High Stakes In City's General Plan Rewrite

"Under the state's Growing Smarter legislation, cities around the statemust overhaul their general plans, their basic frameworks for development. The plans traditionally cover such basics as transportation, recreation and where to put houses, industry and retail. Growing Smarter adds five points: open space, cost of development, growth areas, environmental planning and water resources. There are also new requirements for public participation. And for the first time ever, the plans will be taken to voters for approval, which Phoenix expects to do in the fall."