On November 5, Carefree residents ratified a new Carefree General Plan with a 57% YES vote. The plan, which will replace the current plan ratified in 2012, will remain in effect until a new General Plan is adopted and ratified, which by statute should be in approximately ten years. The 2024 plan will become effective when the vote is certified by the Carefree Town Council, likely on December 3.
Every municipality is required by Arizona statute to have a General Plan that must consist of a statement of community goals and development policies (ARS § 9-461.05). For Carefree, the plan is specifically required to have six elements: land use, circulation, open space, growth, environmental planning, development, and water resources.
A General Plan is to some extent an aspirational document meant to reflect the desires of the registered voters of a municipality for future development. Though zoning changes are required to be consistent with a pre-existing General Plan the reverse is not true, and General Plan provisions generally have no explicit authority except as supported by existing zoning and legislation.
The 2024 General Plan process was an extensive, open, public process that began during November of 2022, with active public engagement starting during the first community workshop on February 1, 2023. Over the next seventeen months input was accepted through online survey, direct email, and at least eleven public meetings including two special work sessions. Most input came from Carefree residents, but state agencies and other government stakeholders also contributed on a few topics of wider impact. A few change requests also required legal analysis. Multiple drafts of the General Plan were presented on the Town website as suggested changes were incorporated.
On July 2, the document that finally emerged from this public process was approved by the required supermajority of the Carefree Town Council, a step that was necessary before the proposed General Plan could be placed on the general election ballot.
The public feedback process gave residents many opportunities to present their opinions. Some residents cooperated outside the public process to build support for specific changes and amplify their feedback.
Public representatives considered all the statements they received, and also had to evaluate individual and group claims of broad representation, account for residents who were not active in the process, and evaluate special interests. They also had to evaluate objective evidence relating to the best long-term interests of the town, which they are tasked with protecting.
On November 5th a majority of Carefree voters accepted the result.
Submitted by
Carefree Unity
