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Burns: General Plan 2035 is back in the political game

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The Scottsdale General Plan 2035 update is gaining political attention and the city has again engaged a study group to revise and comment on the draft document generated by the General Plan Task Force in 2014.

The draft document was forwarded to the Planning Commission and City Council with a recommendation for approval and eventual ratification of the voters. It is now going on six years since the Task Force completed their work and disbanded. Having served as vice chairman I was very encouraged at the time that we had created a very comprehensive document that could be adopted and ratified by the voters of Scottsdale.

The timing in my reasoning was perfect in that the citizen ratification would occur in a presidential election year (2016) where a robust voter turnout was anticipated, and a complete cross section of Scottsdale voters would be casting ballots.

Instead the thoroughly vetted document languished in political neverland only to be shelved while the 2001 General Plan with statutory revisions remained in place.

Over the last six years the city has remained polarized on many issues including Desert Discovery Center, Southbridge, Museum Square, Marque Office Building, Papago Plaza Redevelopment and the Scottsdale National Project/Fiesta Ranch.

Bad zoning decisions like Scottsdale National/Fiesta Ranch sometimes have a half-life like nuclear waste and return to haunt the community for decades after their original misguided approvals.

Lacking a comprehensive vision and the leadership to implement that vision, thinking of the community as a whole outside of personal ambition and gain or political agenda has been lacking in this city for a long time.

The problem currently is that the plan has become dated to some extent but to again start from scratch with another task force or committee is unworkable, costly and undesirable.

Two times, one in 2011 and again in 2014, we asked citizen participants to dedicate innumerable hours along with city staff to produce draft documents for citizen approvals at public expense.

The current draft document can be updated by the highly competent city staff along with comment from the currently formed review committee. This updated document can then meet the timelines necessary to proceed to City Council for approval and be forwarded to the citizens for ratification and adoption.

My only problem with this timeline is that the voter ratification will fall in an off-election year where a large turnout will not be realized.

Finally, I hope that the candidates currently seeking election are sincere in bringing some closure and clarity to this issue not just a convenient talking point during this election cycle.

Remember they will be elected prior to any action on this document. Just like in the Charlie Brown cartoon will Lucy again pull the football away just prior to the winning field goal. I hope not!

Editor’s Note: Timothy P. Burns is a lifelong resident of Scottsdale and has served on numerous boards and commissions along with his citizen participation in the Scottsdale visioning process.