CPA2022006 BOS REPORT.PDF

Maricopa County — Formal (2022-11-02)

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November 2, 2022 
CPA2022006 
Page 1 of 1 
Report to the Board of Supervisors 
Prepared by the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department 
 
 
 
Board Hearing Date: 
November 2, 2022 (Cont. from July 27, 2022) 
 
Case #/Title:   
 
 
CPA2022006 – Mobile Area Plan Decommission       
 
Supervisor District: 
5 
 
Request: 
Decommission the Mobile Area Plan. CPA approval is by 
Resolution. 
 
Additional 
Comments: 
The Mobile Area Plan was originally adopted in 1991. It 
currently consists of approximately 36 square miles. Research 
completed by our GIS team and staff found that 
approximately 32 square miles of the plan area or 89% has 
been incorporated by the City of Goodyear. Only 
approximately 4 square miles of unincorporated land remains 
within the Mobile Planning Area, thus it no longer fits with the 
County’s area plan program expectations. 
 
The Board continued this case to the November 2, 2022 
hearing to allow for additional outreach efforts. On June 29, 
2022, staff sent an e-mail to registered interest groups in the 
Mobile area but received no inquires. There is no known 
opposition to the proposed decommissioning. 
 
Commission   
Recommendation: 
On 6/16/22, the Commission voted 7-0 to recommend 
approval of CPA2022006 to decommission the area plan.  
 
 
Presented by: 
 
Rachel Applegate, Senior Planner 
Reviewed by: 
 
Darren Gérard, AICP, Planning Manager   
 
Attachments: 
 
6/16/22 P&Z Packet (4 pages)  
 
 
PZ Handout – County Area Plan Status Summary (1 page)  
 
 
6/29/22 Outreach e-mail notice (2 pages) 
 
 
Resolution (2 pages)

CPA2022006 
Page 1 of 3 
Report to the Planning and Zoning Commission 
Prepared by the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department 
 
 
 
Case: 
CPA2022006 – Mobile Area Plan Decommission  
 
 
Meeting Date: 
June 16, 2022 
 
 
Supervisor District: 
5 
 
 
  
 
Request: 
Decommission the Mobile Area Plan (staff initiated) 
 
  
 
  
Recommendation: 
Approve to decommission the Mobile Area Plan 
 
Overview & Staff Analysis 
 
1. The Mobile Area Plan was originally adopted in 1991. It currently consists of approximately 36 
square miles generally located north and south of SR 238, eastern boundary abutting Pinal 
County, and western boundary between Bullard Ave. and 99th Ave. 
 
Map of Mobile Area Plan Boundaries 
 
 
2. Much has changed in the planning area since the plan adoption in 1991, like several of the 
other County Area Plans, which was discussed at the August 19, 2021 ZIPPOR Meeting. Staff 
evaluated all of the current area plans based on the following criteria to determine which 
ones could be considered for decommissioning: 
 
• Percentage and total area of land that has been incorporated through annexation since 
plan approval; 
 
• The number of Comprehensive Plan Amendments (CPAs) and/or Development Master 
Plans (DMP’s) that have occurred in the last 10-years within each area plan;

CPA2022006 
Page 2 of 3 
• The potential for growth/large-scale development, as well as other unique factors related 
to each specific area plans such as regional parks and open space, natural barriers, and 
types of land uses; and 
 
• The original and most recent update (if applicable) for each plan. 
 
3. Specific to the Mobile Area Plan, research completed by our GIS team and staff found that 
approximately 32 square miles of the plan area or 89% has been incorporated by the City of 
Goodyear. Only approximately 4 square miles of unincorporated land remains within the 
Mobile Planning Area.  
 
Map of Incorporated Portions Within Mobile Area Plan 
 
 
4. Since 2010, only 1 CPA or DMP has been approved in the Mobile Area Plan boundary, 
showing the lack of proposed growth with larger scale developments for changing the future 
land use designations of the plan.  
 
5. Current County jurisdiction includes mostly rural and residential densities/zoning. Large 
portion of the area is designated for the landfill site on 99th Ave. and Butterfield Stage Rd.

CPA2022006 
Page 3 of 3 
 
6. The potential benefits of decommissioning this area plan would be that it would remove an 
outdated document, where staff can focus on county island specific research and updates 
within the future Comprehensive Plan update. The current plan has not been updated for 
nearly 30 years and it does not represent the current conditions and goals/policies of the 
Mobile area. The most important aspect of decommissioning the plan is that all remaining 
County jurisdiction land would automatically be reverted to “Rural Development Area 
(RDA)” with a density range of 0 – 1 d.u./ac. It is important for the unincorporated areas to 
remain with the lowest intensity land use designation which would require a public hearing 
process for requested changes (if zoning is not already established) including zone changes 
and land use proposals over 40 acres that does not fit within the RDA land use designation 
category.  
 
7. Staff will focus on a county island study and policy portion to evaluate all areas of the County 
as part of the next Comprehensive Plan update in 2026, which will be in the process for 
updating within the next couple of years. This study would provide goals and policies in 
support of the Comprehensive Plan to offer specific direction related to the growth and 
development within county island areas. The county island study would be used as follows: 
 
• 
Provide up to date information on existing conditions including utilities and services within 
these areas; 
 
• 
Analyze future development requests to understand what, if anything, is feasible within 
existing county islands and how to encourage annexation when needed; 
 
• 
Set specific strategies and policies for different types, sizes, and locations of these county 
islands. This will help guide proposals to viable development options if available based 
on particulars of each area; and  
 
• 
Promote a comprehensive approach to understanding the current state of county 
islands, and to outline possible solutions for the future from a policy and guideline 
perspective for these areas of the County. 
 
Recommendation 
 
8. Staff recommends the Commission motion for approval of case CPA2022006 to 
decommission the Mobile Area Plan for the reasons outlined in this report. 
 
Presented by:  
Ray Banker, Senior Planner 
Reviewed by: 
Darren Gerard, AICP, Deputy Director 
 
Attachment 
Case Map

301 W. Jefferson St., Ste. 170 
Phoenix AZ 85003 
Phone: (602) 506-7139 
Fax: (602) 506-3711 
www.maricopa.gov/planning 
Maricopa County 
Planning & Development Department 
 
Date: June 16, 2022 
To:  
Maricopa County Planning & Zoning Commission 
From: Darren V. Gerard, AICP, Planning Services Manager 
 
RE:  County Area Plans status summary 
 
The following summary was presented to the Commission in August 2021 when staff was 
given direction to proceed with decommissioning of five area plans – Laveen, Estrella, 
Mobile, East Mesa and Queen Creek.

From:
Darren Gerard (PND)
To:
Matthew Holm (PND)
Subject:
CPA2022006 decommissioning of the Mobile Area Plan
Date:
Wednesday, June 29, 2022 8:37:00 PM
Attachments:
image005.png
image006.png
Mobile.docx
image001.png
To:     Registered Area of Interest groups within the East Mesa Area Plan
From: Darren V. Gerard, AICP, Planning Manager
Re:     CPA2022006 decommissioning of the Mobile Area Plan
 
Maricopa County is undertaking a comprehensive analysis of all County Area Plans to ensure
that they reflect the current conditions of the local community they serve, and to ensure they
remain compliant with the are plan program as outlined in Vision 2030, The Maricopa County
Comprehensive Plan. Several area plans (see below), including the Mobile Area Plan, no
longer meets these criteria, thus will be decommissioned and a new strategy will be used to
oversee future growth in this area.
 
The Mobile Area Plan was adopted in 1991. It covers approximately 36 square miles, but an
estimated 89% of the area has been incorporated by the City of Goodyear that has left mostly
scattered and discontiguous county islands. The result is that only approximately 4 square
miles of unincorporated land remains within the Mobile Area Plan. Because of these
annexation patterns, the existing Mobile Area Plan no longer represents the conditions and
goals/policies of the area, and no longer meets the requirements and expectations for
inclusion in the County’s area plan program.
 
The most important aspect of decommissioning this plan is that all remaining unincorporated
land will now be designated “Rural Development Area (RDA)” which a residential density
range of 0 – 1 d.u./ac. and is appropriate for primarily rural-type land uses. Also, the RDA will
help ensure that the local community is notified of any future requests for zone changes that
do not meet these low-density criteria so that it can participate fully in these decisions.
 
Decommissioning this area plan will not change or otherwise affect any previously approved
comprehensive plan amendment (CPA) or existing zoning with the planning area. Rather, the
decommissioning and RDA designation will be a new and effective strategy to evaluate future
growth in coordination with the community.
 
Please submit any comments online at:
https://www.maricopa.gov/FormCenter/Regulatory-Planning-Development-15/Comment-on-a-
Planning-Case-183,
or you may send them directly to me as noted in my signature block below.

Darren V. Gérard, AICP
Planning Services Manager
Maricopa County Planning & Development Department
301 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Desk: 602-506-7139 | Cell: 602-723-2241 | Fax: 602-506-3711
Darren.Gerard@maricopa.gov
 
P&D is now 100% digital for construction permit applications.
Find information on our new permit process here.
As of March 29, P&D’s main office has relocated to 301 W. Jefferson St.