At the Sept. 17 City Council Meeting, Council voted 6-1 to approve amendments to Peoria’s General Plan, that will better position the city as we grow in the northern planning area.
Peoria is pursuing opportunities and strategies to promote a thriving, balanced and dynamic economy, which can capitalize on the city’s strengths, and support local job growth and revenue expansion to support water security, public safety and quality of life infrastructure, such as parks and trails.
Council approved the following four areas of refinement:
Smart Growth
The General Plan Amendment creates two master planned areas for growth. The Arizona State Land Department Special Land Use category is assigned to the 1,620-acre North Peoria Gateway (NPG) and the 6,700 acre Peoria Innovation Core (PIC) located in the northern part of Peoria’s planning area.
On the 6.6 acre property identified as APN 201-30-215, the land once designated as “Public Use” has been changed to the “Office and Local Commercial” land use category.
Integrated Transportation
The Circulation Map will be updated to reflect existing and new roadways.
Arts, Culture and Recreational
Proposals to the park classification guidelines are meant to maintain their relevancy and effectiveness. The refinements to the text provide better definition and celebration of Peoria’s three recreational centers as key assets within the City’s larger recreational network.
Implementation
This section will no longer require an amendment when realigning a roadway segment and/or changing it from “future” to “existing” on the Circulation Map in order to reflect completed road construction through the Capital Improvement Program or via private development.
“These General Plan Amendments ensure that our city will have a say in how our economic development future develops with Smart Growth strategies that align with the 303 corridor, creating the jobs, medical, restaurants and commercial areas that our residents want to see in Peoria,” said Mayor Jason Beck. “These strategies are how we will increase the revenues we need to build a dynamic city.”
Peoria’s Planning Department provided a 2024 Major General Plan Amendment Update to City Council in two study sessions this Spring. The Planning Department also held two public hearings in July and August.
The next action will take place at the October 15 City Council meeting where City staff will present an Economic Development strategy presentation for the North Peoria Gateway. Planned Community Development (PCD) zoning is in process for this 1,620 acres of state land. Peoria is promoting retail, commercial and mixed-use applications for this area.
Land planning efforts are underway now for the 6,700+ acres of the Peoria Innovation Core. Drafts of these plans are expected to be presented to City Council in Spring 2025.
For more information about Peoria’s General Plan, download documents, and watch videos of study sessions and City Council presentations and votes visit peoriaaz.gov/generalplan.
