Arizona State Land Department currently in the process of finalizing a Conceptual Land Use Plan for the Superstition Vistas Project area

Arizona Revised Statute sec. 37-331.03 provides that “The Commissioner shall create conceptual land use plans for all urban state trust land in this state and other state trust lands the Commissioner considers to be appropriate.” The Commissioner has determined that this is the appropriate time to develop a Conceptual Land Use Plan for Superstition Vistas due to the tremendous amount of interest in the area, the investment of both time and financing by the Steering Committee to conduct studies and provide the foundation for a concept land to the Arizona State Land Department without the Department having to expend the resources, and the future value of the area to beneficiaries.

The Arizona State Statues define a Conceptual Land Use Plan as a plan that identifies appropriate land uses, including commercial, industrial and residential uses and transportation corridors, all natural and artificial constraints and opportunities associated with the land.

Based on the Site Analysis data outlined in this report, the research conducted as part of this plan, and previously completed studies, a set Goal Statements and a Conceptual Land Use Plan were prepared. With few exceptions, the land uses are consistent with the land use categories in the Pinal County Comprehensive Plan.

The Conceptual Land Use Plan is based on current information and input from various agencies and stakeholders and is intended to guide development decisions in the future. Future development requests may be required to conduct more in depth analysis and studies to better understand the implications of development. For example, transportation studies, water analysis or drainage studies may be required to determine how a proposed development should address specific constraints or perceived issues.

The Conceptual Land Use Plan reflects residential land uses of varying densities. It is important to note the densities and land uses that are possible within each land use category are further defined in the Pinal County Comprehensive Plan. For example, the Moderate Low Density Residential land use which allows 1-3.5 dwelling units per acre also allows higher density as well as commercial and industrial uses depending on specific conditions.

It is currently the intent of the State Land Department to submit an amendment to the Pinal County Comprehensive Plan in June of 2011. The amendment will be based on the Conceptual Plan. The Pinal County Comprehensive Plan amendment process has several review levels culminating with the Board of Supervisors review and consideration. It is anticipated that the amendment process will be completed in December of 2011.