Defining Where Growth Goes — and Where It Doesn't

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on May 20, 2026 to adopt Framework 2040, the county's new Comprehensive Plan that replaces the 2016 plan and guides growth and development in unincorporated areas through 2040.

At its core, Framework 2040 draws a clear distinction between areas where urban services and infrastructure should be provided and rural areas where the county's role is preservation, not development. Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee (District 3) described it as "clarity on where urban service and infrastructure should be provided" and "a vital lifeline for citizens in rural Maricopa County who value the character, identity, and preservation of their communities."

A Framework for Rural Protection

The unincorporated areas of Maricopa County span more than 9,200 square miles — from the remote desert communities of the far West Valley to the Rio Verde Foothills and the rural southeast. These are areas without municipal water systems, without urban police and fire response times, and without the infrastructure that supports dense development.

Framework 2040 establishes that not every piece of land should be developed. By defining where urban infrastructure is appropriate and where it is not, the plan gives the county a policy basis to say no to development that belongs in cities — preserving rural character, natural landscapes, and the quality of life that drew residents to those areas in the first place.

Supervisor Thomas Galvin (District 2) captured the balance: "This plan honors the integrity of our rural communities, while allowing our urban communities to continue to grow responsibly."

The Urban Side: Growth With Infrastructure

The plan directs growth rather than stopping it. Vice Chair Debbie Lesko (District 4) was explicit about the conditions: "I'm a strong believer in economic development and expansion, but it needs to occur with the proper infrastructure in place. That includes water, wastewater, transportation, and emergency response, among other critical services."

Brophy McGee, who made infrastructure a signature priority when she became Chair, has asked county staff to create a development pipeline dashboard — a tool to track approved but unbuilt projects alongside planned infrastructure improvements, giving the Board and the public a real-time view of where growth is outpacing infrastructure.

What the Public Wanted

The plan was shaped by an extensive outreach process: public meetings across all five districts, more than 2,400 completed surveys, online mapping tools, and idea wall comments. Three guiding themes emerged — prosperity, stewardship, and opportunity — and residents consistently prioritized:

  • Preserving natural and rural landscapes
  • Protecting the regional water supply
  • Encouraging high-quality development
  • Fostering economic opportunities
  • Improving law enforcement coverage and response times
  • Expanding access to recreational lands

What It Means

Framework 2040 functions as a policy document, establishing criteria against which every rezoning, subdivision approval, and development plan in unincorporated areas will be evaluated. The plan gives the Board of Supervisors a clear, defensible basis to approve development where infrastructure exists or is planned, and to deny it where it would harm rural character or outpace the county's ability to provide services.

The Full Plan

Framework 2040 is available at framework2040.com and through the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department.