July 12, 2008 – 7:44PM
Beth Lucas, Tribune

The Apache Junction City Council will vote Tuesday night to take part in an ongoing three-year study in how to plan 275 square miles of land that some say could bring economic prosperity to the region.

The area being studied, known as Superstition Vistas, includes the 1,000-acre Desert Communities inside of the city. Apache Junction could become a key entry point into the planned massive community.

The council will vote on approving two $40,000 payments to be involved in the process. City officials have already been involved in the Superstition Vistas Steering Committee.

One of the payments covers the city’s expenses for fiscal year 2007-08, and the other pays for fiscal year 2008-09 that began July 1.

Vice Mayor R.E. Eck Jr. said it’s important for the city to be involved with the process.

“We’ve got to be at the table,” he said. “We have to be involved.”

The $1.6 million study is being done by Robert Grow Consulting, which has studied other major master-planned communities nationwide. Every city or county taking part in the study is paying East Valley Partnership $120,000 over three years.

Roc Arnett, president and CEO of East Valley Partnership, will speak at a council study session Monday in Apache Junction.

Arnett said the key to the study is to determine how to develop the massive area. The goal, he said, is to develop it in such a way that it becomes “something very special” and that it “brings phenomenal value to the state Land Department” which owns the land.

“We have to do some above-average exceptional kinds of things all the way into environmental planning, the water usage, transportation and future plans for roads,” Arnett said. “If we can even be so lucky as to get a commuter rail through the middle of it … some phenomenal things could take place if in fact the moon and the stars lined up just right.”

Brad Steinke, director of development for the city, said it’s vital for the area to plan in advance and not run into other infrastructure and transportation issues suffered in the Valley historically.

“We’re trying not to repeat the sins of the past,” he said. “We’re trying to create a proper plan for the future.”