Maricopa County Seeks Public Input on Draft 2040 Growth Plan | The Locally Times
Maricopa County opened a 60-day public review for its 2040 growth plan, but the Jan. 27 announcement omits submission details and a link to the draft.
## Public Comment Period Begins for 2040 Growth Plan Maricopa County’s Planning & Development department announced its Framework 2040 Comprehensive Plan Public Review Draft in a news bulletin on January 27, 2026. According to the bulletin, a public meeting was scheduled for January 29, officially starting a 60-day review period for public feedback. The plan will guide county-level decisions on future growth, development, and preservation through 2040, replacing a previous Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2016. The document is intended to provide a basis for developing the natural and built environment. ## Update Cites Growth, Legal Mandates as Drivers The county’s announcement identifies new growth patterns, evolving industries, and Arizona legal requirements as factors necessitating the update. The records do not specify the legal requirements mentioned. The Framework 2040 plan is intended to ensure county development aligns with what the document refers to as long-term community values. To achieve this, the plan aims to consolidate existing growth strategies into a single, cohesive framework. The stated purpose is to allow for context-appropriate development while preserving the county’s natural and rural landscapes. The plan’s scope is extensive, covering land use, transportation, parks, open space, water resources, energy, economic growth, environmental planning, and the cost of development. ## Announcement Omits Key Details for Public Review While Maricopa County initiated a 60-day public review, the January 27 announcement does not provide a direct link to the full draft of the Framework 2040 plan or specify how residents can submit feedback. The bulletin also does not detail the Arizona legal requirements that partly prompted the update, nor does it explain how the cost of development will be calculated or allocated. The announcement does not describe the process used to gather the community values the plan purports to reflect. Details on how the county will weigh public feedback against the interests of developers and other agencies are also not included. The provided records do not contain the outcomes of the January 29 public meeting. The final plan's approval timeline following the public comment period is undefined.