The Town of Oro Valley is thrilled to share some exciting news! The Community Engagement Plan for our upcoming General Plan has scooped up an award for Public Outreach from the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award was proudly received by our Planning Division on September 7 during the 2023 State Planning Conference held in Litchfield Park, AZ.
Public outreach is at the heart of Oro Valley’s General Plan. By state law, we need a Community Engagement Plan, and we thought, “Why not make it special?” So, rather than the usual approach of having staff or consultants draft it, we conducted a survey and teamed up with a resident advisory group to really capture community involvement. Turns out, this approach isn’t very common around the state!
The fun began in January 2023 when we launched a community survey aimed at finding the best ways to engage everyone in the upcoming 2026 General Plan. Within a month, 706 surveys were submitted, giving us a 95% confidence level that the feedback truly represents what our residents think. The survey helped us pinpoint how we can better connect with you, our community.
Next, we formed an advisory group with members of the Town Council, various Boards and Commissions, the Youth Advisory Council, Town staff, and the local marketing experts, Gordley Group. They participated in four study sessions, diving into the 2016 General Plan and looking at how Oro Valley has evolved. Their goal? To make sure our community is well-involved as we move forward. In March 2023, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the final Engagement Plan, and the Town Council gave it a thumbs-up!
Bayer Vella, our Planning Manager, shared, “This award belongs to our residents who poured their time and care into this community effort. It’s what makes Oro Valley a special place.” If you want to check out a video presented at the award ceremony, click here. You can also view the Community Engagement Plan here.
Get ready, because the official kick-off for the 2026 General Plan is happening this fall. We’d love for you to stay in the loop and join the fun! Click here to subscribe to our email list, and don’t forget to follow the Town of Oro Valley on social media.
Why Your Voice Matters
The General Plan is a big deal—it’s a 10-year roadmap that includes goals and policies for public safety, environment, parks, water, development, housing, and employment, among others. Our current plan, “Your Voice, Our Future,” was voted in by 71% of our residents back in 2016, following three years of public outreach.
Out of the 310 actionable items in the current plan, an impressive 95% are either complete or will be soon. Thanks to this plan, we’ve seen wonderful achievements like the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the safeguarding of our beautiful large Saguaros. Want to dive into the current plan? Click here.
Community input is essential for crafting a comprehensive, actionable 10-year plan. We will be rolling out opportunities for involvement with the next General Plan this October. Please visit the Town’s website to see our community engagement plan in action and let your voice be heard.
Here’s a snapshot of the Town staff who worked on the Community Engagement Plan:
– Karl Shaddock – Management Analyst
– Misti Nowak – Communications and Marketing Administrator
– Kyle Packer – Senior Planner
– Milini Simms – Principal Planner
– Jeanna Ancona – Senior Office Specialist, Planning Division
– Bayer Vella – Planning Manager
– Michael Spaeth – Principal Planner
Sources
– Community Engagement Plan Video
– Community Engagement Plan Document
– Email Subscription
– Current General Plan Document