Tucson voters to decide on Plan Tucson, guiding framework for city’s future | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz.- (KVOA) Every 10 years, Arizona requires some cities like Tucson to have a voter approved roadmap or direction that guides the city.

Plan Tucson looks a decade down the road with 14 different goals and aspirations.

It’s up to Tucson voters next Tuesday to decide whether to adopt this new plan or keep the existing plan that was greenlit by voters back in 2013. Plan Tucson is on the ballot as Proposition 417.

“This is the only one that the public votes on and we only do it once every 10 years,” City of Tucson Planner and Plan Tucson Project Manager Cesar Acosta said.

Plan Tucson 2025 is intended to update the city’s general plan over the next decade. If voters back the plan, it will serve as a framework for Mayor Regina Romero and city council.

There are 14 goals and aspirations outlined in the plan including

fostering an equitable community, improving health and safety, climate resiliency, more affordable housing and protecting Tucson’s water supply.

The plan has input from residents, businesses, various stakeholders and neighborhood associations.

“This has been a community effort for the last two and half years, to think about what kind of city we want to create and this is a document we’ll have for the next 10 years to help shape what kind of community we want to be,” Acosta said. “No matter what it doesn’t change taxes, current zoning, it doesn’t change existing plans.”

“I personally have two grandchildren here in town, a grandson and a granddaughter,” native Tucsonan and architect Bob Vint said. “I would like for them to live in a healthy, safe, affordable Tucson.”

Vint backs PROP 417. “There’s a particular emphasis on what’s called missing middle housing which is neither high rise nor is it single story suburban sprawl, but somewhere in between,” Vint said. “We can either plan for the future or let the future take it’s own course.”

Acosta emphasizes Plan Tucson is in the hands of voters.

“This kind of direct participation only happens once in a blue moon,” he said. “It’s such a unique opportunity to be invovled and to have long lasting impact on what our community looks like in the future.”

Ballot drop off locations are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.