaces, and multipurpose recreational facilities. This Element of the General Plan is intended to provide policy guidance for the expansion of parks and recreational facilities, as well as the preservation of open space within the community.

 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Although not required by State law, the inclusion of the Historic Preservation Element in Florence’s General Plan is critical to achieving community vision because Florence’s character is tightly bound to the Town’s historical identity. The purpose of this Element is to assist the community to retain its historic character and sense of place for future generations. The policies outlined in this Element will guide the protection, restoration, and rehabilitation of historical and cultural resources that contribute to Florence’s rich heritage and identity.

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: The purpose of the Economic Development Element is to promote economic and fiscal stability in Florence in order to maintain a vibrant and healthy community. This Element will guide Town decision-makers, developers, businesses, and the public when considering specific projects and other municipal decisions affecting the community’s economic development and fiscal health.

 

COST OF DEVELOPMENT: As growth occurs, Town resources need to be allocated to maintain existing public services, facilities, and infrastructure, while simultaneously making necessary investments in services and facilities to accommodate new demand. The Cost of Development Element provides guidance for ensuring that new development bears an appropriate and proportionate share of the costs needed to construct, maintain, and provide those additional facilities and services.