Pinal County began the planning process for a proposed Open Space and Trails Master Plan in May of 2006. This proposed master plan will help Pinal County identify open space and trail opportunities at the countywide level.

Significant research was done and data collected to identify areas within Pinal County that had high resource value. Information studied included water, geology, biological significance, cultural resources and other important values. Additionally, parks, open space and trails plans from municipalities, federal land managers and other entities within Pinal County were collected and inventoried.

We held two series of public meetings throughout Pinal County to gather public input in the development of this plan. The first series of meetings were held in late June 2006 (locations were Apache Junction, Oracle and Coolidge) and was intended to gather the values, issues and needs of the public with regards to open space and trails.

The second series of meetings were held in late October 2006 (locations were Johnson Ranch/San Tan area, Saddlebrooke and Maricopa) and presented a preliminary draft of the vision, goals and objectives along with the accompanying maps. Comments were solicited at these meetings that will add to the base data collected.

Since that time, staff and our consultant for this project, Logan Simpson Design, have worked on refining the proposed Open Space and Trails Plan map. In February 2007, the draft Final Master Plan was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission in a work session.

An application for two Comprehensive Plan text amendments was made in May 2007. The first application was to amend the Transportation element and the second was to add a new element, Open Space Acquisition and Preservation. The text for these proposed changes is below, in addition to a copy of the Open Space and Trails Plan map that accompanied them.

There will be additional opportunities for agencies and the public to comment on these proposals. Pinal County staff will send the proposed amendments to agencies for review. The 60 day review period begins on May 30th. The public meeting schedule for the Comprehensive Plan amendments is listed below. You may also send comments to the name and address below.

Public Comment Opportunites for the Comprehensive Plan Changes

1. Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting
   Wednesday, September 26th
   Public invited to comment (briefly)
   Meet in the EOC Room, 6 PM
   

2. Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
   Thursday October 18th
   Study Session (Public invited to listen only)
   Meet in the EOC Room at 9 AM
   

3. Planning and Zoning Commission
   Thursday November 1st
   To review requests and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors
   Public testimony taken
   Meet in the EOC Room at 9 AM
   

4. Board of Supervisors
   Wednesday November 28th
   Hearing of the Board of Supervisors to Approve, Deny or Continue requests
   Public testimony taken
   Meet in the Supervisors Hearing Room at 9:30 AM

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact:

Kent Taylor
Senior Planner Parks, Open Space and Trails Pinal County
P.O. Box 2973
Florence, AZ 85232
Phone: 520-866-6910
Fax: 520-866-6435