Town Of Oro Valley is embarking on a 2-year project to update the general plan. The general plan and the update are required by state mandate. The general plan includes a land use map that defines how land can be used in Oro Valley. It includes many other directives, some of which we will explore in future postings.
The town is planning to spend upwards of $300,000 in building this plan. The effort includes a significant public input program.
The plan matters to you because it is one of 3 things over which residents actually have control. Through voting, residents control who is elected to the seven elected positions, the approval of the new forms of taxation, and the approval of the general plan.
The plan is not sacred. It can be changed by vote of the Oro Valley Town Council. We have observed a number of amendments to the general plan since 2010. We will detail these in a later posting.
Last week, two "call to audience speakers" voiced their views on the importance of adherence to the general plan.
Should Our Elected Officials Use The General Plan As A Guide?
"The general plan in my opinion...should be a guide, not a hard and fast rule. Things change. You can't rely on a plan that was made a decade ago.... We expect town leaders to make changes when its needed and when it can be justified."
Should Our Elected Officials Be the Implementers and Protectors Of The General Plan?
He continued: "We spend so much time making exceptions to these plans than we spend time following them."
"Citizens are inclined not to have a high level of trust government to begin with...and that it appears rather obvious that the plan is vulnerable in fact susceptible to change."
As a result, he noted, citizens might consider "...an invitation to join in an effort to update a plan as disingenuous when it appears that the town has no intention of following it, either that plan or any other plans."
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We ask you: How closely should the council adhere to the general plan? Should council members be instruments of changing the general plan or should they be stewards of the general plan?
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3 comments:
While the General Plan isn't "law" it IS a directive from the voters of Oro Valley. There must be a reasonable expectation the Town Council will respect the vote of the people.
And such 'reasonable expectation' should include specific parameters, almost like a bill of rights, that specify where the GP can be implemented with interpretation, and where any deviation from the GP (based on the parameters/bill of rights) needs to be referred to voters.
As one of the voters who approved the current General Plan, I am very disappointed how easily it is ignored and/or changed!
Christopher Fox is correct when he says any deviation from the GP needs to be referred to voters.
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