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General Plan Amendments
background
The General Plan is designed to be a broad, flexible document. Over time the General Plan is a living document, that is legally amendable and manifested by many specific decisions and events that cause it to respond to the changing conditions, needs, and desires of the community. It can be revised through city-initiated amendments, through citizen/property owner requests, or through referenda (citizen petition and vote). Ultimately, the decision to amend the General Plan is in the hands of the City Council.
Major General Plan Amendments
Arizona State Statute defines a major amendment as a proposal that results in a substantial alteration of the municipality's land use mixture or balance, established in the city's General Plan land use element. Each city is required to establish its own criteria for what is or is not a major General Plan amendment.
Arizona State Law requires that all requests for Major General Plan Amendments be presented at a single public hearing during the calendar year in which the proposal is made. Therefore one City Council hearing is designated each calendar year to consider these applications. The amendment process involves a review and notification process, and requires two (2) separate Planning Commission hearings before going to the City Council for final approval or denial. A two-thirds majority vote of the City Council is needed to approve a Major General Plan Amendment.
- 2013 Major General Plan Amendment Schedule (pdf/199kb/1p)
- Criteria for a Major General Plan Amendment
- PC/CC Flowchart for Major General Plan Amendment (pdf/96kb/1p)
- Development Application Form (pdf/165kb)
- General Plan Checklist for Application (pdf/81kb)
Non-Major General Plan Amendments
General Plan amendments that do not meet the criteria for a "major" amendment can be submitted and processed at any time during the year and do not require the additional Planning Commission hearing. The requirements are the same in all other ways: notice sent to General Plan notification list, etc.
- PC/CC Flowchart (pdf/90kb)
- Development Application Form (pdf/165kb)
- General Plan Checklist for Application (pdf/697kb)
Neighborhood Involvement
Public participation is an important component of successful planning, community building, and decision making. The following information is pertinent to the neighborhood involvement process for both Major and Non-Major General Plan Amendments.
Neighborhood Involvement (pdf/104kb/2pp)
In addition to the items check-marked on the Neighborhood Involvement Checklist:
- Provide information to Property owners and HOAs within 750-feet of the perimeter of the subject site,
- Post a “Project Under Consideration’ sign 10 calendar days prior to your first Open House Meeting,
- Hold 1 open house meeting, and
- Contact property owners and HOAs at least two times prior to the public hearing process.
Contacts
Erin Perreault, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager
Phone:(480) 312-7093
eperreault@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
Mary Vandevord, AICP, Senior Planner
Phone: (480) 312-7902
mvandevord@scottsdaleaz.gov
