CAVE CREEK – When citizens failed to ratify the 2016 Cave Creek General Plan during last year’s election it was suggested it may have failed due to their misunderstanding or lack of understanding about the document.
In an effort to engage the public and keep them informed during the entire input and review process, the planning commission will be issuing a series of newsletters, the first of which should be showing up in mailboxes and with utility bills shortly.
In crafting the 2016 document, the planning commission struggled with and had in-depth discussions to update the town’s vision statement.
While Cave Creek has long been known for its Western heritage, it has since become a more eclectic mix of people who enjoy not only the equestrian lifestyle but it’s lively bars and restaurants, motorcycling, mountain biking, the arts, hiking and the open space of the town’s prized Sonoran Desert backdrop.
Because Arizona law requires all cities, towns and counties to have a general plan that is updated every 10 years, a revised general plan will be submitted to voters for ratification again in 2018.
The first newsletter briefly explains what the general plan is and encourages citizens to participate in the process by providing the schedule for citizen input sessions and subsequent planning commission workshops, which are also open to the public.
The three input sessions to be held in July, August and September will address the various sections of the general plan as outlined in the schedule.
Because citizens failed to ratify the 2016 general plan, the 2005 Cave Creek General Plan is currently in effect.
However, the planning commission will be using the 2016 general plan as a starting point for revising the document.
The series of newsletters are aimed at keeping the public informed throughout the process.
