CC - Agendas - City Council - REGULAR - 11/28/2017

Home

neighborhoods. In this scenario densities could triple or quadruple for the receiving areas. Ideally the developers of the private land would acquire the related State Land sections so that a comprehensive master plan can result. Another method might be to simply rezone as open space those areas so targeted (perhaps with landowners also dedicating conservation easements for tax benefits), and appropriately rezone other areas targeted for medium-to-high density residential development. These actions would be part of the property owner application for development entitlements, including water allocation. Low-density residential development is more appropriate where routine air traffic patterns have minimal impact. For discussion purposes, low-density might be 1-2 acre parcels, medium-density 2-6 dwelling units (DUs) per acre, and high-density 7 to 20 DUs per acre allowing apartments and manufactured home parks. Higher density communities are important to allow at appropriate locations — near access and services, and away from heavy air traffic. Mixed-use villages should be located at major nodes such as at 89 and 89A at Great Western and the Airport Connector, and at Great Western and Glassford Hill extension. Well-designed village or town centers incorporate light business, higher density residential, civic and recreational facilities that offer cohesive and walkable neighborhoods. Because densities are higher, housing costs are somewhat lower and therefore should be more attainable by median and lower middle income households. ASAP affords an opportunity to bring together good jobs, reasonable housing costs, short commute times. Densities necessary to build neighborhoods and a balanced community need central water and sewer, which generally means annexation into a servicing municipality. Significant negotiations between property owners and any annexing municipality would be needed to package water and other infrastructure, zoning entitlements, open space, and other related agreements. Planning for these rural properties is not intended to prompt development or hasten annexation, but rather to identify a preferred end result once market forces, infrastructure availability, and other factors are ready. The land use plan map that follows shows what major property owners wish for their lands filtered through the goals and objectives of the ASAP. C. OPEN SPACE Ft WILDLIFE HABITAT C. 1 Support historical ranching activities to the degree practical, given its compatibility with airport activity and influence on regional character. The Tri-city area is fortunate to have large expanses of ranchland that contribute to the rural character overall. This land use plan, in and of itself, is not intended to hasten development of the surrounding ranch land. However, coordinating with ranchers on their development plans (as they may arise) is one way of helping the ranching families. By communicating visions and ideas now, there should become a shared understanding of the long-term goals and use of the land. Some may wish to develop and others may choose to continue ranching - facilitating both for the region's benefit is the ideal. Conservation easements may be appropriate to consider for any who wish to release some land for development yet retain some lands for open space and cattle grazing. C.2 Integrate wildlife habitat considerations into ASAP to the fullest extent practical. The AZ Department of Game and Fish has provided a good deal of information and advice for this plan. Chaparral is dominant in the southwestern half of ASAP and appeals to mule deer and 17