HomeMy WebLinkAboutGeneral Plan 2010 General Plan 2010
Acknowledgements Town of Fountain Hills
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following individuals and firms had a major role in the preparation of the
General Plan 2010.
Town Council
Jay Schlum, Mayor Cassie Hansen
Mike Archambault Henry Leger
Dennis Contino Keith McMahan (deceased)
Ginny Dickey Dennis Brown (appointed May, 2009)
Planning and Zoning Commission
Dennis Brown, (Prior Chairman) Cecil Yates
Paul McDonald, Chairman Clark Summerfield
Jerry Caldwell Art Tolis
Sherry Leckrone Gary Goodell
Lloyd Pew Jeff Mangels
Participants
Rick Davis, Town Manager LVA Urban Design Studio, LLC
Andrew McGuire, Town Attorney Reviewing Agencies
Planning and Zoning Department Staff Residents and Citizens of the Town of
Staff of the Town of Fountain Hills Fountain Hills
General Plan 2010
Table of Contents Town of Fountain Hills
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Mission Statement ..................................................................................................................... 1
Purpose of the General Plan 2010 .......................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS
Regional Context ...................................................................................................................... 4
Community History .................................................................................................................... 4
Environmental Characteristics ................................................................................................ 6
Community Facilities and Services ......................................................................................... 7
Law Enforcement ............................................................................................................. 7
Fire Protection ................................................................................................................... 8
Health Care ....................................................................................................................... 8
Educational Facilities ....................................................................................................... 9
Religious Facilities ............................................................................................................. 9
Community and Civic Center........................................................................................ 9
Parks and Open Space ................................................................................................... 9
Utility Services ........................................................................................................................... 10
Water ................................................................................................................................ 10
Sanitary Sewer ................................................................................................................ 10
Electricity .......................................................................................................................... 11
Natural Gas ..................................................................................................................... 11
Telephone........................................................................................................................ 11
Solid Waste Collection .................................................................................................. 11
Socioeconomic Conditions ................................................................................................... 12
Age Distribution .............................................................................................................. 12
Race Distribution ............................................................................................................ 12
Housing Trends ................................................................................................................ 12
Education Level and Income ...................................................................................... 12
Town Financial Overview ....................................................................................................... 13
Land Use and Zoning .............................................................................................................. 13
Existing Land Use ............................................................................................................ 13
Existing Zoning ................................................................................................................. 16
Land Ownership ............................................................................................................. 17
Transportation .......................................................................................................................... 18
Street System Inventory ................................................................................................. 18
Public Transit .................................................................................................................... 19
Bicycle Pathways ........................................................................................................... 19
Sidewalks and Trails ........................................................................................................ 20
CHAPTER 3: LAND USE ELEMENT
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 31
Background .............................................................................................................................. 31
Vision, Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 33
Land Use Plan ........................................................................................................................... 35
Land Use Definitions ....................................................................................................... 35
Residential Uses ..................................................................................................... 36
Service/Employment Uses ................................................................................... 36
Municipal/Institutional Uses ................................................................................. 37
General Plan 2010
Table of Contents Town of Fountain Hills
Open Space/Recreational Uses ........................................................................ 37
Opportunities and Constraints ..................................................................................... 38
Land Use Guidelines ...................................................................................................... 39
Residential Land Use Guidelines ......................................................................... 39
Environmentally Sensitive Land Use Guidelines ............................................... 40
Implementation Activities ...................................................................................................... 41
CHAPTER 4: GROWTH AREAS ELEMENT
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 44
Background .............................................................................................................................. 44
Visions, Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................... 45
Growth Areas Plan .................................................................................................................. 48
Residential Growth Areas ............................................................................................. 48
Commercial Growth Areas .......................................................................................... 50
Vacant Infill Areas .......................................................................................................... 51
Multi-Use Growth Areas ................................................................................................. 52
Peripheral Areas ............................................................................................................. 55
Temporary and Special Event Areas .......................................................................... 55
Implementation Activities ...................................................................................................... 56
CHAPTER 5: COST OF DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 58
Background .............................................................................................................................. 58
Vision, Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 59
Cost of Development Plan .................................................................................................... 60
Regulatory Methods ...................................................................................................... 60
Financial Methods .......................................................................................................... 61
Implementation Activities ...................................................................................................... 62
CHAPTER 6: OPEN SPACE ELEMENT
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 63
Background .............................................................................................................................. 63
Vision, Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 64
Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan ........................................................................... 67
Parks ................................................................................................................................. 67
School Sites ...................................................................................................................... 69
Golf Courses .................................................................................................................... 70
McDowell Mountain Preserve ...................................................................................... 70
Desert Botanical Gardens ............................................................................................ 71
Undeveloped Wash Corridors ...................................................................................... 71
Open Space Definitions ................................................................................................ 71
Implementation Activities ...................................................................................................... 73
CHAPTER 7: CIRCULATION ELEMENT
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 81
Background .............................................................................................................................. 81
Vision, Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 82
Circulation Plan ....................................................................................................................... 86
Functional Classification System .................................................................................. 86
Traffic Volumes ............................................................................................................... 88
Alternative Transportation Systems ............................................................................. 88
Public Transit........................................................................................................... 88
General Plan 2010
Table of Contents Town of Fountain Hills
Bicycle Pathways .................................................................................................. 88
Circulation Development Guidelines ......................................................................... 89
Street Design Guidelines ...................................................................................... 89
Driveway Design ................................................................................................... 89
Parking .................................................................................................................... 89
Traffic Signals .......................................................................................................... 89
Community-Wide Bicycle Plan ........................................................................... 90
Drainage and Flood Control ............................................................................... 90
Implementation Activities ...................................................................................................... 90
CHAPTER 8: WATER RESOURCES ELEMENT
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 93
Background .............................................................................................................................. 93
Vision, Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 93
Water Resources Plan ............................................................................................................. 94
Implementation Activities ...................................................................................................... 95
CHAPTER 9: ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING ELEMENT
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 96
Background .............................................................................................................................. 96
Vision, Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 97
Environmental Preservation Plan ........................................................................................ 100
Mountain Preserve and Wash Areas ........................................................................ 100
Trail System .................................................................................................................... 100
Education Program ...................................................................................................... 100
Low Water Use Plants .................................................................................................. 100
Hillside Protection ......................................................................................................... 101
Archaeological Protection ......................................................................................... 101
Energy Efficient Planning and Design ....................................................................... 101
Transit..................................................................................................................... 101
Air Quality ............................................................................................................. 101
Recycling .............................................................................................................. 102
Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................... 102
Water and Wastewater Usage ......................................................................... 102
Implementation Activities .................................................................................................... 103
CHAPTER 10: GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Overview ................................................................................................................................. 104
Administration of the General Plan .................................................................................... 104
General Plan Amendment Criteria .................................................................................... 105
Minor Amendments ..................................................................................................... 106
Major Amendments ..................................................................................................... 106
Major Amendment Process ........................................................................................ 106
Area Specific Plans ............................................................................................................... 107
Implementation Activities .................................................................................................... 108
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................ 109
APPRENDIX
2007 Sidewalk Plan ........................................................................................................... 110
General Plan 2010
Table of Contents Town of Fountain Hills
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Regional Context ............................................................................................ 21
Figure 2: Town Planning Area ....................................................................................... 22
Figure 3: Topography/Drainage ................................................................................... 23
Figure 4: Soils .................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 5: Public/Quasi-Public Facilities ........................................................................ 25
Figure 6: Existing Parks, Trails and Open Space ......................................................... 26
Figure 7: Existing Land Use ............................................................................................. 27
Figure 8: Existing Zoning ................................................................................................. 28
Figure 9: Existing Land Ownership ................................................................................ 29
Figure 10: Existing Transportation System ...................................................................... 30
Figure 11: Land Use Plan .................................................................................................. 42
Figure 12: Service/Employment Uses ............................................................................. 43
Figure 13: Growth Areas Plan .......................................................................................... 57
Figure 14: Parks, Trails and Open Space ....................................................................... 74
Figure 15A: Developed Park Sites ..................................................................................... 75
Figure 15B: Developed Park Sites ..................................................................................... 76
Figure 16A: Developed School Sites ................................................................................. 77
Figure 16B: Developed School Sites ................................................................................. 78
Figure 16C: Developed School Sites ................................................................................. 79
Figure 16D: Developed School Sites ................................................................................. 80
Figure 17: Roadway Classification Plan ........................................................................ 91
Figure 18: Transportation System Plan ........................................................................... 92
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Population Trends ........................................................................................... 45
Table 2: Existing Active Open Space and Recreation Facilities ............................ 70
Table 3: Implementation Activities ............................................................................ 108
Chapter One General Plan 2010
Introduction Town of Fountain Hills
MISSION STATEMENT
The Town of Fountain Hills has grown from the guiding hand of the founders into an
independent, vibrant and vital family-oriented community where the conservation
and preservation of the natural heritage and visual beauty of the surrounding desert
are maintained.
Residents revere the sense of closeness and small town feeling in a community
dedicated to high quality schools and strive for diversity in neighborhoods that all
have an adjacency to nature in common.
Fountain Hills is committed to creating a Town that is attractive for small businesses,
clean industry and village commerce, where the natural environment is preserved
and protected, and where diverse housing is supplied in beautiful developments.
PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL PLAN 2010
The original Fountain Hills General Plan was adopted in 1993. The planning team of
Vernon Swaback Associates, P.C. in association with Town staff and the citizens,
prepared the Plan for the Town of Fountain Hills. The original Fountain Hills General
Plan was modified and re-adopted as the 2002 Fountain Hills General Plan, which
was ratified by the Fountain Hills voters on September 10, 2002.
The Town of Fountain Hills General Plan 2002 served not only to update and revise
the existing General Plan document and fulfill the State of Arizona Growing
Smarter/Plus legislation, but also served to unite and support the community with a
focused and comprehensive vision for guiding community growth and
development. The General Plan 2002 reflected the combined input from both the
public and private sectors, and provided the Town with goals and development
policies for future growth while maintaining flexibility in interpretation and use.
The General Plan is a valuable document that provides guidance in the
development of the Town. For the General Plan to continue to be a meaningful and
relevant tool, it must be kept current. The General Plan Update 2010 is an updated
version of the General Plan 2002.
The Town of Fountain Hills has changed in the eight years since the 2002 Plan was
approved. The area of the Town has increased by 1,311 acres (11 percent) due to
the annexation of State Trust land. The Town’s population has increased
approximately 28.5 percent since the 2000 census. The Town has adopted a
strategic plan and key information from that plan has been incorporated into this
General Plan 2010. The Town Council has also adopted responsible environmental
policy, key elements of which are included and integrated into the General Plan
2010. This General Plan 2010 also addresses measures that should be taken to
ensure the future economic vitality of the Town from a land use perspective. The
adopted sidewalk plan is included in the Appendix of General Plan 2010.
The 1998 Growing Smarter Act and 2000 Growing Smarter Plus legislation (codified
Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 9-461.05, as amended) outlined the following
required elements that must be included in the General Plan 2010:
Chapter One General Plan 2010
Introduction Town of Fountain Hills
A Land Use Element providing a written and graphic form of the proposed land uses
within the community. The Land Use Element must:
¾ Designate the proposed general distribution and location and extent of such
uses of land for housing, business, industry, agriculture, recreation, education,
public buildings and grounds, open space and other categories of public
and private uses of land as appropriate to the Town.
¾ Include a statement of the standards of population density and building
intensity recommended for the various land use categories covered by the
plan.
¾ Identify specific programs and policies that the Town of Fountain Hills may use
to promote infill or compact form development activity in locations where
those development patterns should be encouraged.
¾ Include consideration of air quality and access to incident solar energy for all
general categories of land use.
¾ Include policies that address maintaining a broad variety of land uses
including the range of uses existing in the municipality when the plan is
adopted, readopted or amended.
A Circulation Element consisting of the general location and extent of existing and
proposed freeways, arterial and collector streets, bicycle routes and any other
modes of transportation as may be appropriate, all correlated with the land use
element of the plan.
An Open Space Element that includes:
¾ A comprehensive inventory of open space areas, recreational resources and
designations of access points to open space areas and resources.
¾ An analysis of forecasted needs, policies for managing and protecting open
space areas and resources and implementation strategies to acquire
additional open space areas and establish additional recreational
resources.
¾ Policies and implementation strategies designed to promote a regional
system of integrated open space and recreational resources with
consideration of any existing regional open space plans.
A Growth Area Element specifically identifying those areas, if any, that are
particularly suitable for planned multimodal transportation and infrastructure
expansion and improvements designed to support a planned concentration of a
variety of uses, such as residential, office, commercial, tourism and industrial uses.
This element shall include policies and implementation strategies that are designed
to:
¾ Make automobile, transit and other multimodal circulation more efficient,
make infrastructure expansion more economical and provide for a rational
pattern of land development.
¾ Conserve significant natural resources and open space areas in the growth
area and coordinate their location to similar areas outside growth area
boundaries.
¾ Promote the public and private construction of timely and financially sound
infrastructure expansion through the use of infrastructure funding (e.g.
development fees) and financial planning that is coordinated with
development activity.
Chapter One General Plan 2010
Introduction Town of Fountain Hills
An Environmental Planning Element that contains analyses, policies and strategies to
address anticipated effects, if any, of plan elements on air quality, water quality and
natural resources associated with proposed development under the general plan.
The policies and strategies to be developed under this element shall be designed to
have community-wide applicability and shall not require the production of an
additional environmental impact statement or similar analysis beyond the
requirements of state and federal law.
A Cost of Development Element that identifies policies and strategies that the Town
will use to require development to pay its fair share toward the cost of additional
public service needs generated by new development, with appropriate exceptions
when in the public interest. This element shall include:
¾ A component that identifies various mechanisms that are allowed by law
and that can be used to fund and finance additional public services
necessary to serve the development, including bonding, special taxing
districts, development fees, in lieu fees, facility construction, dedications and
service privatization.
¾ A component that identifies policies to ensure that any mechanisms that are
adopted by the Town under this element result in a beneficial use to the
development, bear a reasonable relationship to the burden imposed on the
municipality to provide additional necessary public services to the
development and otherwise are imposed according to law.
A Water Resources Element that addresses:
¾ The known legally and physically available surface water, groundwater and
effluent supplies.
¾ The demand for water that will result from future growth projected in the
general plan, added to existing uses.
¾ An analysis of how the demand for water that will result from future growth
projected in the General Plan will be served by the currently available water
supplies or a plan to obtain additional necessary water supplies.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
REGIONAL CONTEXT
The Town of Fountain Hills is located in the northeast region of Maricopa County,
approximately 30 miles northeast of downtown Phoenix. The Town’s spectacular
hillside location, in the Upper Sonoran Desert on the eastern slope of the McDowell
Mountains, provides the community with its famous mountain vistas and rich natural
desert vegetation. The Town is bordered by McDowell Mountain Regional Park on
the north, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on the south, the Fort
McDowell Yavapai Nation on the east, and City of Scottsdale on the west as
displayed on Figure 1, Regional Context.
Major vehicular access to the community (from the west) is provided by Shea
Boulevard. Shea Boulevard serves as the Town’s primary connection to the greater
Phoenix Metropolitan Area on the west through Scottsdale and Phoenix. Shea
Boulevard terminates at State Highway 87 (SH 87), which connects the Town to the
communities of the East Valley, including the cities/towns of Mesa, Chandler and
Gilbert. To the north, SH 87 crosses the Verde River, Goldfield Ranch and the
entrance to the Saguaro Lake/Salt River recreation areas. Extending further north, it
is a major gateway to Roosevelt Lake, the Town of Payson and other Mogollon Rim
recreation areas.
COMMUNITY HISTORY
The landforms that comprise the Town are characterized by low ridgelines and wash
corridors that were originally home to Native Americans. Archaeological studies
have identified the area around the Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Nation as a
major center of Hohokam-Salado occupation from approximately 100 to 1450 A.D.
Petroglyphs and lithic remains have been found in both McDowell Mountain
Regional Park and in the surveyed portions of the former State Land south of the
Town’s northern boundary. In the mid 1500’s, Spanish explorers traveled northward
from Mexico into the area and began colonizing the region. In 1821, when Mexico
declared independence from Spain, the region became a part of the Republic of
Mexico. Subsequently, with the Treaty of Hidalgo in 1848 and the signing of the
Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the area became part of the Arizona Territory until
statehood occurred on February 14, 1912.
The close proximity of both the Verde River and Fort McDowell to the east, served to
bring attention to the region and created opportunities for the ranchers who
subsequently settled the area. Fort McDowell was established in 1865 and was
located on the west side of the Verde River, approximately seven miles above its
junction with the Salt River. The Fort was linked to Mesa and Phoenix to the south
and Payson and Winslow to the north by the Mormon Honeymoon (Wagon) Trail,
named for the many Mormon couples who made the long trek to St. George (the
nearest Temple) to be married. The Fort was closed in 1890. In 1903, President
Theodore Roosevelt signed an executive order granting the land to the Yavapai as
a reservation.
The initial property that became the Town of Fountain Hills resulted from a partial
sale of the P-Bar Ranch, a working cattle ranch, under the ownership of the Page
Land & Cattle Company. Approximately 4,500 acres was split off in 1968 in a sale to
McCulloch Properties, a subsidiary of McCulloch Oil Corporation.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
In 1970 McCullough Properties Inc. (MCO), after a combination of other land
purchases, directed the creation of an approximate 12,000-acre model city. As a
result, the company prepared documentation known as the initial "Development
Plan for the Community of Fountain Hills". The plan included a variety of residential
housing types, commercial and industrial land uses, provisions for schools, churches,
a community park, and a variety of open space corridors. Singularly, the founders
included, as an attraction to and for the new community, the “World’s Tallest
Fountain”, christening it’s namesake on December 15, 1970. Interest in the new
community was generated throughout the Midwest and eastern regions of the
country through an innovative “fly to see” program. Prospective buyers were flown
to the fledgling community by private aircraft and toured their potential homesites
by a Jeep-driving sales force. Initial residential construction began within months,
and by February 1972 residents began living in Fountain Hills. The Fountain Hills
Sanitary District completed the initial phase of its wastewater treatment plant in
1974.
In December 1989, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to incorporate
the Town of Fountain Hills. A seven member Town Council was organized to
establish a form of governance for the community. The Town retained the
established land uses approved through Maricopa County as well as the continued
use of County zoning ordinances for the first six months of the Town’s existence. The
Town adopted its initial zoning and subdivision ordinances in May 1990 and began
administering these ordinances on July 1, 1990. A Community Development
Department was established the next month and the Planning and Zoning
Commission was organized in November 1990. The Planning and Zoning
Commission continues as the recommending body to the Town Council on land use
plans and the implementation of ordinances. In February 1991, the Town Council
chose not to continue as its own Board of Adjustment and formed an independent
Board of Adjustment to consider variance requests from the land use ordinances
and to consider appeals of the zoning administrator's decisions.
Development continued steadily throughout the 1990s. The land underlying Eagle
Mountain, southwest of the Shea Boulevard/Palisades Boulevard intersection, was
annexed in 1991. Communities Southwest developed a mixture of approximately
500 residential units and commercial facilities adjacent to Eagle Mountain, and an
18-hole golf course. In May 1994, SunRidge Canyon, northwest of Palisades
Boulevard and west of Golden Eagle Boulevard, was approved as a Specific
Planning Area. SunCor and MCO Properties provided SunRidge Canyon an 18-hole
golf course, as a community amenity for the 830 single-family dwelling units within
the development.
Subsequently over the next seven years, the subdivisions of FireRock, regulated by
the FireRock Area Specific Plan, Crestview, Eagle Ridge North, and Eagles Nest were
added. In 2001 the Town opened the Community Center and Library Complex. The
Sanitary District completed a major upgrade to its wastewater treatment plant and
put into operation a new aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system to dispose of
and/or store excess effluent/reclaimed water. Most of the remaining vacant land is
either secured open space, or platted subdivisions/approved site plans. The current
Town Hall was built and occupied in 2005.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
In 2006 the Town Council approved the annexation of an approximate 1,311-acre
area of State Land that bordered Fountain Hills to the north, increasing the
incorporated area of the Town to 13,006 acres as shown on Figure 2, Town Planning
Area. The land is the last significant amount of contiguous property to increase the
size of the Town. This annexation and resulting major general plan amendment
allow for an appropriate mixture of open space uses, single family residential uses
(medium and low density), a community park, an area that may be developed with
a lodging use, and an area for general commercial/retail. Subsequent to its
annexation, the land was bought by the Fountain Hills Investment Company, a
subsidiary of The Ellman Companies who amended the Town’s general plan and
rezoned the property in 2008. The new entitlements provide the potential for up to
1,350 new homes, a community park, and over 400 acres of open space.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
Fountain Hills is famous for the spectacular aquatic display of the grand fountain,
which can be viewed from many vantage points within and outside the Town. The
fountain is one of the tallest continuously operating fountains in the world. The Town
is also renowned for its sensitive preservation of the natural desert within and through
its developed areas, showcasing many scenic vistas and abundant wildlife.
The Town lies on the lower portion of the eastern slopes of the McDowell Mountains
and is characterized by alternating low ridgelines punctuated with dense rock
outcroppings and washes generally draining in a southeasterly direction as shown
on Figure 3, Topography/Drainage. Elevations in the Town range between 1,510
feet above sea level on the east/southeast to a peak of 3,170 in the northwestern
hills. The Town ranges from 400 to 500 feet higher in elevation than other
metropolitan Phoenix communities, which translates to a slightly lower range of
temperatures (40°f-105°f) and a higher average annual precipitation total (11.97
inches).
Fountain Hills retains a significant amount of luxuriant undisturbed Upper Sonoran
Desert vegetation that is characterized as the Saguaro-Palo Verde vegetation
community according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Saguaro and
cholla cacti cascade down the Town’s ridges interweaving with ocotillo, creosote,
bursage, jojoba and brittlebush on the slopes which in turn give way to mesquite,
palo verde, ironwood and finally cottonwood trees in the washes. Distributed
throughout the region are many varieties of cacti and flowering seasonal plants that
carpet the land with multi-colored displays, each color in turn intensifying and giving
way to the next.
The washes and abundant vegetation serve to protect and maintain viable homes
and wildlife corridors for the native desert fauna. The most common native wildlife
species are coyote, desert cottontail, javelina, deer, bobcat, various species of
quail, dove, owl and hawk, lizards, banded geckos, gopher snakes, bull snakes and
rattlesnakes. Specialized habitats in stands of cacti, wash corridors and rock
outcroppings allow native species to thrive in close proximity to developed areas of
the Town. The Town is vigilant in its conservation and protection of these important
areas.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
The Town of Fountain Hills contains four soil associations: Ebon-Pinamt-Tremant, Sun
City-Cavelt, Cherioni-Gachado-Rock Outcrop, and Gran-Usery-Rock Outcrop.
These soil association types were developed by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS)
according to their locations and properties. The locations of the soil associations are
displayed on Figure 4, Soils.
The majority of the Town of Fountain Hills is made up of the Ebon-Pinamt-Tremant
association. This association consists of deep, well drained, slowly to moderately
permeable fine-loamy, loamy skeletal, and clayey skeletal soils formed in old mixed
alluvium on old fans. This association presents very moderate limitations for human
use for development and construction of housing, roads, and commercial and
industrial uses.
The Sun City-Cavelt association makes up a small portion of land south of Shea. This
association consists of very shallow to shallow, well drained, slowly to moderately
permeable loamy to fine-loamy soils (with lime cemented hardpan within 20’ in the
Cavelt soils) formed in mixed alluvium on old fans and terraces. A cemented hard
pan occurs at 10”-46” in the Cavelt soils, and at 8”-20” in the Suncity soils. This
association presents a moderate barrier to development due to its cemented pan.
The Cherioni-Gachado-Rock Outcrop and Gran-Usery-Rock Outcrop associations
make up the remainder of the soils. The Cherioni-Gachado-Rock Outcrop
association consists of shallow, well drained, slowly permeable loamy skeletal soils
formed in residuum from volcanic rocks on low hills and the toe slopes of hills and
mountains. At about 9” there is a duripan resting on andesite, basalt or
conglomerate bedrock. The Gran-Usery-Rock Outcrop association consists of
shallow to moderately deep, well drained, slowly permeable gravelly clay and
gravelly loam soils on nearly level to very steep mountain slopes over highly
weathered granite bed rock. The excessive slope and rocky base, are limiting
factors for development.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Community facilities and services include the full complement of public, quasi-
public and private services that support a vibrant community. These areas include
public safety/health care, educational, municipal, parks, open space and trails,
community and civic center, and utility services as shown on Figure 5, Public/Quasi-
Public Facilities.
Law Enforcement
Presently the Town of Fountain Hills contracts with the Maricopa County Sheriffs’
Office (MCSO) to provide 24 hour law enforcement protection, seven days per
week. The MCSO has established Fountain Hills as a separate administrative district
that includes patrol squads, school resource officer, community services, a
detective squad and a commanding officer. The Sheriff and the Department of
Public Safety share common facilities at the Town Hall offices, located at 16705
E. Avenue of the Fountains.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
Fire Protection
The Town of Fountain Hills contracts with Rural/Metro Corporation to provide fire and
emergency medical services (EMS) to the community, including public education,
public information and code development and enforcement. Fountain Hills Station
No.1 is located on Palisades Boulevard across from the intersection of Avenue of the
Fountains. Fountain Hills Station No. 2 is located south of Shea Boulevard on Saguaro
Boulevard. However, the town is considering relocating Station No. 2 to increase
service area coverage for the southern part of the community. The Town also owns
a lot in the Eagles Nest subdivision in the Northwest part of the Town that may be
used for a third fire station.
The City of Scottsdale operates a fire station at 130th Street and Via Linda, which
houses an engine company. The City of Scottsdale has a mutual aid agreement
with the Town of Fountain Hills.
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Fire Department operates three fire
stations in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The department is a full
service public safety organization providing fire prevention, emergency medical
response, fire suppression, rescue, code enforcement, public education, and
community partnerships.
The Fort McDowell Fire Department operates one fire station located on Fort
McDowell Road, north of the Beeline Highway, adjacent to the Fort McDowell
Casino. The department has an engine company and an ambulance. The Fort
McDowell Yavapai Nation has a mutual aid agreement with the Town of Fountain
Hills.
The Rio Verde Fire District provides emergency medical service and fire response for
the unincorporated communities of Rio Verde and Tonto Verde located
approximately six miles north of the Town. The District's equipment includes an
engine company and a brush truck. The Rio Verde Fire District has a mutual aid
agreement with the Town of Fountain Hills.
Health Care
A walk-in emergency clinic is located in the Basha's Shopping Center on the
southwest corner of Palisades Boulevard and La Montana Drive. Physicians, dentists,
orthodontists, chiropractors, optometrists and other specialists maintain private
practices in Fountain Hills. A new urgent care facility recently opened on Shea
Boulevard east of Saguaro Boulevard to provide urgent care needs. Additionally, a
new medical complex recently opened at Old Town Hall on Palisades Boulevard
west of Saguaro Boulevard. The medical complex includes a variety of health care
services.
The Mayo Clinic is located one mile west of Fountain Hills, north of Shea Boulevard.
The medical campus includes a five-story Mayo Clinic, the Samuel C. Johnson
Medical Research Building, Mayo Clinic Hospital, and the new Collaborative
Research Building. Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Hospital is located at Shea
Boulevard and 92nd Street, approximately 10 miles west of Fountain Hills. Scottsdale
Healthcare Shea is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for
patient satisfaction.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
The Fort McDowell Medical Clinic is a small outpatient facility located east of
Fountain Hills. The Clinic is open three days per week.
Educational Facilities
Fountain Hills Unified School District #98 is comprised of four schools. Two elementary
schools, encompassing grades K-5, had a total spring 2008 enrollment of 975
students. The middle school, grades six through eight, and the high school, grades
nine through twelve, had a combined enrollment of 1,385 students, for the 2008
school year. The district boundary encompasses all lands within the Town limits and
also provides educational facilities for 125 students from the adjacent Fort McDowell
Yavapai Nation; 50 elementary students, 35 middle school students and 40 high
school students from the Nation are included in the student totals. Additionally, the
Arizona State Legislature passed legislation in the spring of 2007 allowing the
community of Goldfield Ranch to be a part of the Fountain Hills School District.
School officials project that the new development could produce as many as 230
new students.
Religious Facilities
At least 12 places of worship are located within Town boundaries. Many of these
congregations also provide meeting facilities, public services and other amenities.
These facilities represent the full variety of faith-based institutions for the citizens of
the Town. The majority of these institutions are located in the eastern half of the
community, and predominately along Fountain Hills and Saguaro Boulevards.
Community and Civic Center
The Fountain Hills Community and Civic Center, located on La Montana Drive
between Avenue of the Fountains and El Lago Boulevard, opened on September
29, 2001. The Community Center facility includes 31,000 square feet of ballroom and
meeting room space for local and valley-wide corporate meetings, local civic
programming, art and educational classes as well as black tie events and wedding
receptions. Adjacent to the Community Center is a branch of the Maricopa County
Library which boasts 500-600 visitors daily. The River of Time Museum, dedicated to
local and Native American history, is also located in the civic center. The Museum
leads visitors through creative, informative exhibits that recount the captivating past
of the Lower Verde River Valley and depict the importance of water in the Sonoran
Desert.
Parks and Open Space
As a result of the Town’s location within the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, a
network of natural drainage channels or washes extend through the community.
These washes, primarily owned by the Town, are typically undeveloped, although
most also contain utilities and utility easements, as well as serving as surface
drainage corridors. This network of undeveloped washes contributes to the quality
of life for the residents of the community by providing significant natural open space
between neighborhoods.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
The Town currently operates and maintains four developed park sites as identified
below:
¾ Fountain Park - 64 acres
¾ Desert Vista Neighborhood Park - 12 acres
¾ Four Peaks Neighborhood Park - 15 acres
¾ Golden Eagle Park - 25 acres
The location of all existing public park sites is shown on Figure 6, Existing Parks, Trails
and Open Space, and the site plan for each of these parks is shown on Figures 15A
and 15B, Developed Park Sites.
Other park facilities that serve the Town include:
¾ Kiwanis Park - adjacent to the Kiwanis Activity Center
¾ Four school sites - facilities are used for park and recreational activities
¾ McDowell Mountain Regional Park - 21,099 acres (owned and operated by
Maricopa County)
Dedicated Open Space within the Town includes:
¾ A portion of McDowell Mountain Preserve - 740 acres
¾ Natural washes - 58 acres
Existing trails have also been developed within the Town:
¾ Dedicated public trails - 1.7 miles
¾ Preserve trails - 3.9 miles
UTILITY SERVICES
Water
Water is supplied to the Town through the independent services of the Chaparral
City Water Company (CCWC). CCWC has a Certificate of Convenience and
Necessity issued by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to serve the 12,060
acres of land originally acquired by McCullough Properties to develop Fountain Hills.
The 2010 corporate boundary of the Town of Fountain Hills is completely within the
Chaparral City Water Company certificated area, except for the 1,276 acres of
State Trust Land purchased by the Fountain Hills Investment Company in March
2007. The Chaparral City Water Company has received a designation of an assured
water supply by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, and is a member of
the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD). CCWC obtains
water from one groundwater well and the Central Arizona Project. Water from the
Central Arizona Project is treated and distributed throughout CCWC’s service area
from a facility located near Palatial Dr. and Shea Boulevard. Water storage
reservoirs and booster pump stations are located throughout the Town.
Sanitary Sewer
The Fountain Hills Sanitary District is a governmental entity (special district) that is not
affiliated with the Town of Fountain Hills. The District's sole purpose is to collect, treat,
and dispose of wastewater and its byproducts produced within the Town of
Fountain Hills and a very small portion of the City of Scottsdale. The District provides
sewer service to over 13,000 residential connections and 300 commercial
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
connections. The District operates a 2.6 million gallon per day (MGD) wastewater
treatment facility, 18 raw wastewater pump stations, over 200 miles of sewer lines,
over 10 miles of reclaimed water lines, an advanced water treatment facility and
five aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells. The District provides reclaimed water
to three golf courses (SunRidge Canyon, Eagle Mountain and FireRock Country
Club) and three Town parks (Fountain Park, including Fountain Lake, Desert Vista
Park, and Golden Eagle Park). During the winter when the supply of reclaimed
water exceeds the demand, water is stored in the ground through a series of ASR
wells. When demand exceeds supply in the summer, water is withdrawn from the
ASR wells to supplement the supply from the wastewater treatment plant.
Electricity
Electricity is provided by Salt River Project (SRP) with primarily underground local
service distribution. A 69 kV above ground power line is located along a portion of
the southern boundary of the Town and northward along the eastern Town
boundary to the Glenbrook substation at the intersection of Glenbrook Boulevard
and Ivory Drive. Other 69 kV service is provided to the Wheeler substation, located
west of Palisades Boulevard and the Fountain substation located east of Saguaro
Boulevard. SRP also has a maintenance facility south of Shea Boulevard within
FireRock Centre. A fourth substation, McMullin, is currently under construction at the
southern boundary of town. New 69kV lines will connect the McMullin substation
with the Fountain substation.
Natural Gas
Southwest Gas provides natural gas service to Bella Lago, Diamonte Del Lago,
Copperwynd, Eagle Mountain, FireRock Country Club, SunRidge Canyon
developments, and to limited portions of the central, west and downtown areas of
Fountain Hills. Liquid propane is available from local suppliers to serve individual
property owners.
Telephone
Qwest Communications provides telephone line installation and service, limited in-
state long distance service, cable TV service and Internet access to the Town. All
lines are underground. In 2001 Qwest expanded capacity at their switching facilities
at the substation site located on the northeast corner of Palisades and Fountain Hills
Boulevard. Cox Communications also offers digital telephone, digital cable, and
high speed internet.
Several carriers provide cellular service with existing wireless communication facilities
within the community. The Town continues to review proposals for service area
expansion by cellular providers.
Solid Waste Collection
Solid waste collection in Fountain Hills is currently provided by independent solid
waste providers. There is not a mandatory solid waste subscription requirement.
Currently, residents can choose services from six private refuse companies. The
majority of these private collection companies offer weekly recycling service. The
Town is studying a town-wide single hauler system, including recycling for all
residential units.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS
The Town of Fountain Hills has grown at a steady rate since 1972 when the first
residents began moving in. Based on Certificates of Occupancy issued for new
homes in 2007, it is estimated that Fountain Hills’ population now totals 25,207. This
gives the Town an average of 1,241 people per square mile, or 1.94 people per
acre. Its low population density helps to give Fountain Hills a desirable reputation as
an affluent community in which to live and work. The Town is expected to reach full
buildout in approximately 2030 with a population of 34,324.
Age Distribution
According to the 2000 US Census, 48 percent of Fountain Hills' population were male
and 52 percent were female. Furthermore, the population under 18 years of age
was 19 percent, 18-64 years of age was 62 percent, and 19 percent was above age
65. In 2000, the median age in Fountain Hills was 46.4. The median age for the same
timeframe in Maricopa County and Arizona was 33 and 34.2 years, respectively.
Race Distribution
For Census 2000, respondents could identify themselves as being in one or more
racial groups (White, Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native,
Asian, Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander, Other Race, Two or More Races). The
Census documented that Fountain Hills is predominantly White (96 percent), which is
a higher percentage than Maricopa County (75 percent) and the State of Arizona
(79 percent).
Housing Trends
The Town of Fountain Hills has been developed primarily for residential use (53
percent). The peak of residential development occurred between 1996 and 1999
and has recently leveled off as the Town approaches full buildout. In recent years,
residential development has shifted from single family units to more multi-family
complexes. However, with the recent annexation of the former State Trust land a
resurgence of single family residential development will occur. The US Census 2000
shows that the majority, 84 percent, of residences are owner occupied and only 16
percent are renter occupied. At the end of the 2006, there were 3,311
undeveloped single family lots and 69 undeveloped multi-family lots (not including
the former state trust land).
Education Level and Income
According to the US Census 2000, of residents 25 years and older, slightly more than
24 percent had attained a Bachelor’s Degree. In comparison, the rates in Maricopa
County were 23 percent and in the State of Arizona 26 percent, respectively. The
median household income in Fountain Hills was $61,619 in 1999. This is substantially
higher than the median household income for Maricopa County ($45,358) and the
State ($40,558).
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
TOWN FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
The Town’s General Fund revenue is generated primarily through local sales tax.
Fountain Hills levies a 2.6 percent sales tax, including a special 0.4 percent
assessment to fund: downtown development (0.1 percent); payoff of Town Hall
construction bonds (0.1 percent); and mountain land acquisition bonds (0.2
percent). Local sales tax generates nearly half the Town’s annual general fund
revenues.
State shared revenue is the Town’s second largest generator of funds. The Town
receives an allocation of the State’s 6.3 percent sales tax. Furthermore, the Town
receives its share of State income tax collections and State vehicle license taxes
based on population. Nearly half of the Town’s general fund budget is controlled
by the State Legislature, and therefore is out of the Town’s direct control. In
addition, the nearly built out condition of the Town and the fact that it has achieved
its ultimate annexation area, will allow other growing municipalities the ability to
increase their population faster than Fountain Hills, thus gaining a larger
proportionate share of State shared revenues.
The remainder of revenue to the Town’s general fund is generated through charges
for services fees, licenses and permits.
LAND USE AND ZONING
This section identifies the existing pattern of land uses within Fountain Hills, existing
zoning districts and a general discussion on existing surface land ownership.
Existing Land Use
The existing land use pattern of Fountain Hills was largely influenced by the
implementation of an original master plan prepared under the supervision of
McCulloch Properties Inc. in the early 1970's. This plan envisioned a complete, self-
supporting "New Town" of approximately 70,000 people. In 1980, MCO Properties
revised the original Master Plan to lower the proposed density and land use intensity
in consideration of environmental constraints. The revised Master Plan, approved by
Maricopa County, projected a build-out population of approximately 45,000.
In 1986, the revised Master Plan was amended by Maricopa County to include the
subdivisions of Crestview, Westridge, Summit East and Los Altos Hills (previously
named Summit West). In 1989, an amendment was administratively approved by
Maricopa County for the Lakeside Village, Bainbridge, and Golden Eagle areas.
In 1991, MCO Properties revised the Master Plan Map to include all the prior County
amendments. This revised map was presented to the Town which incorporated on
December 5, 1989. The Town took no action on this document. Instead, the
original Town of Fountain Hills General Plan was approved on May 6, 1993. The first
amendment to the original General Plan, to re-designate land uses for the SunRidge
Canyon area was approved on May 18th of the following year.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
Topography was, and continues to be, the major constraint of the existing land use
patterns. Additionally, the pre-selected locations of the Fountain and the
wastewater treatment plant site have influenced land use patterns. Originally,
single-family residential areas tended to be planned on the ridges, with commercial
uses grouped primarily on the flatter land near Fountain Park. Construction of
community septic tanks and leach fields were abandoned when sewer collection
lines became available.
With the exception of the former State Trust Land, most of the land is platted and
either developed or under construction. Large portions of the Town are regulated
by Specific Area Plans or Development Agreements, which can be reviewed at the
Town’s Planning and Zoning Department. The pattern of land use is displayed on
Figure 7, Existing Land Use and is as follows:
Single-family Residential
Existing single-family residential land use areas are distributed throughout the
Town. Larger lot/low density neighborhoods are located in three areas:
¾ Following the ridgelines in the northwest and north central portions of the
community;
¾ In a wide, roughly northwest to southeast band, in the central portion of
Town on the north side of Shea Boulevard; and
¾ South of Shea Boulevard between Palisades and the industrial and
commercial node at Saguaro Boulevard.
Multi-family Residential
Existing multi-family dwelling units, identified as multi-family structures having
at least one common wall, are concentrated in three areas:
¾ In an irregular band surrounding the Town center and the Fountain Park;
¾ In a wide band on the east side of Fountain Hills Boulevard, extending
from the north of the downtown commercial center to the middle school;
and
¾ In isolated parcels on both the north and south sides of Shea Boulevard
including a northward extension from the commercial node at Shea and
Saguaro Boulevards along the Town’s eastern boundary line.
Additional multi-family developments have been built on commercially
zoned property within the Town Center area through the Special Use permit
process.
Commercial (Office and Retail)
Existing commercial land uses are concentrated in three areas:
¾ The Town Center area, located primarily south of Palisades Boulevard,
between Fountain Hills Boulevard and Saguaro Boulevard;
¾ Continuing south on the east side of Saguaro Boulevard from the south
edge of the commercial core at El Lago Boulevard to Malta Drive; and
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
¾ The commercial node at Shea and Saguaro Boulevards that extends
primarily westward on the south side of Shea, and primarily eastward on
both sides of Shea.
Two other isolated existing commercial sites are:
¾ A supermarket/strip center located at the southeast corner of Shea/Eagle
Mountain Parkway; and
¾ An area on the east side of Fountain Hills Boulevard one mile south of the
Town’s northern boundary.
In addition, there are numerous home-based businesses located throughout
the community.
Industrial
One area serves the entire Town, and is located on the north side of Saguaro
Boulevard, west of the Shea/Saguaro commercial node. It is currently zoned
and used for industrial uses within the Town. This nearly built-out industrial
area includes storage facilities and light manufacturing/distribution
operations.
Open Space
Publicly owned and/or controlled open space areas that prohibit
development, provide recreational areas and protect view corridors are
found in:
¾ Parks and open space areas owned by the Town include:
• Fountain Park
• Golden Eagle Park
• Four Peaks Park
• Desert Vista Park
¾ The 740-acre Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve located in the
northwest portion of the Town that provides hiking and passive
recreational opportunities;
¾ 200 acres of dedicated open space within the Town but owned by the
City of Scottsdale. Located immediately adjacent to and south of the
740-acre Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve; and
¾ Open Space – zoned areas within platted subdivisions.
Privately owned lands currently designated for open space land uses include:
¾ Privately owned and controlled parks/open space areas in developed
subdivisions;
¾ Planned open space areas located in the former State Trust Land;
¾ Existing undeveloped wash areas within existing platted areas;
¾ Hillside Protection Easement areas within platted subdivisions; and
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
¾ Three privately owned/publicly accessible golf courses that are zoned
“OSR” or Residential Unit Planned Development “RUPD”.
Vacant Land
Only small areas of vacant developable land remain in the community.
These parcels occur as:
¾ Zoned and platted vacant lots;
¾ Zoned, unplatted parcels (including the former State Trust Land); and
¾ Undeveloped school sites.
Existing Zoning
The Town of Fountain Hills regulates land use through an adopted zoning ordinance.
A total of 33 zoning districts are provided within the ordinance including three open
space zones (OSC, OSR and OSP), eleven single family residential districts (R-190, R1-
43, R1-35, R1-35H, R1-18, R1-10, R1-10A, R1-8, R1-8A, R1-6 and R1-6A), seven multi-
family districts (M-1, M-2, M-3, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5), six commercial districts (C-O, C-
C, C-1, C-2, C-3 and TCCD), two industrial districts (IND-1 and IND-2), three lodging
districts (L-1, L-2 and L-3), a utility district (UT), and a mobile home district (MH). The
zoning pattern is displayed on Figure 8, Existing Zoning.
Fountain Hills is predominantly zoned residential. The residential zoning districts
provide a wide variety of residential developments that encompass the many
lifestyles within the Town, from large lot to cluster development. The residential
districts accommodate the needs of residents by providing associated limited non-
residential uses, including religious, educational and recreational facilities.
The large amount of acreage zoned as open space aids Fountain Hills in retaining its
scenic desert character. The three open space districts provide natural and
manmade recreation spaces for Town residents. The open space conservation and
preservation districts are in place to conserve and protect open space, natural
desert lands, wildlife habitat and lands set aside as undeveloped parcels or tracts in
master planned communities. These were predominately executed through hillside
disturbance transfers. The primary purpose of designating these areas is to raise the
degree of assurance that designated open space and recreation areas will remain
undeveloped, except for very limited public infrastructure.
Employment zoning in Fountain Hills includes commercial/retail, office, mixed-use,
industrial and lodging districts. These districts provide well designed shops,
business/professional offices, hotels and other employment opportunities. The major
concentration of these districts is generally located between Fountain Hills and
Saguaro Boulevards, south of Palisades Boulevard and includes uses such as
commercial/retail, government, multi-use and lodging. A second cluster of
commercial/retail and industrial uses is located at the intersection of Shea and
Saguaro Boulevard. This employment cluster contains the only portion of the Town
that is zoned industrial. Existing industrial uses generally include distribution centers
and storage facilities.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
Land Ownership
The surface land ownership pattern within the Town of Fountain Hills is comprised of
five major owners. The majority of the Town’s land is privately held and accounts for
83 percent of its incorporated area, or 10,837 acres. The majority of the privately
held land is utilized for residential uses. However, private land is also used for
commercial/retail, office, lodging, industrial, open space, and golf courses. The
second largest land owner is the Town itself. The Town owns a total of 1,737 acres or
13 percent of the overall land. The Town’s holdings are comprised mainly of park
and open space but also include governmental uses. The City of Scottsdale owns
nearly two percent, or 200 acres of Fountain Hills. This land is dedicated open space
and is located in the northwest region of the Town in the McDowell Mountain
Preserve. The Fountain Hills Unified School District owns 179 acres, or one percent of
the Town.
The school-owned sites are distributed throughout the northeast region of the Town.
The remaining one percent (53 acres) are owned by utility companies. See Figure 9,
Existing Land Ownership.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
TRANSPORTATION
Street System Inventory
There are approximately 165 miles of paved roadways in the Town of Fountain Hills.
See Figure 10, Existing Transportation System.
Arterial roadways form the foundation of the roadway system, providing regional
access and major transportation links. State Route 87 is a State Highway and Shea
Boulevard is classified as a principal arterial. Palisades Boulevard, Fountain Hills
Boulevard, McDowell Mountain Road, Saguaro Boulevard and portions of Golden
Eagle Boulevard are classified as minor arterials.
Roadways classified as collector streets provide the linkages between arterial
roadways and the local streets. They effectively balance the need for vehicular
mobility and parcel access.
The existing major collector street system in Fountain Hills consists of the following 16
streets:
Avenue of the Fountains
Desert Canyon Drive
Eagle Mountain Parkway
El Lago Boulevard
El Pueblo Boulevard
Glenbrook Boulevard
Golden Eagle Boulevard (northern)
Grande Boulevard
Kingstree Boulevard
La Montana Drive (northern)
Palomino Boulevard
Panorama Drive
Parkview Drive
Saguaro Boulevard (south of Shea)
Summerhill Boulevard (northern)
Sunridge Drive
The existing minor collector street system in Fountain Hills consists of the following 22
minor streets:
Alamosa Drive
Avenida Vida Buena
Bainbridge Avenue
Boulder Drive
Calaveras Drive
Del Cambre Drive
El Sobrante Drive
Fayette Drive
Greenhurst Drive
Hampstead Drive
Inca Drive
Indian Wells Drive
La Montana Drive (southern)
Mira Monte Way
Mountain Parkway
Mountainside Drive
Ocotillo Drive
Richwood Drive
Sierra Madre Drive
Summerhill Boulevard (southern)
Thistle Drive
Westby Drive
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
The remaining street system is made up of two-lane local roadways that provide
access to property and are not intended to provide mobility between various areas
of the Town.
Signalized traffic control devices have been placed at the following intersections:
¾ Saguaro Boulevard/Grande Boulevard
¾ Shea Boulevard/Saguaro Boulevard
¾ Shea Boulevard/Fountain Hills Boulevard
¾ Shea Boulevard/Palisades Boulevard
¾ Shea Boulevard/Eagle Mountain Parkway
¾ Shea Boulevard/Technology Drive
¾ Shea Boulevard/Target Entrance (1/4 mile west of Saguaro Blvd)
¾ Palisades Boulevard/Fountain Hills Boulevard
¾ Palisades/Avenue of the Fountains
¾ Palisades Boulevard/Saguaro Boulevard
¾ Palisades Boulevard/Sunridge Drive
¾ El Lago Boulevard/Fountain Hills Boulevard
¾ El Lago Boulevard/Saguaro Boulevard
Public Transit
The Phoenix Transit System, under contract with the Regional Public Transportation
Authority (RPTA), provides limited bus service to Fountain Hills. Daily bus service
consists of two morning inbound express and two afternoon outbound express
routes between downtown Phoenix and the local transit stop (northeast corner of
Palisades Boulevard and La Montana Drive, via Saguaro Boulevard and Shea
Boulevard). Local transit service does not currently exist within the community.
Bicycle Pathways
The Town has developed a bicycle plan based, in part, on the design features and
recommendations of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Bicycle Plan.
The Town has both existing and proposed roadway bike lanes, which are
delineated, painted roadway-adjacent lanes where parking is not permitted, and
existing and proposed roadway bike routes, which are non-delineated routes where
parking is permitted.
The major existing bicycle pathways include:
¾ Saguaro Boulevard: In its entirety
¾ Palisades Boulevard: In its entirety
¾ Fountain Hills Boulevard/McDowell Mountain Road: From Arroyo Vista Drive
to McDowell Mountain Regional Park
¾ Golden Eagle Boulevard: From Palisades Boulevard to Edgewater Drive
¾ Sunridge Drive: From Palisades Boulevard to Golden Eagle Boulevard
¾ Desert Canyon Drive: From Sunridge Drive to Golden Eagle Boulevard
¾ Palomino Boulevard: From Palisades Boulevard to Fountain Hills Boulevard
¾ Kingstree Boulevard: From Fountain Hills Boulevard to Saguaro Boulevard
All Existing Bicycle Paths are shown on Figure 10.
Chapter Two General Plan 2010
Existing Conditions Town of Fountain Hills
Sidewalks and Trails
Fountain Hills has developed a sidewalk circulation network that serves a majority of
the community. In 2007, the Town adopted a Sidewalk Plan that identifies all existing
and proposed sidewalks throughout the Town (See the 2007 Sidewalk Plan in the
Appendix). The Preserve trail system consists of five trails, including the Promenade,
North, Western Loop, Town Overlook and Interpretive trails. This system stretches 3.88
miles. The second system of trails lies within the Bela Lago and Dia Lago subdivisions
uphill from Fountain Park. These trails are not officially named and are 1.7 miles in
length. In addition, there is a trail access off the upper end of Golden Eagle
Boulevard that utilizes an existing easement in the Eagles Nest MCO development
that allows access to the McDowell Mountain Regional Park trail system. The existing
trails and sidewalks are displayed on Figure 6, Existing Parks, Trails and Open Space.
The Town recently worked with Maricopa County in an effort to establish a trail spur
connecting the McDowell Mountain Regional Trail system with Town Preserve at the
North Trail. This connection provides the direct access to the Preserve that both
residents and visitors may utilize throughout the year from dusk to dawn.
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
OVERVIEW
The Land Use Element is a primary element of the General Plan 2010 and is the
guide for the formulation of the Circulation, Open Space and Growth Area
Elements. As a pivotal element upon which the General Plan 2010 is developed, the
Land Use Element expresses the community vision and is a development guideline
for future growth. Residential densities and commercial and industrial intensities and
interactions are reflected in the Land Use Element.
This element was developed through the analysis of existing land use and in
response to community and public participation in the planning process. It also
reflects the input and comments received from intergovernmental and inter-agency
participants. The Land Use Element anticipates future growth and development
through 2020. Figure 11, Land Use Plan, identifies the location of all future land uses
within the Town.
The Zoning Ordinance, Official Zoning Map, Subdivision Ordinance and other
regulatory land use tools are based on the General Plan 2010. Land Use Ordinances
and zoning map amendments shall be made in conformance with the General Plan
2010. The adopted Mission Statement, Visions, Goals and Objectives, Graphic Plan
and Implementation Program and Guidelines will be used to assist the Planning and
Zoning Commission and Town Council when reviewing all future development
proposals and rezoning requests. These components will also assist in the review and
planning for the preservation of open space, programming of future recreation
improvements and community facilities, and the preparation of Area Specific Plans.
The Land Use Element is organized in the following four sections in an effort to create
a consistent approach for all elements and to communicate the Town’s future land
use intention:
¾ Background
¾ Vision, Goals, and Objectives
¾ Land Use Plan
¾ Implementation Activities
BACKGROUND
The Land Use Plan for the Town of Fountain Hills has principally been influenced by
the implementation of the original Master Plan prepared in 1970 for McCulloch
Properties Inc. and adopted by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors prior to
incorporation of the community in 1989. The Land Use Plan Map is the primary tool
that illustrates the land use policy direction of the Town. The goal of the plan is to
maintain the Town’s desired balance among residential, employment and other
supportive uses while retaining the elements of natural open space and
development character responsive to the Sonoran Desert. The foundation for the
Land Use Plan is based on the existing patterns of land use, zoning, and land
ownership.
Over the past two decades, incremental land development and resulting
population and employment growth have created a nearly built out community.
The Town has a unique set of land use planning opportunities and challenges due to
its existing development, the environmental characteristics of the Sonoran Desert,
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
and the fact that the Town is land locked with no ability to annex future lands to
accommodate growth. The only substantive acreage remaining to be developed
includes the recently annexed and entitled former State Trust land (approximately
1,300 acres) located in the northeast portion of the Town. Additional development
can still be accommodated within the Firerock Country Club (14 acres), Crestview
(57 acres), Westridge (100 acres), Adero Canyon and Eagles Nest, Plat 208-South,
various infill parcels, and the three undeveloped school sites. The primary platted or
unplatted, developed or undeveloped areas within the Town, included as a part of
the General Plan 2010, are listed below with a brief description. These areas are
listed by location in a clockwise direction beginning in the southwestern part of the
community.
Firerock Country Club
The Firerock Country Club is in the south central portion of Town, south of Shea
Boulevard, between the Eagle Mountain development on the west and the
Firerock residential area to the east. This area has been platted and is developed
with many lots still vacant.
Crestview
This 342-acre parcel was approved as the Summit Estates Master Plan by
Maricopa County in 1986. The area was annexed and renamed Crestview.
Access to the subdivision is restricted on the east. The R1-43 Single Family/Very
Low Density zoned portion of the subdivision has been platted and improved,
but not yet built out. The approximate 57 acre multi-family parcel has been
platted as The Summit at Crest View and is being developed with “twin” homes.
Westridge
A parcel of approximately 100 acres is located south of the Westridge Village
subdivision, east of Palisades Boulevard, and north of Shea Boulevard.
Approximately 30 acres of this area has been platted as a large lot single family
subdivision. Approximately ten acres abutting Palisades Boulevard above the
1,920-foot contour elevation is designated for lodging land uses, and is buffered
from adjacent uses by a broad dedication of open space.
Adero Canyon and Eagles Nest
A combined 926-acre area is located in the northwestern section of Town. The
two development areas are planned to accommodate a total of 415 single-
family low-density residential homes adjacent to the Town's 740-acre McDowell
Mountain preservation area.
Former State Trust Land
An approximate 1,300-acre area is located in the northeast corner of Town. A
35-acre site adjacent to Fountain Hills Boulevard (as it enters the property) is
leased by the Fountain Hills Unified School District #98 for the Fountain Hills Middle
School. This land has a density cap of 1,350 dwelling units.
Plat 208-South
The south half of Plat 208 is home to the Town Civic Center complex on the west
end, adjacent to La Montana Drive. The area between the Town Civic Center
and Saguaro Boulevard that contains approximately 15 acres is vacant. This is
the preferred site for additional commercial and mixed use development in the
Town Center.
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
Undeveloped School Sites
There are three undeveloped school sites, including the Hawk school site,
located on Hawk and Arroyo Vista Drives, the El Lago school site, located
between El Lago Boulevard and Cavern Drive, and the Aspen school site,
located southwest of Aspen Drive and north of Sierra Madre Drive. If any of
these sites were to be sold by the school district, they could be developed
according to the underlying zoning district of the site. To date, there are no
development plans for any of these sites.
Infill Parcels
There are undeveloped parcels, both platted and unplatted, within the Town.
These parcels are smaller than the previously listed areas, but represent potential
for new development.
VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Vision: A Town that seeks to preserve its character and beauty using land use
principles that allow development in a cohesive and beneficial manner to protect
neighborhoods and support business development.
Goal One: Correct the imbalance of acreage in zoning districts to more closely
reflect the Town’s desired need/demand.
Objective 1.1 The Town should evaluate its existing retail trade
capture/leakage in an effort to provide ample, sustainable
commercially zoned land for its retail uses.
Goal Two: Centralize commercial and employment uses and address their existing
pattern of development.
Objective 2.1 The Town should continue to employ a policy to encourage
the overall development of existing commercially zoned
lands and the renovation of underutilized commercial
buildings.
Objective 2.2 The Town should continue to work with the Fort McDowell
Yavapai Nation to identify and promote employment center
opportunities and other development that promotes a
daytime population.
Goal Three: Investigate the application of special planning area solutions.
Objective 3.1 The Town should continue to update the Land Use Analysis
and Statistical Report on an annual basis.
Objective 3.2 The Town should study issues and implement solutions
related to infill, revitalization, and redevelopment of the
commercial land and existing uses along Shea Boulevard
and Saguaro Boulevard.
Objective 3.3 The Town should pay particular attention to attract small
and medium sized businesses as participants in mixed-use
projects, and uses to promote day and evening activities.
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
Residential uses within the mixed-use area should be high
density, and projects that can accommodate commercial
or office uses at the street level, with residential on upper
floors, are encouraged.
Goal Four: Expand the Town image beyond that of a suburb to incorporate a
unique pro-business community identity.
Objective 4.1 The Town should continue to locate, design and install
unique signage and entry monumentation for the
community that is both original and welcoming at major
Town gateways. The entries should incorporate a symbolic
image that could serve as a springboard for secondary
public identity markers or public art and signage within the
community.
Objective 4.2 The Town should develop business incentive programs to
attract new commercial services and to retain existing and
attract new businesses to the community and guide their
appropriate location.
Objective 4.3 The Town should market the Town Center area such that it
will attract a variety of employment, office, cultural,
institutional, mixed-use, lodging, commercial and
entertainment/recreational opportunities.
Objective 4.4 The Town should continue to pursue the extension of public
regional and local public transit that will enhance access for
residents, workers and visitors to participate in a variety of
Town activities.
Goal Five: Protect and preserve existing neighborhoods from incompatible
adjacent land uses.
Objective 5.1 The Town should encourage development of infill areas with
close proximity to shopping facilities, recreation, community
services and existing infrastructure.
Objective 5.2 The Town should continue to preserve open space and
natural washes as buffers between and within zoning
districts.
Objective 5.3 The Town should group most municipal and civic offices in
the Town Center.
Objective 5.4 The Town should ensure that existing and future parks and
recreation facilities are well maintained and provide
activities that meet community desires.
Objective 5.6 The Town should support proposed lodging sites planned
with expansive open-space buffers from adjacent residential
uses. Sites should have direct or proximate access to arterial
roadway corridors and should be located on land presently
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
zoned within a lodging, or residential zoning district. These
sites are to be developed in a highly sensitive manner
relative to existing land forms, wash areas, vegetation and
other environmental constraints.
Objective 5.7 The Town should work with all adjacent communities to
ensure that development on our borders is compatible with
development in the Town.
Goal Six: Continue to preserve open space and maintain strict guidelines for the
conservation of natural resources.
Objective 6.1 The Town should continue to preserve steeply sloping
hillsides, wash areas and tracts of contiguous open space.
Objective 6.2 The Town should require high-density developments to
include provisions for open space and native/drought
tolerant landscaping.
Objective 6.3 The Town should maintain linkages in the form of pedestrian
paths, visual corridors and interconnections with public art.
Objective 6.4 The Town should continue to consider additional
opportunities to connect its open space/trail system with the
Maricopa County McDowell Mountain Regional Park
regional trail system in a manner that protects natural assets,
minimizes potential environmental degradation and
discourages motorized vehicular traffic.
LAND USE PLAN
The Fountain Hills Land Use Plan presents the recommended guidance to direct
future development, growth, and revitalization in the Town. The Land Use Plan
locates the appropriate mix of land uses for the entire incorporated area of the
Town. Their location and amount are based on existing land use, zoning, land
ownership and environmental features as illustrated on Figure 11, Land Use Plan.
In 2008, the Town prepared a Land Use Analysis and Statistical Report which
provided an abundance of information regarding the Town’s demographics,
development trends, existing businesses, government and public facilities, and an
inventory of existing land uses. This report provides current and updated information
on existing conditions within the Town. One of the implementation activities
identified in this General Plan is an annual update of this Land Use Analysis and
Statistical report.
Land Use Definitions
The following section provides detailed descriptions of the proposed uses in each
land use category and general criteria for their appropriate development, where
applicable. The categories have been grouped into topical areas including
residential land uses, service/employment uses, municipal/institutional uses and
open space/recreational uses.
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
Residential Uses:
¾ Single-Family/Very Low Density Residential (.025-1.0 DU/AC)
The Single-Family/Very Low Density Residential category denotes areas
where large-lot single-family residential development is desirable and all
urban services (sanitary sewer, water, law enforcement, fire protection,
schools, parks, etc.) are available or can be provided.
¾ Single-Family/Low Density Residential (1.0-2.0 DU/AC)
The Single-Family/Low Density Residential category denotes areas where
single-family neighborhood residential development is desirable and all
urban services are available or can be provided.
¾ Single-Family/Medium Density Residential (2.0-4.5 DU/AC)
The Single-Family/Medium Density Residential category denotes areas
where single-family neighborhood residential development is desirable
and all urban services are available or will be provided.
¾ Multi-Family/Medium Density Residential (4.0-10.0 DU/AC)
The Multi-Family/Medium Density Residential category denotes areas
where higher density attached residential uses, such as duplexes and
townhouses, are desirable and all urban services are available. Suitability
for development will be determined in part on transportation access to
the arterial roadway system, existing land use patterns, public
infrastructure capacity and suitable topography.
¾ Multi-Family/High Density Residential (10.0-12.0 DU/AC)
The Multi-Family/High Density Residential category denotes areas where
the highest density residential uses such as multi-story apartments and
specialty residential are desirable and all urban services are available.
Suitability for development will be determined in part on transportation
access to the arterial roadway system, existing land use patterns, public
infrastructure capacity and suitable topography. Its use is very limited in
the Town.
Service/Employment Uses:
¾ General Commercial/Retail
The General Commercial/Retail category denotes areas providing for the
sale of convenience goods (food, drugs and sundries) and personal
services that meet the daily needs of a multi-neighborhood trade area.
¾ Office
The Office category includes areas where general and professional
offices have been historically developed or will be developed. These
areas can serve as a buffer between existing developed and/or
proposed commercial and industrial uses and residential developments.
Future development of Office designated areas are appropriate for
mixed use projects, especially within the Town Center.
¾ Lodging
The Lodging category includes areas where tourist-oriented lower density
hotels or motels (which can also include resort uses) together with
supportive retail and restaurant uses, should be developed. Higher
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
density and multi-story hotels, motels and resorts should be located only in
areas designated for Lodging, Mixed Use or General Commercial/Retail.
¾ Mixed-Use
The Mixed Use category denotes the Town Center area where a mix of
commercial, retail, office, high-density residential, municipal, civic,
recreational, cultural, institutional, parking, lodging and religious facilities
are to be located. Several uses can be accommodated within a single
project if the mix of uses is carefully designed to be mutually supportive
and the project as a whole will reinforce the viability and vision of the
Town Center.
¾ Industrial
The Industrial category includes areas where mixed general office,
warehousing, and light industrial uses have been historically developed.
Future development of Business Park uses should be targeted for the
existing areas and for sites with potential visual exposure to Shea
Boulevard.
The various service and employment uses are shown on Figure 12,
Service/Employment Uses.
Municipal/Institutional Uses:
¾ Government
This category includes the location of the Town Civic Center, emergency
service providers and the Post Office.
¾ Utility
This category includes the areas for wastewater treatment facilities, water
storage reservoirs and tanks, well sites, telephone company sites, electric
substation sites, etc. All sites have been developed and no additional
areas are designated at this time.
¾ Schools
This category includes land where existing public schools are located, but
does not include undeveloped School District-owned property.
Open Space/Recreational Uses:
¾ Parks
This category includes both existing or planned community parks, and
privately owned parks and subdivision recreation areas.
¾ Open Space
This land use category includes most drainage corridor/wash areas and
dedicated or proposed open space areas. It is the intent of the General
Plan 2010 that any proposed or undedicated open space areas will
remain as permanent open space. Historically joint cooperation between
the Town, the property owners, various community groups and individual
volunteers has served to preserve and maintain these areas. Sites
identified on the Land Use Plan are delineations of preserved or protected
open space and of proposed open space areas.
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
¾ Golf Courses
The Golf Course category denotes existing golf courses together with their
associated functions such as maintenance and retail facilities, clubhouse
and parking areas.
Opportunities and Constraints
Opportunities:
¾ Undeveloped Property
The parcels of land representing the greatest opportunity for continuity
between current planning objectives and the ultimate physical outcome
of the Town are the un-subdivided and undeveloped areas within the
Town boundaries.
Constraints:
¾ Topography
The most obvious development constraint, and conversely the greatest
visual asset, is topography. Much of the Town lies on varying degrees of
steep slopes. Careful integration of development together with
management of drainage and control of washes are important
considerations for any new construction.
¾ Drainage
Earthen dams have been constructed in natural washes to integrate
drainage control with natural flow patterns. Each lot is reviewed for
drainage patterns at the time of building permit submittal. The water
flowing across individual lots, especially in relationship to proposed
construction, are reviewed and the overall drainage patterns for the area
are evaluated to avoid excessive outflow onto adjoining properties. The
Town uses a 1995 Major Drainage Study for delineated flood hazard areas.
Drainage, which is accomplished primarily through the natural and man-
made washes effectively buffers land uses but sometimes causes
escalated development costs in terms of vehicular crossings and
increased grading practices.
¾ Boundaries of Incorporation
Fountain Hills is bordered by:
• Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation on the east;
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on the south;
• City of Scottsdale on the west; and
• Maricopa County McDowell Mountain Regional Park on the north.
There is no indication that the boundaries will change in the foreseeable
future. Therefore, it is reasonable to predict that the Town of Fountain Hills
will retain its current boundary configuration and size.
¾ Regional Access
Fountain Hills is located on the northeastern edge of the Phoenix
Metropolitan Area. The Town is served by the following regional roadway
system:
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
• Shea Boulevard, a median-divided four to six-lane road, is oriented
east/west through the Town and connects with Scottsdale and other
cities to the west, and to State Route 87 (Beeline Highway) just
beyond the Town boundary on the east.
• State Route 87, a median-divided four-lane road, is oriented
northeast/southwest and connects south to Mesa and other East
Valley locations. To the north, it connects to Fort McDowell, Goldfield
Ranch, Payson and other communities.
• Fountain Hills Boulevard/McDowell Mountain Road, is a two-lane
roadway oriented north out of Fountain Hills to Rio Verde. Upon
development of the former state Trust land, the road will be re-
located and widened.
Regional access, which is limited east-west and north-south, sometimes
limits commercial and employment opportunities, but the separation
allows the community to establish its unique identity separate from other
Phoenix Metropolitan Area cities and towns.
Land Use Guidelines
Residential Land Use Guidelines:
The following guidelines are consistent with the General Plan 2010 Mission
Statement. They fulfill the goals of the community and permit creativity in site
planning while encouraging protection the environment. The guidelines also
encourage the low-density residential character of the Town and shall be
used for planning any land designated as Residential on the Land Use Plan.
¾ Allowable Residential Densities (per gross acre)
Residential - Single-Family/Very Low Density: .025 - 1.0 DU/AC
Residential - Single-Family/Low Density: 1.0 - 2.0 DU/AC
Residential - Single-Family/Medium Density: 2.0 - 4.5 DU/AC
Residential - Multi-Family/Medium Density: 4.0 - 10.0 DU/AC
Residential - Multi-Family/High Density: 10.0-12.0 DU/AC
• Single-Family/Very Low Density Residential (.025-1.0 DU/AC)
Within any particular development, net densities greater than 1.0
DU/AC (cluster development) could be permitted, with Town Council
approval, in concentrated areas to direct development away from
more environmentally sensitive portions of a total site, but only if
areas of lower densities offset the increase such that a gross density
of no more than 1.0 DU/AC is maintained.
• Single-Family/Low Density Residential (1.0-2.0 DU/AC)
Within any particular development, net densities greater than 2.0
DU/AC could be permitted, with Town Council approval, in
concentrated areas to direct development away from more
environmentally sensitive portions of a total site, but only if areas of
lower densities offset the increase such that a gross density of no
more than 2.0 DU/AC is maintained.
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
• Single-Family/Medium Density Residential (2.0-4.5 DU/AC)
Within any particular development, net densities greater than 4.5
DU/AC could be permitted, with Town Council approval, in
concentrated areas to direct development away from more
environmentally sensitive portions of a total site, but only if areas of
lower densities offset the increase such that a gross density of no
more than 4.5 DU/AC is maintained.
• Multi-Family/Medium Density Residential (4.0 - 10.0 DU/AC)
Within any particular development, net densities greater than 10.0
DU/AC could be permitted, with Town Council approval, in
concentrated areas to direct development away from more
environmentally sensitive portions of a total site but only if areas of
lower densities offset the increase such that a gross density of no
more than 10.0 DU/AC is maintained. Any increase in such density
must be accompanied by enhanced site amenities and/or extra-
ordinary dedications for open space preservation, parks or trails.
Multi-Family/Medium Density Residential will be particularly
encouraged as transitional projects between existing developed
residential and commercial areas. Projects proposed for these
transitional zones should be developed with exceptional design,
enhanced site amenities, extensive landscaped setbacks from
collector roadway corridors and controlled access to the arterial
roadway corridor.
• Multi-Family/High Density Residential (10.0 - 12.0 DU/AC)
The development of Multi-Family/High Density Residential will be
particularly encouraged between existing residential and
commercial areas or as buffers to lower density residential areas
located along arterial roadways, or adjacent to commercial areas.
Projects proposed for these transitional zones between existing
development areas should be developed with exceptional design,
enhanced site amenities, extensive landscape setbacks from the
roadway corridor and controlled access to the arterial roadway
corridor.
Environmentally Sensitive Land Use Development Guidelines:
Areas of environmental sensitivity occur throughout the Town of Fountain Hills.
In order to respect the environmentally sensitive nature of all lands within the
Town as the Land Use Plan is implemented, careful consideration should be
given to policies that require a more sensitive treatment of the built
environment for all land use classifications.
Chapter Three General Plan 2010
Land Use Element Town of Fountain Hills
¾ Buffering Techniques
In cases where less than desirable land use compatibility situations exist,
one or more of the following buffering techniques should be required:
• Areas consisting of extensive landscaped open space;
• Arterial and collector streets with extensive landscaping;
• Heavily landscaped underground utility corridor easements;
• Screen walls, landscaping, earthen berms; and
• Preservation of natural topographic features.
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The Implementation Activities will help achieve the vision, goals and objectives
identified previously in this section. A listing of these activities is provided below. The
activities identified for implementation are also defined in Chapter 10, General Plan
Implementation.
¾ Retail Trade Capture/Leakage Study
¾ Economic Incentives Considerations
¾ Annual Update of Land Use Analysis and Statistical Report
OVERVIEW
The Growth Areas Element is a strategic tool that guides the Town’s new
development, infill, and revitalization/redevelopment decisions. Although the Town
is now landlocked and approaching its anticipated population buildout, there are
certain areas within the community that could benefit from focused attention. The
intent is to integrate new development seamlessly on vacant parcels, revitalize
underutilized properties and to consider redeveloping aging or inadequate existing
development areas. In addition, the Town Center should be developed to attract
future investment.
Adequate public facilities are in place to serve the Town in both the existing
developed as well as identified Growth Areas. Therefore, focused growth or
revitalization activities within selected Town locations should serve to stimulate new
economic activity, resulting in enhanced sales tax generation and employment
opportunities.
The Growth Areas Element is organized into the following four sections in order to
focus new and infill development:
¾ Background
¾ Vision, Goals, and Objectives
¾ Land Use Plan
¾ Implementation Activities
BACKGROUND
The Growth Areas Element focuses on opportunities for integrating new
development seamlessly, redeveloping aging or inadequate existing development,
and evaluating infill prospects. The intent of the Growth Areas section is to identify
the locations that provide the opportunity for focused growth opportunities
throughout the Town. The identified Growth Areas are organized into four
categories: Residential Growth Areas, Commercial Growth Areas, Vacant Infill
Areas, and Multi-Use Growth Areas. Although the Town is approaching the buildout
of its incorporated area, selected areas within the community require careful
attention. The development of a Town Center is perhaps the largest opportunity to
provide improved growth and multimodal transportation to the residents of the
Town. The growth of the Town Center will serve as a guide for both new
development and revitalization of existing development in an effort to enhance the
heart of the community. Opportunities for focusing future residential growth include
the former State Trust land, Crestview, Adero Canyon and Eagles Nest
developments. These areas provide the majority of the Town’s last remaining
vacant, developable land. Vacant-infill areas also exist. These areas include the
Aspen Drive Infill, El Lago/Palisades Infill, and the Saguaro Boulevard at Colony Wash
Infill. While each of these areas presents their own unique opportunities and
constraints, the underlying constraint on the Growth Areas Element is the lack of
undeveloped developable land within the Towns’ incorporated area. This is
particularly significant because the Town is not able to expand in the future.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
The population of Fountain Hills has grown significantly in recent years, increasing
approximately 22,500 or 900% from 1980 to 2007. Infrastructure and support have
successfully kept up with the rapid population growth. The population increase is
represented in Table 1, Population Trends.
Table 1, Population Trends
* Population provided by US Census/Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG)
** Projected Population figures taken from the Town of Fountain Hills 2008 Land Use Analysis & Statistical
Report
The Town is approaching its estimated buildout population of 34,324 residents. The
population will likely remain near this level due to the inability to expand the existing
boundaries of incorporation.
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
19
8
0
19
8
5
19
9
0
19
9
5
20
0
0
20
0
5
20
0
7
20
1
0
20
2
0
20
3
0
Population*
Projected Population**
VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Vision: A Town that is vibrant, successful and attractive, where businesses are
complementary, where a wide range of housing types is available, and where open
space is preserved.
Goal One: Provide a community that is competitive and attractive to business.
Objective 1.1 The Town should continue to examine creative methods to
attract complementary retail and office business users that
have mid to small space requirements and locate them
within the existing retail corridors on both Saguaro Boulevard
and Fountain Hills Boulevard.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 1.2 The Town should implement its recently approved Town
Center Vision Plan and should continually study comparable
and successful downtown areas. The Town Center Vision
Plan should be used to help guide the design and
development of the Town Center and peripheral areas. This
should be part of the Town Center Area Specific Plan.
Objective 1.3 The Town should focus promotional efforts on attracting
small to medium sized businesses and offices that are
appropriate to the future Town Center and corridor areas,
and include accommodations for the proposed expansion
of regional and local transit systems.
Objective 1.4 The Town should look favorably on any new, revitalization or
redevelopment projects that emphasize the Town’s unique
character and scale. All projects should incorporate
pedestrian pathways, bicycle accommodations and
landscaped open space with covered seating.
Objective 1.5 The Town should prepare an Area Specific Plan for the Shea
Boulevard corridor near Saguaro Boulevard. The Plan should
evaluate rezoning possibilities that would increase the
inventory of commercially zoned land.
Objective 1.6 When the opportunity exists, the Town should develop a plan
in cooperation with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and
the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for the area
of Shea Boulevard and the Beeline Highway. The plan would
identify a mixed use area featuring facilities with the
capacity to attract and serve a large number of residents
and visitors.
Objective 1.7 The Town should prepare an Area Specific Plan for the North
Fountain Hills Boulevard commercial growth area.
Goal Two: Provide increased opportunities for small businesses.
Objective 2.1 The Town will encourage small businesses in commercial
areas to provide recommendations to improve access,
signage, landscape design and street front appearance.
Objective 2.2 The Town should encourage mixed-use developments,
particularly in the Town Center.
Objective 2.3 The Town should investigate a financial incentive program
for proposed developments that achieve the infill,
revitalization and redevelopment goals of the Town.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 2.4 The Town should examine access and parking issues for
existing businesses in the Town Center during Special Events.
Goal Three: Encourage the development of a variety of housing types.
Objective 3.1 The Town should encourage creative solutions for
topographically challenging sites.
Objective 3.2 The Town should encourage mixed-use housing in the Town
Center.
Goal Four: Increase housing variety by encouraging a wide range of housing prices.
Objective 4.1 The Town should encourage the development of mixed-use
housing in the Town Center to be used as an opportunity to
provide a variety of housing price points.
Goal Five: Promote developments that will continue to provide small town
character and quality of life.
Objective 5.1 The Town should encourage locally owned and operated
businesses.
Objective 5.2 The Town should encourage the development and
extension of pedestrian pathways and bicycle trails in a
manner that will link businesses, schools, shops and
recreational activity centers.
Objective 5.3 The Town should encourage home-based businesses that
are appropriate and compatible with adjacent residential
uses.
Objective 5.4 The Town should discourage the widening of non-arterial
streets except for the addition of bicycle lanes.
Objective 5.5 The Town should promote narrowing of excessively wide
street pavements (not needed for foreseeable future traffic
demand) to allow for the placement of sidewalks
(meandering where feasible) and frontage landscaping.
Objective 5.6 The Town should recognize the plan for the downtown area
prepared by Swaback Partners as an Area Specific Plan. This
plan will encourage the development of the Town Center
that will strengthen the community identity and provide day
and night time activities.
Objective 5.7 The Town should encourage community participation in
public art.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 5.8 The Town should ensure that all new housing provide street
side landscaping complimentary to the native desert
vegetation.
Goal Six: Encourage developments that preserve and protect natural resources.
Objective 6.1 The Town should encourage development, revitalization and
redevelopment projects that set aside dedicated
preservation areas.
Objective 6.2 The Town should develop and make available educational
materials that explain the Sonoran Desert ecosystem and
publish the materials on the Town’s web page.
GROWTH AREAS PLAN
The Growth Areas Plan is divided into four growth areas, including Residential
Growth Areas, Commercial Growth Areas, Vacant Infill Areas, and Multi-Use Growth
Areas. Opportunities for each growth area are discussed below.
Residential Growth Areas:
¾ Former State Trust Land
The former State Trust Land, consists of 1,276 acres located in the extreme
northeast part of the Town. The property has an approved development
agreement and approved zoning for 1,350 single-family homes. Other
uses planned for the property include two parks (46 acres total), a
boutique resort (31 acres), a commercial parcel (14 acres) and open
space (419 acres).
Most of the traffic generated by the development will funnel to the minor
arterial road which is the extension of Fountain Hills Boulevard. This road
will connect to McDowell Mountain Road to the northeast. Other traffic
will be able to access existing minor collector streets in the Town via
connections to the south and west.
A 200 foot wide open space buffer will separate lots in the project from
existing lots in the Town to the south and west. The steepest slopes and
major washes have been preserved as open space. The former State Trust
Land is one of the few largely vacant properties left for development in
the Town.
¾ Crestview
The Crestview neighborhood has been platted and developed. It is
included as a “Growth Area” due to the existence of numerous vacant
lots. It is located on the north side of Shea Boulevard at the Town’s
western boundary, encompasses 100 platted single-family very low density
lots, and an approximate 57 acre platted multi-family, medium density
parcel. This development will become the western “face” of the
community.
Development at Crestview will have limited vehicular transportation
impacts on the interior of the community due to the development’s
proximity to Shea Boulevard (a principal arterial roadway) which will
accommodate the inter-regional traffic with little additional vehicular
traffic on internal community roadways.
The development is close to the Mayo medical complex and the many
offices and retail businesses in the Scottsdale/Shea Boulevard
employment corridor. The Crestview development will provide an
opportunity to continue pedestrian and bicycle linkages into Scottsdale,
providing the opportunity for non-vehicular commuting to work. At or
near the Shea Boulevard/Palisades Boulevard intersection is a logical
regional transit node location where regional and local bus service,
pedestrian pathways and bicycle linkages could meet.
The land in the Crestview development exhibits steep-sloped topography.
Both the single-family and the multi-family portions of the development will
preserve large areas of open space. The single-family lots will be
developed with restrictions that will maintain large areas of non-disturbed
land and preserve the native desert vegetation; and the multi-family
development contains large tracts of preserved land that contribute to
the community character and to the goals of desert preservation.
This development may encounter challenges regarding access to public
schools as no new schools are scheduled to be located within walking
distance of the development. Additionally, no pedestrian or bicycle
linkages through the subdivision are permitted. Finally, there are likely no
opportunities to provide medium to low-income home ownership within
this development.
¾ Adero Canyon and Eagles Nest
Located in the rugged hilly and steep sloping northwest region of the
Town, both Adero Canyon and Eagles Nest are platted, and are slowly
developing single-family very low-density developments. The combined
926 acres have a total of 415 platted lots. The plats for the two
developments are adjacent to the Town-owned 740-acre McDowell
Mountain Preserve that contains pedestrian and bicycle trails with a
trailhead that links the Town, through the preservation area, to the
McDowell Mountain Regional Park and the county-wide regional trail
system. Vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle access is provided on, and
adjacent to, public roads that serve these developments and extend to
the trailhead.
Roadway intersections on Palisades Boulevard, at both Eagle Ridge Drive
and Golden Eagle Boulevard, would be possible transit node locations to
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
link the regional transit and local community wide transit system with
pedestrian and bicycle pathways. Both Adero Canyon and Eagles Nest
developments contribute to the preservation of the community character
and to the goals of desert preservation.
This development may encounter challenges regarding distance to
employment centers, retail shopping and business services as there are
none within walking distance to the residential lots. Additionally, there are
no schools within walking distance of the development. Finally, there are
likely no opportunities to provide medium to low-income home ownership.
Commercial Growth Areas:
¾ Saguaro Boulevard
The commercially zoned properties on the east side of Saguaro
Boulevard, between Emerald Wash and El Lago Boulevard should be the
subject of a Commercial Corridor Study. This area exhibits an uneven mix
of the older commercial strip centers with frontage roads. Traffic conflicts
exist due to the existing frontage road. Pedestrian and bicycle access,
parking, building accessibility, landscaping and sign ordinance
compliance all require additional study in the future.
The area should be investigated and planned with the intent that the
corridor should work in a complementary, not competitive manner, with
both the Town Center to the north and the commercial corridor on Shea
Boulevard.
¾ Fountain Hills Boulevard North
A study should be completed to address the redevelopment of the small
commercial development on the east side of Fountain Hills Boulevard
north of Balboa Wash. The issues of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle
access, parking, building accessibility, landscaping and sign ordinance
compliance all need to be studied. This work needs to recognize and
compliment the future development of the commercial property to the
north on the former State Trust Land project area.
The study should focus particular attention on the need for broad, safe
pedestrian and bicycle pathways due to the proximity of the middle
school and the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Commercial and
business services in the area should provide neighborhood community-
oriented services. A landscape plan should address the need for both
shaded pathways and pedestrian separation from vehicular traffic.
Safety considerations for the number and placement of driveways
(access control) should be part of the study.
¾ Shea/Saguaro
Both sides of Shea Boulevard, between the Town boundary on the east
and Balera Drive on the west should be a part of the Shea/Saguaro
Commercial Corridor Study and Area Specific Plan. This section of Shea
Boulevard exhibits a range of existing commercial uses and intensities,
vacant land, Town-owned land and residentially zoned property. The
eastern boundary of Shea Boulevard also serves as the eastern entry into
the Town. It would significantly benefit from the inclusion of monument
identification/signage.
Issues to be addressed in the study should include traffic access and
mobility, possible redevelopment of residential lots with commercial uses
in some locations, development of Town-owned land with commercial
uses, compatibility of adjacent land uses, linkages to regional transit,
pedestrian and bicycle facilities, area character and signage. The study
area should also identify a regional transit node that will accommodate
multi-modal transportation systems; thereby providing a convenient, safe,
comfortable and aesthetically pleasing node that will link regional and
local community-wide transit systems.
Vacant Infill Areas:
¾ Aspen Drive Infill Area
Two adjacent vacant parcels are located south of Aspen Drive at Nyack
Drive, north of, but not adjacent to, Sierra Madre Drive. The westernmost
of the two parcels is a 19.35-acre vacant school district parcel. Together
with the adjacent 12.43-acre parcel on the east, these lots, individually or
together, have the potential for single-family housing. They are
surrounded by single-family very low density, single-family low density, and
single-family medium-density developments. Ashbrook Wash restricts the
access and development potential of the southern edge of both parcels,
but sufficient access exists from the north via Aspen Drive.
¾ El Lago/Palisades Infill Area
A second 35-acre vacant school parcel is located southeast of Palisades
Boulevard, north of El Lago Boulevard. Arrow Wash traverses the parcel
from east to west, and the topography rises approximately fifty feet across
the property. The property is surrounded by single-family medium-density
development and lies adjacent to two public roadways, Cavern Drive on
the north and El Lago Boulevard on the south. The site has the potential
for low-density housing.
¾ Saguaro Boulevard at Colony Wash Infill Area
A third 15.71-acre vacant school parcel is located adjacent to the south
side of Colony Wash, just west of Saguaro Boulevard. The topography of
the site rises from the wash on the north, crests in a small hill in the center
of the site and slopes down gently on the south. The site is adjacent to
single-family low-density, single-family medium-density, multi-family
medium-density and multi-family high-density developments.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Multi-Use Growth Areas:
¾ The Town Center Area Boundary
The Town Center Area is generally bound by La Montana Drive on the
west and the north, Saguaro Boulevard on the east, and El Lago
Boulevard on the south. This Area is highlighted in blue on Figure 13,
Growth Areas Plan.
¾ Town Center Commercial/Mixed-Use Area Boundary
The Town Center commercial/mixed-use area should incorporate all of
Blocks 3 through 8 of Plat 208 between Palisades Boulevard on the north,
El Lago Boulevard on the south, Saguaro Boulevard on the east and La
Montana Boulevard on the west, plus the eastern half of Blocks 1 and 2 of
Plat 208.
¾ Town Center Government Area Boundary
The western half of Blocks 1 and 2 of Plat 208 currently house the Town Hall
and Community Center. Any future governmental building should be built
in this area and in conjunction with the existing buildings.
¾ Town Center Multi-Use Growth Area
The development of the Town Center will provide the opportunity for
revitalization of the existing under-utilized Town Center Plat 208 north.
Development of the Town Center will provide the opportunity to create a
strong physical and visual linkage with the existing urban open space and
signature fountain.
Because the Town has a limited historical building style, there is an
opportunity to create a Town “style” or architectural character that can
be used as a basis for future development and revitalization projects in
the Town Center and throughout the community. The Town Center should
incorporate a specific landscape and street-tree program to further
identify the area as a core area. Special attention should be addressed
to the issues of shade and boundary/edge in landscape design and to
the scale of pedestrian walkways, water features and the placement and
configuration of seating in pedestrian pathways.
The Town Center should incorporate mixed-use high-density development
to provide local employment opportunities, reduce vehicular traffic
demands and reduce air pollution. The existing surrounding roadway
infrastructure is in place, so no substantial additional public financial
burden is expected for roadway development.
The Town Center should incorporate residential, office, retail,
entertainment and governmental services providing day and evening
activities to maintain a lively and safe environment.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Although mixed-use development is a goal, a mixed-use project should
be viewed primarily as an employment center and secondarily as a
residential community. Development should create opportunities for small
offices or office complexes to benefit from proximity to a government
center. Opportunities for increased pedestrian traffic would also result
from small businesses locating within proximity to each other.
It is anticipated that the Town Center will create a pedestrian oasis for all
activities, thereby reducing vehicular trip generation. A major multi-
modal transportation node should also be included that will become the
main cross-linkage for both regional and local transit systems, plus bicycle
and pedestrian pathways. The transit node should provide shelter (using
both built and landscape materials), seating, and parking for both
motorized vehicles and bicycles. The transit node will create the
opportunity for a micro-business core and the opportunity for public art
space. The transit node should incorporate visual and architectural
linkages to the surrounding development and should be designed to be
safe and aesthetically pleasing during both day and evening hours.
The Town Center should be “expandable” with accommodation for future
growth, and should give clear direction as to how future growth should be
integrated into the adjacent urban fabric. Additionally, the Town should
identify how to provide various incentives to the existing built-out property
owners for re-design in conformance with the preferred design intent.
Swaback Partners created a plan for the downtown area that provides a
vision that is intended to attract investment and stimulate development.
This planning effort was requested by the Chamber of Commerce and
was supported by the Town. The Town should incorporate this planning
document in its forthcoming Area Specific Plan for the Town Center.
The Town Center should incorporate the following pedestrian street
elements in the open/pedestrian areas of the design:
• Seating: Seating should provide a variety of choice for both types
and places. Benches and seating ledges should comprise
approximately ten percent of open space areas.
• Sunlight and Night Lighting: Both architectural and landscape
elements should be used to incorporate shaded areas into the open
space and pathway areas. Trees should periodically be grouped in
conjunction with seating areas in a manner that will provide shade
and filtered light. Nighttime lighting should illuminate dark areas and
corners and be placed and sized to be pedestrian friendly while still
adhering to the Town's dark sky requirements. Pedestrian and
bicycle pathways that are adequately and evenly lit will encourage
non-vehicular transportation during the evening hours. Architectural
lighting elements should be non-glare and pedestrian scaled.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
• Choices, Number and Variety: The pedestrian street will create a
visually interesting and lively urban space when a wide variety of
choices of activity and experience are available. Doorways and
windows should be closely spaced and easily accessible. Business,
retail, entertainment and residential uses should be available in the
same block. Both indoor and outdoor seating for restaurants and
galleries should be incorporated into the plan. Opportunities to
conduct business, shop, sit and stroll should be developed with the
primary focus on a pedestrian scale. Residential units on upper levels
should provide balconies and windows overlooking pedestrian
walkways adjacent to business and retail spaces below.
• Public Art: Opportunities exist to incorporate public art into
architectural elements, lighting designs, transit station designs,
benches and seating, landscape border elements and paving
designs. Additionally, freestanding sculptural elements, especially
interactive designs, or designs that incorporate water elements
should be a part of the plan. The community should be encouraged
to participate in the public art design and development.
• Water and Food: Waterfalls, water walls, pools, brooks, and fountains
of a variety of designs should be incorporated as horizontal and
vertical elements in the overall design. All water elements should be
easily accessible and created as focal points without becoming
barriers to pedestrian movement. Water designs should be
incorporated with, or be in close proximity to seating and restaurants,
creating a visual linkage between one another and with a signature
fountain. Restaurants should have the capability to provide outdoor
seating adjacent to the pedestrian walkway. Outdoor seating
should have trees or awnings for shade/shelter.
There will need to be a way to accommodate the desired density
and still maintain parking requirements. The Town recognized this
challenge in recent amendments to the TCCD Zoning District with the
addition of the concept of shared parking. Shared parking allows the
same parking spaces to be used by different land uses whose
parking demands occur at different times.
Care will have to be taken to determine an expansion model that
will not overwhelm successful development with increased traffic or
noise issues.
The Town Center will need to show how to provide a sustainable mix
of jobs. The Plan should provide options of business-to-retail models
based on similar successful mixes in comparable urbanized areas.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
The area must identify and incorporate safe methods for school
children to live in the core area and travel to schools.
Peripheral Areas:
¾ The Town Center planning should address peripheral areas surrounding
the Plat 208 core. The current medical office complex and the adjacent
retail center to the north should be a part of the Town Center. Particular
attention should be addressed to pedestrian linkages, landscaping,
paving designs, land use and architectural character.
Other peripheral areas that should be included in Town Center planning
are the retail development to the west of the Town Center core area, the
existing Post Office Complex and the commercial area southwest of the
fountain. The focus of these sites should be pedestrian linkages and
landscaping.
Temporary and Special Event Areas:
¾ Fountain Park Events
The Town’s signature Fountain Park is the site of several major and minor
special event activities during the course of the year. While the special
event activities provide an opportunity to showcase the community and
provide entertainment and activities for the residents, the special event
activities generate an unusual amount of short-term traffic congestion
and parking challenges.
Off-site parking options could be considered in a peak parking
management program that would include a circulating trolley system that
would deliver special event visitors from off-site parking locations to
identified event area stops. The rental of the trolley(s) should be
investigated with the cost of the trolley divided among the event vendors.
Such a system would enable the community to accommodate a large
volume of parked vehicles at scattered locations throughout the
community. Traffic congestion around the event location would be
minimized, and visitors would be exposed to the scenic beauty and
variety of the residential and business community on the trolley trip. Local
businesses, both at or near the event site, would have the opportunity to
provide visitors additional shopping and dining experiences by
designating a portion of their parking areas as temporary special event
parking.
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Four General Plan 2010
Growth Areas Element Town of Fountain Hills
¾ Community Center Events
The Community Center is also the site of many special event activities. At
present, parking for all events is accommodated on site. The Civic
Center parking lot is currently used for temporary special event parking in
addition to the regularly scheduled Community Center events.
It is anticipated that future scheduling conflicts could force the removal of
the Civic Center parking lot for temporary special event parking activities.
It is also possible that the Community Center could have an event
scheduled that would not be able to accommodate all of the necessary
parking on site.
It is for the reasons presented above that large temporary special events
proposed within the Town should have parking and routing reviewed in
advance by the special event team.
¾ Special Opportunities
The Town should take advantage of special opportunities to cooperate
with neighbors on planning for land development that would be mutually
beneficial. Such an opportunity may exist sometime in the future with the
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community in the general area of Shea Boulevard and Highway 87.
Should a proposal become ripe for planning, the specifics in terms of
future land use should be captured in a plan that would be approved by
all parties.
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The Implementation Activities identify projects that will help achieve the vision, goals
and objectives identified previously in this section. A listing of these activities is
provided below. The activities identified are also defined in Chapter 10, General
Plan Implementation.
¾ Fountain Hills Boulevard North Area Specific Plan
¾ Town Center Area Specific Plan
¾ Shea/Beeline Highway Plan
Chapter Five General Plan 2010
Cost of Development Element Town of Fountain Hills
OVERVIEW
The Cost of Development Element provides guidance for the provision of public
services, infrastructure and facilities in a fair and efficient manner. This element
ensures that the Town will maintain and improve existing levels of service. The Cost
of Development Element is organized in the following four sections:
¾ Background
¾ Vision, Goals, and Objectives
¾ Cost of Development Plan
¾ Implementation Activities
BACKGROUND
The Town of Fountain Hills implemented residential and commercial development
impact fees in November 2001. The Town updates these fees on an annual basis.
The requirement of this Element is targeted primarily at municipalities with
opportunities for large scale growth, with the objective of avoiding public subsidies
of private development. As the Town is nearing buildout, the need for major public
infrastructure extensions and capacity is somewhat reduced. However the need for
maintenance and upgrading of existing infrastructure will remain in perpetuity. The
manner in which these goals will be achieved is outlined in this chapter.
The Town uses existing ordinances to ensure that new development projects
participate in proportionate infrastructure improvement costs. All new projects are
evaluated through the development review and rezoning processes. The Town
identifies necessary dedications and easements and requires improvement bonds
before construction is allowed to commence. It should be noted that there are
existing development agreements in FireRock, the former State Trust Land Property,
Town Center, Crestview, Eagle Mountain, Eagles Nest and Adero Canyon that may
diminish the Town’s ability to augment regulations or restrictions in these
development areas.
Chapter Five General Plan 2010
Cost of Development Element Town of Fountain Hills
VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Vision: A Town that strives to provide efficient and cost-effective infrastructure
and public facilities systems, including methods that will ensure the reasonable and
equitable participation of private development for both cost and benefit of the
public improvements.
Goal One: Assess the functionality, suitability and sustainability of existing public
facilities and infrastructure.
Objective 1.1 The Town should continue to seek alternative financing
methods for basic infrastructure.
Objective 1.2 The Town should continue to maintain sufficient financial
reserves for maintenance of basic infrastructure.
Objective 1.3 The Town should examine the projected impacts of growth
in selected areas, tapering of growth in others, education,
infrastructure, and community services and facilities.
Objective 1.4 The Town should annually monitor and report the
efficiency/cost ratios of municipal facilities.
Objective 1.5 The Town should examine infrastructure financing strategies
and evaluate resources for completing and/or upgrading
existing roads, utilities and other basic infrastructure
necessary to support projected growth.
Objective 1.6 The Town should evaluate the cost/benefit of existing
contracted police and fire protection services.
Objective 1.7 The Town should continue to utilize the Maricopa County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to adequately
respond to natural and man-made events.
Objective 1.8 The Town should aggressively market private health care
providers to consider the location of an urgent care/hospital
to serve the Town and its surrounding area.
Objective 1.9 The Town should contact telecommunications providers to
identify and rectify areas in the Town where cell service is
not operable or exhibits poor reception.
Objective 1.10 The Town should continue to annually adjust developmet
fees for inflation and conduct a development fee study at
least every 5 years.
Goal Two: Continue to explore creative development cost sharing strategies for
Fountain Hills.
Objective 2.1 The Town should continue to seek public/private economic
development partnerships.
Objective 2.2 The Town should strengthen its economic development
program coordination with local cities, the Maricopa
Association of Governments, Native American Communities,
Phoenix Economic Growth Council and Arizona Department
of Commerce.
Objective 2.3 The Town should quantify the revenue outcomes of
exploring alternative revenue mechanisms (and their
composition) to achieve a balanced and sustainable
revenue base.
Goal Three: Seek to develop even more streamlined and cost-reducing methods
relative to business development fees and the plan review process.
Objective 3.1 The Town should continually look for ways to further improve
its development review process to be more efficient and
responsive to the time-related needs of applicants and/or
residents.
COST OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The Town utilizes several key regulatory and financial methods to capture
appropriate costs related to new development or significant improvements to
existing structures.
Regulatory Methods:
¾ Subdivision Ordinance
The Subdivision Ordinance was adopted in October 1996 and has
periodically been reviewed. It identifies processes associated with
platting, design principles and standards, public improvement
requirements, grading standards, landscape standards and land
reservations. In terms of cost of development related issues, it incorporates
the requirement of dedications of public right-of-way and easements
within proposed subdivisions requirements for landscape improvements in
frontage and provisions for dedications of public schools and parks.
Chapter Five General Plan 2010
Cost of Development Element Town of Fountain Hills
¾ Zoning Ordinance
The Zoning Ordinance was adopted in November 1993 and identifies the
procedures to establish and regulate zoning districts within the Town. In
terms of cost of development related issues, there is a requirement for the
dedication of public art, or fees in lieu.
¾ Development Fees Ordinance
The Development Fees Ordinance was adopted in November 2001. It
provides for the proportionate participation by applicants in the costs of
infrastructure improvements.
Financial Methods:
¾ Sales and Property Taxes
In May 1995 the Fountain Hills Town Council originally enacted a 1.2
percent local sales tax, which was increased to 1.6 percent in 2000. In
2003, it was increased to 2.6 percent and also includes a special 0.4
percent assessment to fund downtown development (0.1 percent);
amortize Town Hall construction bonds (0.1 percent); and amortize bonds
to acquire mountain lands (0.2 percent). In the past, the local sales tax
revenue has been principally responsible for contributing to a positive
General Fund balance.
¾ Town Bonds
The Town, similar to other Arizona municipalities, utilizes bonds to finance
capital projects within its incorporated area. Two types of bonds exist that
may be utilized: general obligation (GO) bonds and revenue bonds. GO
bonds are secured by the full faith, credit and taxing power of the Town
and are utilized for non-revenue producing facilities such as parks or street
paving projects. GO bonds require the approval of qualified voters and
are subject to debt limits. Their repayment is based on the community’s
property and transaction taxes. At the end of fiscal year (FY) 2007-2008,
the Town had approximately $25 million in long term outstanding debt,
with a total debt limitation of $178 million.
Revenue bonds are secured by the revenues for a specific source such as
sewer line extensions or acquiring additional water supply. Their
repayment is based on the cost of servicing the debt by those users who
benefit from the project.
Chapter Five General Plan 2010
Cost of Development Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Five General Plan 2010
Cost of Development Element Town of Fountain Hills
¾ Private Facilities
The Town does not support the concept of public investments in gated
communities. Development areas that choose to have private
communities, gated or not, reduce the need for maintenance of a
portion of public streets and facilities.
¾ Joint Use Agreements
Existing joint use agreements with the Fountain Hills Unified School District
#98 and with Maricopa County have helped to reduce infrastructure and
facilities costs for the community. The Town will continue to work with the
Fountain Hills Unified School District to maintain existing joint-use
agreements and to explore other opportunities in the future.
¾ Special Districts
In addition to the Fountain Hills Sanitary District, the Town currently has two
special districts within its boundaries – the Eagle Mountain Community
Facilities District and the Cottonwoods Maintenance District. The Eagle
Mountain Community Facilities District encompasses the Eagle Mountain
community located generally south and west of the intersection of Shea
and Palisades Boulevards. The Cottonwoods Maintenance District is
located at the northeast corner of Saguaro and Grande Boulevards.
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The Implementation Activities identify projects that will help achieve the vision, goals
and objectives identified previously in this section. A listing of these activities is
provided below. The activities identified are also defined in Chapter 10, General
Plan Implementation.
¾ Municipal Public Safety Cost/Benefit Analysis
¾ Upgrade Telecommunication Service
OVERVIEW
The purpose of the Open Space Element is to provide guidance for both active and
passive recreational facilities within the Town.
The Open Space Element is organized into the following four sections to
communicate the Town’s intent for a high quality recreational network:
¾ Background
¾ Vision, Goals, and Objectives
¾ Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan
¾ Implementation Activities
BACKGROUND
The Parks and Recreation Department was established in 1991. The Department
currently coordinates a variety of recreational programs and community events.
Due to the limited number of municipal facilities, many programs and events are
conducted at school sites and other facilities within the community. The Community
Center accommodates many of the activities that are non-athletic.
The existing park and open space system within the Town of Fountain Hills consists of
developed municipal and private parks, school campuses, four privately owned golf
courses, a municipal community center and areas of undeveloped natural open
space. The 21,099-acre McDowell Mountain Regional Park lies immediately north of
the Town. There are currently four developed municipal parks within the
community.
State law requires the General Plan 2010 to contain an Open Space element that
includes the following:
¾ A comprehensive inventory of open space areas, recreational resources
and designations of access points to open space areas and resources.
¾ An analysis of forecasted needs, policies for managing and protecting
open space areas and resources, implementation strategies to acquire
additional open space areas, and further establish recreational resources.
¾ Policies and implementation strategies designed to promote a regional
system of integrated open space and recreational resources and a
consideration of any existing regional open space plans.
The development of a multi-faceted municipal park and open space master plan
continues to be a topic of discussion. There is widespread community support for
the incremental development of such a system. Master plans have been
developed for the four existing park sites.
Fountain Hills contains a vast network of open spaces such as wash corridors, trails,
mountain preserves, and developed park sites. The environmental conditions allow
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
for the Town's open space areas to represent natural beauty unique to the
southwest. Recreational trails are concentrated in the northwest part of the Town in
the mountainous landscape. Opportunities for two additional developed park sites
are available on vacant land adjacent to developed schools. Master plans for
these two sites have been developed and approved by the Fountain Hills Unified
School District Board and the Town Council. Use of these two areas will be by both
the schools and the Town. A vast amount of preserved open space also provides
great recreational amenities to the Town.
VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Vision: A Town that provides both passive and active recreational networks for all
residents and visitors that includes both preservation of the natural desert and
interactive sports and community activity facilities in an appropriate balance.
Goal One: Provide and maintain an open space network throughout the
community.
Objective 1.1 The Town should continue to protect the existing natural
washes within the platted portions of the community as
permanent natural desert open spaces.
Objective 1.2 The Town should identify and evaluate all wash/wildlife
corridors in unsubdivided areas and develop policies for
encouraging land owners to ensure that those wash/wildlife
corridors are rezoned to one of the Open Space (OS) Zoning
Districts.
Objective 1.3 The Town should encourage the connection of major open
space and contiguous open space with pathways outside
the wash corridors, in the design of public and private
developments.
Objective 1.4 The Town should continue the development of land trusts
and/or taxing mechanisms that have community support to
accomplish open space acquisition and open space
management programs.
Objective 1.5 The Town should establish procedures for the assessment of
the recreational/open space needs and impacts identified
in the General Plan compared with the facilities proposed
by the applicant as part of the development plan review
process.
Objective 1.6 The Town should encourage the private development of a
neighborhood park as a part of subdivision design, which
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
may or may not be conveyed to the Town or other public
entity even though its status as permanent open space is
secured.
Objective 1.7 The Town should investigate the development of unpaved
trails within the Town limits that provide opportunities for
recreation, enjoyment and use of the Sonoran Desert
subject to the appropriate findings and studies in places
where they have little impact on residential developments
and natural wildlife.
Goal Two: Adopt a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan.
Objective 2.1 The Town should develop and implement a long range
recreation plan that can be used to make strategic land
acquisition and capital improvement decisions.
Objective 2.2 The Town should implement a plan that will identify and
prioritize the specific facility, physical space, and program
needs requirements necessary for the incremental
development and rehabilitation of park and open space
systems.
Objective 2.3 The Town should require drought tolerant landscaping in the
passive use areas of parks.
Goal Three: Continue to acquire and develop land for municipal parks.
Objective 3.1 The Town should continue to pursue the acquisition and/or
development of land for additional municipal parks in the
following general locations:
• One park south of Shea Boulevard.
• One park centrally located along the western boundary
of the Town.
• One park, for preservation/passive, active recreation
and educational uses within the former State Trust Land
Property.
Goal Four: Encourage the development of policies that will maximize the potential
multi-use benefits of existing facilities that will become the basis for the design of
new recreational facilities.
Objective 4.1 The Town should implement the approved Master Plans for
the two park sites that will be developed as Town/School
District joint use facilities.
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 4.2 The Town should consider the potential multi-use of the
improvements in all recreational facility planning, including
multi-use playing fields or multi-use deck surfaces.
Objective 4.3 The Town should strengthen its partnership with the Fountain
Hills Unified School District, and encourage the execution of
multi-use agreements with other public or private entities.
Objective 4.4 The Town should encourage partnerships that avoid the
duplication of facilities allowing public access to all facilities
and improvements constructed with public funds.
Goal Five: Provide open space linkages within the Town, and to the regional
systems beyond its boundaries.
Objective 5.1 The Town should continue to encourage the development
of trail systems that link Fountain Hills with McDowell
Mountain Regional Park, the City of Scottsdale trail system
and potential trail systems on both the Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community and the Ft. McDowell Yavapai
Nation.
Objective 5.2 The Town should coordinate with the City of Scottsdale to
connect existing segments for a potential bikeway system
along both sides of Shea Boulevard, especially where new
improvements are anticipated, and study the feasibility of
an east/west bicycle connection outside of the Shea
Boulevard right of way.
Objective 5.3 The Town should continue to update and produce mapping
and facility information for the public on the Town’s website
and through printed media regarding recreation, trail, and
open space facilities.
Goal Six: Promote community-wide cultural and recreational activities that foster
the Town’s vibrant spirit and unique identity.
Objective 6.1 The Town should provide facilities and promote activities
that foster a continuing commitment to the arts.
Objective 6.2 The Town should analyze the benefits of large events and
promote the use of existing, or development of new, joint
use facilities that address these opportunities.
Objective 6.3 The Town should evaluate, prioritize, and accommodate the
recreational needs of children, teens, seniors, and visitors.
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 6.4 The Town should investigate and accommodate options for
a joint use aquatic/recreation center in the Town.
Goal Seven: Monitor available potential funding sources and seek additional local
support for the planning, acquisition, and development of facilities.
Objective 7.1 The Town should investigate the availability of county, state
or federal grants or other financing mechanisms to assist in
the acquisition of private land and the maintenance and
enhancement of the Town parks and recreation system.
Objective 7.2 The Town should prepare a parks and recreation dedication
program which provides incentives to private parties to
dedicate open space and recreation facilities.
Objective 7.3 The Town should monitor the availability of revenues from
development fees to fund the acquisition, development and
preservation of open space and parks.
Objective 7.4 The Town should investigate the availability of public/private
funding, or other creative funding mechanisms that would
allow the development of community facilities while limiting
Town participation.
Goal Eight: Minimize potable ground water use in existing or future park or open
space areas.
Objective 8.1 The Town should work with the Fountain Hills Sanitary District
to ensure that reclaimed water is used for irrigation in as
many of the new and existing park facilities as possible.
PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
Parks:
¾ Fountain Park (Figure 15A-1)
The Town’s signature lake and world-renowned fountain, an important
community landmark, are part of Fountain Park. The 64-acre park consists
of 35 acres of turf and 29 acres of lake. The lake itself is not currently used
for active recreational purposes, but the park that surrounds it is widely
used by community residents and visitors for both active and passive
recreational pursuits. Fountain Park was acquired from MCO Properties in
May 1997. Improvements include a restroom/control building,
playgrounds, a splash pad, a lake liner replacement, covered
shade/picnic ramadas, an amphitheater, tot lot with shade structures,
multi-use connecting sidewalks, associated signage, and a veteran’s
memorial.
¾ Golden Eagle Park (Figure 15A-2)
Golden Eagle Park is a 25 acre recreation area developed adjacent to
the existing public high school. The park includes four lighted multi-
purpose ball fields with covered dugouts and seating for 550 spectators,
four lighted tennis courts with a shaded waiting area, two lighted
basketball courts with bleachers, two lighted sand volleyball courts with a
shower tower, a shaded tot lot and children’s playground with a shaded
seat-wall, a 2,500 square foot restroom/control building, three parking lots
with a total of 223 parking spaces, three covered picnic ramadas with
grills, two pedestrian footbridges, six chilled drinking fountains, a horseshoe
pit, open turf areas, a large equipment storage yard and over one mile of
multi-purpose sidewalks and pathways.
¾ Four Peaks Neighborhood Park (Figure 15B-3)
In July 1998 the Town began acquiring land for the 15 acre Four Peaks
Neighborhood Park adjacent to Four Peaks Elementary School from the
Fountain Hills Unified School District. The initial Phase I acquisition was 4
acres of land. Phase I Improvements included a soccer field, a restroom
control building, a covered picnic ramada, and multi purpose sidewalks.
The Town acquired the additional acreage, south of the land known as
Phase I Improvements, from the School District in May 2001. This second
acquisition included a lighted multi-purpose field, two lighted ball fields
with bleachers, two lighted tennis courts, two lighted basketball courts,
two shaded children’s playgrounds, and two parking lots with capacity of
thirty parking spaces. A new park master plan should be developed for
this park.
Additionally, the Fountain Hills Unified School District and the Boys and Girls
Clubs of Scottsdale Fountain Hills Branch developed a youth and teen
center adjacent to the site with meeting rooms and a gymnasium, which
is available for their respective uses and other public uses, including Town
use.
¾ Desert Vista Neighborhood Park (Figure 15B-4)
An approximately 12 acre dog park and recreation area, Desert Vista
Neighborhood Park has three acres for the Off-Leash Recreational Facility
and nine acres on the upper turf tier. The Off-Leash Recreational Facility
consists of two separate fenced areas (passive and active areas) to
accommodate smaller and larger dogs. The Town acquired this site from
MCO Properties in May 1998. Amenities include drinking fountains for
humans and pets, bench seating, and a skate park. The upper tier is
largely an open turf area used by Town athletic teams on a reservation
basis. Improvements include a restroom/control building, a tot lot, four
additional ramadas, two parking lots totaling 109 spaces, lights in the dog
park along with sidewalks, and two permanent shade structures.
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
School Sites:
The Fountain Hills Unified School District and the Town of Fountain Hills
maintain an Intergovernmental Agreement that allows each agency to utilize
certain of each other’s facilities at no cost.
¾ McDowell Mountain Elementary School (Figure 16A-A)
The school provides facilities for students in Kindergarten through 2nd
grade including a multi-purpose room/gymnasium that is utilized on a
limited basis for parks and recreation athletic activities. Additionally, a
master plan has been developed and approved to create a large open
turf area for school, neighborhood, and local youth sport teams to use
with the Town. Construction has not yet begun.
¾ Four Peaks Elementary School (Figure 16B-B)
The school provides facilities for students in 3rd through 5th grade including
a multi-purpose room that is utilized for various parks and recreation
activities.
¾ Fountain Hills Middle School (Figure 16C-C)
The school is located in the northeast part of the Town. Amenities at this
school include two ball fields, a football/soccer field with bleacher
seating, an all-weather track, basketball courts, and sand volleyball
courts. In addition to the outdoor athletic facilities, the school has
numerous indoor facilities that are used for various parks and recreation
activities, both athletic and non-athletic.
¾ Fountain Hills High School (Figure 16D-D)
Since September 1992 this facility has provided two gymnasiums, wrestling
rooms, a dance room, a fitness room, a football/soccer field, and a
running track for community activities. Classrooms are also used to
provide space for parks and recreation special-interest activities. In
addition, a master plan has been developed and approved for a large
open turf area for school, neighborhood, and local youth sport teams to
use with the Town. Construction has not yet begun.
Table 2, Existing Active Open Space and Recreational Facilities, provides a
visual summary of the various activities provided at each of the
neighborhood parks and school facilities. (See next page)
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
Table 2
Existing Active Open Space and Recreational Facilities
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NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
Desert Vista Neighborhood Park 12 3 3 X X X X X X X X X
Four Peaks
Neighborhood Park 15 2 1 2 2 2 1 X X X X X X X
Golden Eagle Park 25 2 2 4 4 2 2 X X X X X X X
Sub-Total 51
SCHOOL PARK FACILITIES
McDowell
Mountain ES Na 2 2 X X X X X
Four Peaks ES Na X X X X
Fountain Hills MS Na 3 2 1 X X X X X
Fountain Hills HS Na 3 1 2 X X X X X
Sub-Total Na
SPECIAL EVENT PARK
Fountain Park 64 X X X X X X X X X
Sub-Total 64
Total 115
Golf Courses:
Fountain Hills has four privately owned 18-hole golf courses:
• Desert Canyon Golf Club
• SunRidge Canyon Golf Club
• The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain
• Firerock Country Club
McDowell Mountain Preserve:
Through several agreements with MCO Properties, the Town has been able to
set aside over 740 acres of land as a natural preservation area. A parking
area and trailhead is planned for development that would allow visitors to
access the trail system within the preserve that connects with the regional
trail system developed in the McDowell Mountain Park to the north of town.
Additionally, the Town is coordinating with the City of Scottsdale to connect
the intra-municipal trails between preserve areas.
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
Desert Botanical Gardens:
With volunteer help, the Town has redeveloped a site that was previously
used as a botanical garden. The site now has a new parking lot, and
informational kiosk and access to trails. Plant identification signs are also
being added. The rededication/reopening of the site was in the Fall of 2009.
Undeveloped Wash Corridors:
As a result of the Town’s location within the foothills of the McDowell
Mountains, there is a network of natural drainage channels or washes
extending through the community. These washes, primarily owned by the
Town, are typically undeveloped, although most do contain utilities and utility
easements and the washes are used as drainage corridors. This network of
undeveloped washes contributes to the quality of life for the residents of the
community by providing significant natural open space, assisting with natural
groundwater recharge and supporting wildlife habitat. Under the existing
Town Code, development within Town-owned or acquired wash corridors is
restricted by a voter approved initiative; most development or modification
within a wash requires the affirmative vote of the town electors, with certain
exceptions for public utilities located within easements.
The Fountain Hills Parks, Trails, and Open Space plan is shown on Figure 14.
Open Space Definitions:
Open space definitions are in place to aid the Town in categorizing open
space amenities. Open space is divided into three categories: active open
space, passive open space and natural open space. The categories help in
determining current and future open space needs for the community.
¾ Active Open Space
Active open space is space that is set aside, dedicated, designated, or
reserved for recreational facilities. Active open space usually includes
equipment, structures and programmed fields to allow for organized
sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. In many instances active
open space can be utilized for storm water retention. Active open space
is designated into the three following park types in the Town of Fountain
Hills:
• Neighborhood Park (5-15 acres)
Neighborhood parks are an integral unit of the Fountain Hills parks
system and serve as the recreation and social focus of the
neighborhood. They should be developed for both active and
passive recreational activities, geared specifically to those living in
the service area to accommodate a wide variety of age groups.
Neighborhood parks should be centrally located within their service
area, defined as ½ to ¾ miles. The site should be accessible from
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
throughout the service area by way of interconnected trails,
sidewalks or residential streets.
• School Park Facility (size varies)
The school park facility expands the recreational, social, and
educational opportunities of the Town in a cost-effective manner.
School park sites have the ability to serve the Town as a
neighborhood park with both active and passive recreational uses.
The joint-use relationship between the Town and the school district
benefits residents and adds to the quality of life in the Town.
• Special Event/Use Park (50+ acres)
Special events/use parks are large parks that provide both active
and passive recreation opportunities. The service area for these
parks is 5-10 miles as they are used for holding Town-wide events and
gatherings.
¾ Active Open Space Planning
Currently, the Town seems to have a sufficient total amount of active
open space. However, the recommended Neighborhood/School Site
park acreage standard is 3 acres per 1,000 residents. With the 2008
population of 25,995, recommended park acreage is approximately 78
acres. The Town does not meet this recommendation. In addition, all of
the neighborhood parks are located in the northeast region of the Town.
This makes it difficult for residents in the other regions of Town to easily
access these parks.
Residents living south of Shea Boulevard are located furthest from the
service areas of the parks. A proposed neighborhood park in this region is
difficult due to the lack of un-platted land. Passive recreation
opportunities are available through wash corridors and trails.
The northwestern region of Town also lies outside of the neighborhood
parks service areas. Extreme topography is a barrier to future
neighborhood park development in this region. Community residents in
this area are forced to travel into town for active recreation, but they are
surrounded by passive recreational opportunities in the McDowell
Mountains.
The Town is currently working with the School District to develop two sites
that are adjacent to schools. They will be available for both the District
and the Town.
¾ Passive Open Space
Passive open space is open space that has had little improvement and is
set aside for public use. Passive open space uses include hiking, bicycling,
walking, and wildlife viewing are typically found as trail corridors,
landscaped tracts, buffers, and pathways connecting trails.
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Six General Plan 2010
Open Space Element Town of Fountain Hills
¾ Passive Open Space Planning
Passive open space is abundant throughout the Town due to low density
developments, wash corridors, and buffers. The Town aims to create an
interconnected trail system which would join the majority of the passive
open space throughout the Town.
The Town also worked with Maricopa County to install a trail spur from the
County's trail system to intersect with the McDowell Mountain Preserve on
the north. This provides the much needed access to the Preserve that
residents can utilize on a year-round basis from dawn to dusk. The spur
was completed in the Fall of 2009.
¾ Natural Open Space
Natural open space is open space that is essentially unimproved in its
natural state and set aside, dedicated, designated or reserved for public
and private use. Natural open space is set aside for preservation of
significant natural resources, remnant landscapes and visual
aesthetics/buffering. These open spaces enhance the livability and
character of the Town by preserving as many natural amenities as
possible.
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The Implementation Activities identify projects that will help achieve the vision, goals
and objectives identified previously in this section. A listing of these activities is
provided below. The activities identified are also defined in Chapter 10, General
Plan Implementation.
¾ Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan
¾ Trails and Open Space Marketing/Education Materials
¾ Parks and Recreation Dedication Program
¾ Policies for Rezoning Corridors to Open Space
OVERVIEW
The Circulation Element of the General Plan 2010 provides a framework for the
development of a comprehensive transportation system, encompassing the
roadway system, public transportation system, bike trails and pedestrian walkways.
The Circulation Element endeavors to present balance and coordination between
projected development and land use patterns, and future transportation demands.
This element examines existing transportation conditions and identifies issues and
problems needing resolution. The Circulation Element is organized into the following
four sections:
¾ Background
¾ Vision, Goals, and Objectives
¾ Circulation Element Plan
¾ Implementation Activities
BACKGROUND
The Town’s circulation system has been developed to efficiently serve the
community. With continued population growth in recent years the need for
improvements has become evident. Opportunities include increasing the provision
and extent of public transportation, increasing the number of bike lanes and
providing safer conditions for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The major
constraint regarding circulation is the lack of regional access, with Shea Boulevard
being the only major thoroughfare directly connecting Fountain Hills with the major
metropolitan area.
State law requires that the Circulation Element of the General Plan provides the
general location and extent of existing and proposed freeways, arterial and
collector streets, bicycle routes and any other modes of transportation as may be
appropriate, all correlated with the land use element of the plan.
The residents have expressed that their major priority regarding the circulation
system is that the roadways are well-maintained and smooth. The Town’s roadways
are generally in good condition, due to regular maintenance. While the Town has
heavily invested in paving and maintaining all of its streets, residents have suggested
additional improvements, including:
¾ Complete the widening of Shea Blvd. (to 3 lanes each direction);
¾ Complete the widening of Fountain Hills Blvd. (to 2 lanes each direction);
¾ Resurface (overlay) Saguaro Blvd., and older segments of other arterial
streets;
¾ Pave the dirt alleys;
¾ Improve major intersections;
¾ Curb and landscape medians;
¾ New traffic signals;
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
¾ New sidewalks; and
¾ Drainage culverts at existing dip crossings.
VISION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES
Vision: A Town that provides a safe, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing
circulation network that accommodates all modes of vehicular and non-vehicular
movement in an environmentally sensitive manner.
Goal One: Create safe and efficient patterns of circulation.
Objective 1.1 The Town should update the approved access control plan
for Shea Boulevard.
Objective 1.2 The Town should examine the viability and safety of frontage
roads along Saguaro Boulevard and investigate and
mitigate the traffic conflicts, including traffic confusion,
reduced visibility and hazardous intersection conflicts that
are generated on those portions of the arterial roadway
network that contain frontage roads. The elimination of
frontage roads and the provision of direct/shared driveway
access should also be considered.
Objective 1.3 The Town should develop and implement a circulation plan
that will accommodate all users, including pedestrians,
bicycles, rollerblades and skates, wheelchairs and strollers on
sidewalks.
Objective 1.4 The Town should complete a study of the pedestrian/
vehicular interaction in and around the Town Center to
identify possible locations where pedestrian crossings and/or
traffic calming improvements are justified to ensure that the
Town Center is pedestrian friendly.
Objective 1.5 The Town should conduct periodic community-wide traffic
volume counts on all arterial and collector streets as a basis
to monitor existing conditions and recommend warranted
improvements. Average daily traffic, obtained through
automatic tube counts, should be updated every two years
at each count location. In addition, manual turning
movement counts should be conducted periodically at key
intersections, particularly at those locations exhibiting high
accident rates or rapidly increasing traffic volumes.
Objective 1.6 The Town should develop neighborhood traffic control plans
to monitor non-neighborhood “cut-through” and speeding
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
traffic as necessary. Traffic calming measures, including
speed humps, speed tables, roundabouts and other
appropriate measures should be implemented in
accordance with the Town’s adopted “Neighborhood
Traffic Management Process” manual.
Objective 1.7 The Town should continue to monitor its street pavement
plan and improvement schedule. All available public and
private funding sources should be researched and utilized to
finance these improvements.
Objective 1.8 The Town should encourage secondary access points to all
new development areas for temporary and permanent
emergency access, including mountain and hillside
subdivisions.
Objective 1.9 The Town should develop, adopt and implement special
event parking and traffic management plans and policies
for the control of high volume traffic, short-term localized
traffic congestion and lack of available parking generated
by periodic special events.
Objective 1.10 The Town should periodically assess accident site data and
operationally deficient areas to determine future needs for
traffic control measures and implement an identification
and mitigation program for high accident locations.
Objective 1.11 The Town should develop policies to address street-level
drainage and wash crossings and investigate the need for
flood control and drainage accommodations at drainage-
ways and street crossings.
Objective 1.12 The Town will work with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to
consider changing the designation of Grande Boulevard as a
Truck Route.
Objective 1.13 The Town will continue to take advantage of the opportunities
that are available through the Safe Routes to School program.
Goal Two: Provide aesthetically pleasing circulation systems.
Objective 2.1 The Town should continue to enforce roadway right-of-way
(R.O.W) standards and landscape design standards that
emphasize safe, beautiful streetscapes using xeriscape
plants that provide shade, color and safe pedestrian and
bicycle pathways.
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 2.2 The Town should encourage the design of off-street parking
areas that use xeriscape plants to provide shade, color and
safe pedestrian walkways to structures.
Objective 2.3 The Town should carefully consider requests to waive its
roadway standards to facilitate the development of steeply
sloping areas, particularly if development will generate
visible cut/fill scarring. The Town should deny any roadway
alignment or cut/fill waiver that would allow for the
development of any roadway that is visually inappropriate
or incompatible with the existing natural terrain.
Goal Three: Provide for and encourage the use of non-vehicular modes of
circulation.
Objective 3.1 The Town should ensure that new developments include
provisions for pedestrian and/or bike paths where
appropriate, and that those pathways are a component of
development plans.
Objective 3.2 The Master Circulation Plan should include an element that
will help to promote bicycle and other non-motorized
modes of transportation. This will include the design of safe
bicycle facilities and bicycle parking throughout the
community. The plan should include provisions for
integrating local bike routes into the MAG Regional Bikeway
system, and should include the publication of a bicycle
network and facilities map.
Objective 3.3 The Town should develop standards for bikeway systems
along the roadway as well as develop standards for
pedestrian trails adjacent to open space corridors.
Objective 3.4 The Town should implement and publish bicycle and
pedestrian route plans in accordance with available
funding and community needs. The plan should be
prioritized to serve the following facilities:
• Schools
• Libraries
• Parks
• Government centers
• Commercial and employment areas
• Transit facilities
• Popular scenic/recreational sites
• Youth centers
• Arts and cultural facilities
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 3.5 The Town should establish and encourage multi-use
pathways that connect all school sites, activity centers, trails
or recreational sites and provide cross-transportation nodes
that are safe, comfortable and attractive.
Objective 3.6 The Town should encourage the expansion of the pedestrian
sidewalk system when indicated by gaps in the system,
pedestrian safety issues, extreme slope or unacceptable
levels of vehicular traffic.
Objective 3.7 The Town should promote pedestrian linkages from
residential parcels to schools, parks, churches, shops, and
employment centers.
Objective 3.8 The Town should support and encourage compatible home-
based businesses that integrate the business operation into
the existing residential neighborhood, reducing vehicular trip
generation.
Objective 3.9 The Town should promote infill and mixed-use projects
especially where public/private services, roadways and
utilities exist and demonstrate available existing/future
capacity.
Goal Four: Provide adequate provisions for regional public transportation.
Objective 4.1 The Town should consider conducting a community transit
needs/feasibility study to consider 1) the need for improved
inter-community regional connections, including both to
Scottsdale and Mesa, as well as to the adjacent Fort
McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian
Community and Rio Verde and 2) the need for in-town
service, possibly in the form of a van pool or dial-a-ride
operation. The existing RPTA regional transit plan, which
encompasses all of Maricopa County, could be used as a
foundation and resource document for the study.
Objective 4.2 The Town should coordinate with Valley Metro to increase
the frequency and access to available bus routes.
Objective 4.3 The Town should evaluate future park-and-ride facility needs
and coordinate their location with the bicycle/pedestrian
pathway system.
Objective 4.4 The Town should encourage the design and development of
efficient, safe and aesthetically beautiful and interesting
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
regional transit and school bus stops that include provisions
for both morning and afternoon shade and trash
containment. Regional and local bus stops should be
integrated into the community-wide pedestrian and bike
system.
Objective 4.5 The Town should promote the design and development of
multiple transit options to encourage inter-community and
regional transit use.
CIRCULATION PLAN
The proposed Roadway Classifications are presented in Figure 17, Roadway
Classification Plan. This figure identifies the various roadway classifications within the
Town. Figure 18, Transportation System Plan, identifies various transportation
elements and traffic volumes within the town.
Functional Classification System
The implementation of any of the policies or approval of any project or study
presented in this Circulation Element to the General Plan 2010 must be consistent
with the hierarchy of streets, as defined by the functional classification system. The
functional classification system describes the service performed, typical trip lengths,
access spacing and continuity of the Fountain Hills roadway system. For circulation
planning as well as definition of specific design criteria, roadways are most
effectively classified by function.
Roadways have two basic functions: mobility and access to adjacent land uses.
From a design standpoint, these two functions have proven incompatible. For land
access low speeds are desirable and are often accompanied by intermittent traffic
flows. For mobility, higher speeds and uniform traffic flows are desirable.
Principal arterial roadways are designed and constructed to satisfy the need for
high mobility. Rapid travel in a safe and uniform manner is the primary objective of
these roadways. Access points should be limited to approved intersections to
preserve the desired higher speeds, traffic volumes and safety considerations
characteristic of the roadway design. Any increase in the number of access points
should be carefully examined.
Conversely, local roadways are designed to provide low-speed convenient access
to multiple adjacent land uses. Most roadway categories fall between these two
extremes and are the most difficult to categorize because the roads must provide
both mobility and access.
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
Roadway functional classification establishes the type of circulation service and
access control provided by each roadway category. Increased access control
points permit a corresponding increase in traffic speed and potential volume.
Principal Arterial Roadways:
Principal arterial roadways are high traffic volume, full access-control roads
with intersection spacing dictated either by designated major highways or by
key access points.
Minor Arterial Roadways:
Minor arterial roadways are moderate traffic volume, partial access control
roads that provide service to retail, commercial and industrial land uses.
Minor arterial roadways may develop into principal arterials if traffic volumes
increase due to an increase in area development.
Major/Minor Collector Roadways:
Collector roadways carry a relatively high volume of traffic within larger
neighborhoods and can accommodate the traffic volumes generated by
minor retail and other commercial services. Collector roadways are intended
to provide convenient traffic movement and access to the arterial roadways.
Limited Collector Roadways:
Limited collector roadways, identified by wide travel lanes with landscaped
medians, provide access to larger cul-de-sac subdivisions. Developers may
use this roadway classification, at Town Council discretion, to provide single-
access for up to 90 dwelling units without the need for a secondary access
road.
Local Roadways:
Local roadways are designed for slow-speed discontinuous travel conditions
and are used primarily for roadways with on-street parking and for cul-de-sac
streets. Local roadways serve abutting land uses and provide access to
higher-level roadways. Most of the Fountain Hills roadway system consists of
local roadways with non-commercial abutting land uses or open space as an
adjacent land use.
Hillside-Local Roadways:
Hillside-Local roadways provide safe roadway design on steeply sloping
terrain while limiting the visual impact of development. Reduced setbacks
from pavement edge, pavement widths and right-of-way widths may be
possible in hillside areas. Such Hillside-Local roadways are available only in
subdivisions where at least 75% of the subdivision contains slopes in excess of
10%, and with approval of the Town Engineer. On-street parking is prohibited
and two-way average daily traffic (ADT) is limited to 300. Hillside cul-de-sacs
are also limited to 15 lots and 1,500 feet in length.
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
Traffic Volumes
Based on counts conducted by the Town of Fountain Hills in 2008, Fountain Hills
Boulevard, Saguaro Boulevard, Palisades Boulevard and Shea Boulevard have the
following traffic volumes.
Vehicle Per Day Counts:
Saguaro Boulevard- Shea Blvd to Palisades Blvd 16,180-17,310 vpd
Saguaro Blvd-Palisades Blvd to Fountain Hills Blvd 4,350-5,650 vpd
Fountain Hills Blvd-Shea Blvd to Palisades Blvd 5,810-9,600 vpd
Fountain Hills Blvd-Palisades Blvd to Middle School 4,910-9,470 vpd
Palisades Blvd-Shea Blvd to Eagle Ridge segment 9,600-13,000 vpd
Palisades Blvd-Eagle Ridge to Fountain Hills Blvd 13,800 vpd
Palisades Blvd-Fountain Hills Blvd to Saguaro Blvd 6,110 vpd
Shea Blvd-West Town boundary to Palisades Blvd 25,230-29,200 vpd
Shea Blvd-Palisades Blvd to Fountain Hills Blvd 21,020 vpd
Shea Blvd-Fountain Hills Blvd to Saguaro Blvd 18,650-19,760 vpd
Shea Blvd-Saguaro Blvd to East Town Boundary 20,580-23,560 vpd
State Route 87, also known as the Beeline Highway, is under the Arizona
Department of Transportation jurisdiction, and therefore, was not included in
the traffic counts.
Planned Transportation Improvements:
New roadways will be completed as a part of the Adero Canyon and former
State Trust Land subdivision improvements. Arterial and major collector
roadways in these subdivisions will have striped and signed bicycle lanes.
Alternative Transportation Systems
Public Transit:
The Phoenix Transit System, under contract with the Regional Public
Transportation Authority (RPTA), provides bus service to Fountain Hills. Daily
bus service consists of two morning inbound express and two afternoon
outbound runs connecting between downtown Phoenix and the northeast
corner of Palisades Boulevard and La Montana Drive, via Saguaro Boulevard
and Shea Boulevard. No local public transit service currently exists within the
community.
Bicycle Pathways:
The Town has developed a bicycle plan based in part on the design features
and recommendations of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG)
Bicycle Plan. The Town has both existing and proposed roadway bike lanes
which are delineated, painted roadway-adjacent lanes where parking is not
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
permitted; as well as existing and proposed roadway bike routes, which are
non-delineated routes where parking is permitted.
The Bicycle Plan includes striped bicycle lanes on Saguaro Boulevard and on
portions of Palisades Boulevard and Fountain Hills Boulevard.
Roadway bike lanes are proposed on Shea Boulevard, and as continuations
to portions of the existing bike routes and lanes on Fountain Hills Boulevard
and into the McDowell Mountain Preserve.
Circulation Development Guidelines
Street Design Guidelines:
The adopted roadway classification system found in the approved Town of
Fountain Hills Subdivision Ordinance shall be used for all new road
construction, and for re-construction of existing roads.
Driveway Design:
The design and location of any driveway providing access to a property shall
be in accordance with the standards in the Town’s Zoning Ordinance unless
otherwise approved by the Town Engineer. Driveways should not inhibit the
flow of traffic on the public streets and not present a safety hazard by
location or operation.
Minimizing the number of driveways along an arterial or collector roadway is
desirable. The use of joint-access drives serving more than one property, as
well as the interconnection of property access and parking areas is desirable,
thus reducing the number of driveways with access to the roadways.
Parking:
The Town requires on-site parking using the design guidelines and layout
standards of parking facilities, including shared parking in specific areas, in
accordance with the Town of Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance.
Traffic Signals:
The Town monitors intersection service levels and safety. Any intersection
experiencing an undesirable level of service or an accident rate of more
than five per year, will be reviewed to determine if any of the warrants for
signalization as set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD) are met, and to determine if a traffic signal should be installed. For
optimum traffic progression and coordinated flow, traffic signal spacing
should be a minimum of one-quarter mile.
The following issues will be reviewed as a part of the consideration for
signalization:
Chapter Seven General Plan 2010
Circulation Element Town of Fountain Hills
• Meet MUTCD warrants
• Spacing of adjacent signals
• Cost/benefit
• Legal liability
• Maintenance costs
Community-Wide Bicycle Plan:
Design features for bicycle facilities must conform to standards set forth by
the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
Drainage and Flood Control:
The Town manages, coordinates and administers flood control regulations
with street improvement projects, including drainage and flood control
requirements, to provide accessibility during a 100-year flood occurrence.
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The Implementation Activities identify projects that will help achieve the vision, goals
and objectives identified previously in this section. A listing of these activities is
provided below. The activities identified are also defined in Chapter 10, General
Plan Implementation.
¾ Shea Boulevard Access Control Plan Update
¾ Saguaro Boulevard Circulation study
¾ Traffic Count Data Update
¾ Street Crossing Drainage Analysis
¾ Transit Needs/Feasibility Study
¾ Master Circulation Plan
¾ Special Event Parking and Traffic Management Plan
¾ Town Center Circulation Plan
OVERVIEW
The Water Resources Element identifies the supply and demand of both potable
and non-potable water to serve current and future demand. The Water Resources
Element is organized into the following four sections.
¾ Background
¾ Vision, Goals, and Objectives
¾ Water Resources Plan
¾ Implementation Activities
BACKGROUND
The Water Resources Element provides an important role in the sustainability of the
Town. This Element is mandated by State law for communities larger than 2,500
inhabitants.
VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Vision: A Town that continues to support a safe and economical water supply
and the incremental expansion of a water reclamation and reuse system.
Goal One: Reduce water usage.
Objective 1.1 The Town should continue to enforce the requirement for the
installation of low-water use fixtures in all public facilities.
Objective 1.2 The Town should develop a public education program that
will encourage the installation of low-water use fixtures for
household use.
Objective 1.3 The Town should encourage new and revitalization projects
to be designed in a manner that limits water usage and that
would be able to use reclaimed water for landscape
irrigation, should it become legally available.
Objective 1.4 The Town should examine the benefits and constraints of
providing domestic water-service to the residents and
businesses of the Town of Fountain Hills.
Goal Two: Support the expansion of the existing water reclamation system.
Objective 2.1 The Town should encourage the continued use of reclaimed
water for all Town-maintained landscaping and park areas.
Chapter Eight General Plan 2010
Water Resources Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Eight General Plan 2010
Water Resources Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 2.2 The Town should encourage the continued use of reclaimed
water for all golf course irrigation.
Objective 2.3 The Town should continue to encourage the implementation
of technical improvements to the existing water reclamation
system as new technologies emerge.
Objective 2.4 The Town should examine the benefits and constraints of
acquiring the Fountain Hills Sanitary District.
WATER RESOURCES PLAN
The Town of Fountain Hills is entirely located within the Phoenix Active Management
Area (AMA). The Phoenix AMA is one of five active management areas identified
within the State where the concern for the adequacy of long term groundwater
supply and storage, and groundwater quality prompted state legislation to manage
this precious resource in 1980. The Phoenix Active Management Area includes
approximately 5,646 square miles of land which includes the majority of Maricopa
County, as well as small portions of Pinal and Yavapai Counties. The Town is located
within the Fountain Hills sub basin, covering approximately 360 square miles. The sub
basin is bounded on the north and east by the Mazatzal Mountains and Stewart
Mountain, on the south by the Usery Mountains and Sawik Mountain and on the
west by the McDowell Mountains.
Town Water Supplies
Chaparral City Water Company (CCWC) provides the Town of Fountain Hills with its
water. CCWC relies on water supply from one operating well and Colorado River
water delivered by the Central Arizona Project. The well, is capable of delivering
approximately 1,000 gallons per minute of water to the distribution system, and is
available to meet peak demand and for maintenance and capital improvements.
Water storage reservoirs and booster pump stations are located throughout the
Town.
CCWC has a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity issued by the Arizona
Corporation Commission (ACC) to serve the 12,060 acres of land originally acquired
by McCullough Properties to develop Fountain Hills. The corporate boundary of the
Town of Fountain Hills is completely within the Chaparral City Water Company
certificated area, except for the recently annexed 1,276 acres of State Trust Land
purchased by the Fountain Hills Investment Company in March 2007. The Chaparral
City Water Company has received a designation of an assured water supply by the
Arizona Department of Water Resources, and is a member of the Central Arizona
Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD). Chaparral City Water Company is
believed to be prepared and fully capable to supply the Town’s current and future
water needs.
Chapter Eight General Plan 2010
Water Resources Element Town of Fountain Hills
Water Demand
Residential use of domestic water within the Town is approximately 0.44 acre feet of
water per year. In 2004, the average household consumed 302 gallons of water per
day. This information is based on data supplied by RUCO and the Chaparral City
Water Company.
Reclaimed Water
The Fountain Hills Sanitary District supplies reclaimed water to three of the four golf
courses in Town (SunRidge Canyon, Eagle Mountain, and FireRock Country Club) as
well as three Town parks (Fountain Park including Fountain Lake, Desert Vista Park,
and Golden Eagle Park). The reclaimed water is supplied through the District’s 10
miles of reclaimed water lines and three reclaimed water pump stations.
During the winter, when the supply of reclaimed water exceeds the demand, water
is stored in the ground through a series of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells.
When demand exceeds the supply in the summer, water is withdrawn from the ASR
wells to supplement the supply from the wastewater treatment plant.
Currently, the Ellman Parcel is not part of the District. One requirement for
annexation is for the developer to provide at least as much turf for reclaimed water
use as will be produced ultimately in the development. This can include turf both in
and out of the development. It is likely that school and other park sites within the
Town outside of the Ellman property will be the benefactor of this requirement.
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The Implementation Activities identify projects that will help achieve the vision, goals
and objectives identified previously in this section. A listing of these activities is
provided below. The activities identified are also defined in Chapter 10, General
Plan Implementation.
¾ Cost/Benefit Analysis of the Town providing domestic water
¾ Sanitary District Cost/Benefit Analysis
OVERVIEW
Since its inception, the Town of Fountain Hills has been very progressive in
environmental planning, policy-making and enforcement. The Environmental
Planning Element is organized into the following four sections in order to
communicate the Town’s environmental objectives:
¾ Background
¾ Vision, Goals, and Objectives
¾ Environmental Preservation Plan
¾ Implementation Activities
BACKGROUND
In contrast to most Phoenix metropolitan cities and towns, development plans have
been completed and approved for almost all of the land within the Town
boundaries. Some in-fill parcels remain, but, the community has essentially reached
the limits of growth due to the fact that the Town has no room for expansion.
The Town is fortunate that the original designers and policy makers had the vision to
preserve and protect the natural desert that remains as a significant part of the
community identity today.
In addition, the signature fountain and lake have been, from the beginning, part of
a water conservation system that uses reclaimed water. The water conservation
system now includes reuse of reclaimed water on turf in parks and golf courses and
aquifer storage and recovery.
The community consistently supports preservation and conservation efforts. Town
leaders and citizens recognize the importance of natural wash areas, preservation
of steep slopes, wildlife corridors and native plant communities. There is community-
wide support for preservation, including a voter approved initiative to preserve wash
corridors in their natural condition.
Citizens value wildlife, natural beauty and scenic vistas and have, without fail,
sought to protect hillsides, washes and view corridors. The Town encourages
builders to design with a contextual emphasis. The Town incorporates open space
areas into flood control and recreation areas.
The Town has stringent re-vegetation requirements in place that require the
restoration of disturbed areas with native plant species that are consistent in type
and density with the surrounding native desert.
The Town encourages alternative transportation modes, but ridership on regional
transit systems is restricted by the limited availability of regional bus service.
Regional bus service is provided twice each weekday by an express route that
connects to downtown Phoenix. The existing route allows for connections to many
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
metro-area bus routes. Local bus service is not currently offered within the
community.
In 2008, the Town Council passed Resolution 2008-18 which established an
environmental policy for the Town. The policy is coupled with 7 guidelines to be used
as guidance for future development of detailed policies. The guidelines are as
follows:
1. The Town will pursue improved communication and collaboration with its
Federal, State and local partners on environmental concerns and legislation.
2. The Town will promote environmental stewardship in the Town and embrace
environmental initiatives in partnership with surrounding communities.
3. The Town will endeavor to design, construct and maintain its buildings,
infrastructure and grounds in a manner that is both environmentally
sustainable and that protects public health and safety.
4. The Town will advance understanding of the environment through its public
information office, education programs and partnerships with the media and
environmental agencies.
5. The Town will make environmental costs, risks, and impacts an integral part of
its planning and decisions-making processes.
6. The Town will implement and maintain a process/system to evaluate
environmental initiatives that seek input from Town staff, the business
community, citizens and community services providers.
7. The Town will seek to provide inducements to encourage citizens and
businesses to participate in the Town’s program to conserve resources and
reduce waste.
VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Vision: A Town that continues to preserve and conserve the natural desert, to
identify and protect historical and archaeological resources and to develop and
implement programs and policies that will encourage energy conservation, reduce
water consumption, and reduce water and air pollution.
Goal One: Promote the continued vigilance and guardianship of the natural desert.
Objective 1.1 The Town should continue to require all newly platted, or re-
platted, properties that are determined to be Hillside to
provide a Hillside Protection Easement for each parcel.
Objective 1.2 The Town should continue to identify where appropriate trails
should be located and develop public educational
materials to discourage off-trail use, which negatively
impacts native habitat and vegetation.
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 1.3 The Town should continue to discourage un-permitted
grading or dumping and continue to require re-vegetation
for violators.
Objective 1.4 The Town should encourage redevelopment, revitalization
and rehabilitation of existing structures to reduce land
consumption.
Objective 1.5 The Town should continually update the approved low
water use plant list to ensure that all plants on the list are
suitable for the community.
Objective 1.6 The Town should study, and if appropriate, update its Land
Disturbance Regulations.
Goal Two: Identify and preserve cultural and archaeological resources.
Objective 2.1 The Town should collaborate with Arizona State University,
University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University to
complete cultural history and archaeological studies for its
incorporated area.
Objective 2.2 The Town should promote the preservation of artifacts
through proper conservation methods.
Objective 2.3 The Town should support public education programs that
emphasize local and regional cultural and archaeological
history such as those provided by the L. Alan Cruikshank
River of Time Museum.
Goal Three: Promote programs that will continue to improve air quality.
Objective 3.1 The Town should continue to support the expansion and
development of regional and local transit service and
alternative transportation modes to reduce hydrocarbon,
carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter pollution.
Objective 3.2 The Town should promote programs to eliminate gasoline-
powered landscape equipment.
Objective 3.3 The Town should investigate the feasibility of methods to
expand the alternative fuel program for Town vehicles.
Goal Four: Promote environmental stewardship.
Objective 4.1 The Town should pursue improved communication and
collaboration with its Federal, State, and local partners on
environmental concerns and legislation.
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 4.2 The Town should promote environmental stewardship and
embrace environmental initiatives in partnership with
surrounding communities.
Objective 4.3 The Town should design, construct, and maintain its
buildings, infrastructure and grounds in a manner that is both
environmentally sustainable and that protects public health
and safety.
Objective 4.4 The Town should advance understanding of the
environment through its Community Affairs office, education
programs and partnerships with the media and
environmental agencies.
Objective 4.5 The Town should make environmental costs, risks and
impacts an integral part of its planning and decision making
processes.
Objective 4.6 The Town should implement and maintain a process/system
to evaluate environmental initiatives that seeks input from
Town Staff, the business community, citizens and community
services providers.
Objective 4.7 The Town should seek to provide inducements to encourage
citizens and businesses to participate in the Town’s programs
to conserve resources and reduce waste.
Objective 4.8 The Town should develop and distribute educational
materials regarding the proper handling, collection, and
disposal of hazardous materials.
Objective 4.9 The Town should encourage the use of architectural designs
using passive solar heating, shade elements and
appropriate insulating materials to reduce energy
consumption.
Objective 4.10 The Town should encourage policies that will reduce waste
and promote recycling of waste materials.
Objective 4.11 The Town should consider the preparation of a recycling
master plan.
Objective 4.12 The Town should consider the feasibility of a curbside
recycling program.
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
Objective 4.13 The Town should investigate the options that are available to
minimize the number of trash collection vehicles on the
Town’s streets.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION PLAN
Mountain Preserve and Wash Areas
The Town strives to preserve steeply sloping hillsides and major washes from
development. Residents consider the protection of wildlife ecosystems and
corridors, and their linkages through the community, together with vegetation
protection, to be important assets. It is the compatible coexistence of the urban
fabric nestled into the natural desert that is of prime importance to residents in the
community.
It is the closeness of the natural desert, the hills with exceptional scenic views and
the distinctive topographical features that makes Fountain Hills unique in the
Phoenix metropolitan area. Additionally, the protection of the steeply sloping
hillsides and washes serve as one method of erosion control. The root structures of
native plants serve to bind the loose soil to the slope and limit particulates lifting into
the air during heavy winds.
Trail System
The Town has a trail system in place. Certain sections of the Town contain washes
and hillside areas that are more appropriately left undisturbed, and are protected
from development by voter initiative. More effective erosion control, native plant,
and wildlife protection can be accomplished if the public is educated as to the
fragility of the natural desert and is aware of where trails are located so as to avoid
disturbance of these natural areas.
Education Program
One effective method of preserving the desert is through public education.
Enabling residents and visitors to understand the unique habitat of Fountain Hills will
serve to generate a wider stewardship of the desert. This educational process
should be age-varied and include informational wildlife brochures, native plant
seminars and nature walks with lectures. Interesting night walks in the desert, with
astronomy guides, would serve to emphasize the importance of limiting outdoor
lighting and encourage light shielding.
Low Water Use Plants
The Town currently has an approved low water use plant list that is used for
landscaping and re-vegetation requirements. The plant list should be reviewed to
ensure that all of the plants listed are appropriate for the Town. The Town also has
regulations that serve to protect our highly prized Saguaro Cactus. Some areas of
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
the existing natural desert are filled with saguaro and other desert plants. Many
washes are filled with dense stands of Ironwood, Cottonwood and Desert Willow
trees, while some streambeds are lined with Mesquite and Palo Verde trees.
Hillside Protection
The Town has worked diligently to preserve steeply sloping hillside areas. Areas of
disturbance are required to be re-vegetated. However, the re-vegetation plan
currently does not require most native plants to be salvaged from developing lots.
Also, many of the remaining undeveloped lots face development challenges. It
would be appropriate to review and possibly update the Land Disturbance
Regulations.
Archaeological Protection
The Town does not have comprehensive surveys or studies of the Town’s
archaeological resources; more study could be done to identify important cultural
and historical artifacts.
The L. Alan Cruikshank River of Time Museum, is located adjacent to the Civic
Center. The museum houses, preserves, and displays historical and cultural
resources. It also provides a space where research and educational programs can
be developed and implemented.
Energy Efficient Planning and Design
Transit
The Town is continuing to provide for adequate and safe bicycle
transportation pathways and is encouraging the expansion of regional and
local transit options. See the Circulation Element for an expanded
explanation of Town circulation and transit conditions and objectives.
Air Quality
Although air quality has diminished in the Phoenix metropolitan area, the
Town of Fountain Hills has been spared many of the lower valley air quality
problems. The Town has limited regional traffic because there are no
freeways in town and the major regional connecting streets, Shea Boulevard
for east/west travel, and the Beeline Highway for north/south travel do not
cross through the center of the community. This lack of regional traffic in
Town reduces carbon monoxide emissions.
Additionally, the Town discourages large lawn areas. Reduced lawn areas
require less mowing, thereby reducing gasoline-powered mower emissions.
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
Of further benefit, the Town’s elevation is higher than the surrounding metro
area; therefore placing the community above much of the pollutant-laden
layer of air trapped near the ground during temperature inversion conditions.
Airborne particulate matter is more of a problem. The Town controls
particulate matter by requiring paving and dust control measures for parking
lots, driveways, roadways and roadway shoulders. Unpaved vehicular areas
are limited to small sections of alleys with low traffic volumes.
The greatest generator of particulate matter in the Town is high wind. The
Town’s policy of preservation of the natural desert has created an urban
pattern of housing and businesses surrounded and linked by open space and
natural washes. The natural desert and sandy wash bottoms are a source of
airborne particulates during blowing storms. Airborne dust generated by
moving vehicles is known as PM-10 pollution, which refers to airborne
particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter.
Newly designed street sweeping equipment that limits PM-10 particulate
pollution has recently been incorporated into the Town’s municipal fleet.
New regulations that deal with vehicle parking and leaf blowers also
contribute to controlling PM-10 pollution.
Recycling
Recently, the Town has been proactive in promoting policies and events that
deal with recycled materials. The Town has sponsored several electronic
recycling events, several paper shredding/recycling events and a household
hazardous waste collection event.
Hazardous Materials
Currently the Town reviews the use and storage of hazardous materials by
businesses at the time of business license application. Businesses that use or
store hazardous materials are required to obtain a Special Use Permit before
operations may commence. The Special Use Permit application is reviewed
by the Fire Department and a list of the hazardous materials is retained for
Town files.
Persons in individual households wishing to dispose of hazardous materials
must bring the items to an appropriate disposal location.
Water and Wastewater Usage
The Town should seek to limit water consumption throughout the Community.
Public education programs that would provide information about the use of
xeriscape landscaping materials and drip or low-flow landscape irrigation
systems would be useful.
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Nine General Plan 2010
Environmental Planning Element Town of Fountain Hills
At present, the Town is using reclaimed water to fill the lake at Fountain Park,
and irrigation of parks and golf courses through reuse and aquifer storage
and recovery.
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The Implementation Activities identify projects that will help achieve the vision, goals
and objectives identified previously in this section. A listing of these activities is
provided below. The activities identified are also defined in Chapter 10, General
Plan Implementation.
¾ Update Land Disturbance Ordinance
¾ Update Approved Plant List
¾ Develop and Distribute Educational Materials about Proper Disposal of
Hazardous Materials.
OVERVIEW
The General Plan Implementation chapter of the Fountain Hills General Plan 2010
establishes the specific measures that will lead to plan achievement. The intent of
the General Plan Implementation chapter is to list implementation activities
identified at the conclusion of each element. The activities are listed in Table 3,
Implementation Activities. This approach will provide an easy to use reference for
the Town and its stakeholders to monitor implementation in an effort to continue
providing quality growth and development in the Town for existing and future
residents, businesses and visitors.
This chapter is organized into four sections in order to clearly communicate the
Town’s future direction regarding implementation of the General Plan 2010.
¾ Administration of the General Plan
¾ General Plan Amendment Criteria
¾ Area Specific Plans
¾ Implementation Activities
ADMINISTRATION OF THE GENERAL PLAN
After the Town Council has adopted the General Plan 2010 and it has been ratified
by public vote, the Planning and Zoning Department shall undertake the following
actions to encourage effectuation of the plan:
1. Investigate and make recommendations to the Town Council regarding
reasonable and practical means for putting into effect the General Plan or
parts thereof. Town staff will seek to ensure that the General Plan serves as a
guide for the orderly growth and development of the municipality and as a
basis for the efficient expenditure of its funds relating to the subjects of the
General Plan. The measures recommended may include plans, regulations,
financial reports and capital budgets.
2. Render an annual report to the Town Council on the status of the General
Plan and progress in its application.
3. Endeavor to promote public interest in and understanding of the General
Plan and regulations relating to it.
4. Consult and advise with public officials and agencies, public utility
companies, civic, educational, professional, and other organizations and
citizens generally with relation to carrying out the General Plan.
Upon adoption of the General Plan 2010, or part thereof, each municipal officer,
department, board or commission, and each governmental body, commission or
board whose jurisdiction lies entirely or partially within the Town, and whose functions
include recommending, preparing plans for or constructing major public works, shall
Chapter Ten General Plan 2010
General Plan Implementation Town of Fountain Hills
submit a list of the proposed public works projects located entirely or partially within
the Town recommended for planning, initiation or construction during the ensuing
fiscal year. The agency shall list and classify all such recommendations and shall
prepare a coordinated program of proposed public works for the ensuing fiscal
year. Such coordinated program shall be submitted to the Planning and Zoning
Department for review and report to such agency as to conformity with the
adopted General Plan.
No public real property may be acquired by dedication or otherwise for street,
square, park or other public purposes, no public real property may be disposed of,
no public street may be vacated or abandoned and no public building or structure
may be constructed or authorized, if an adopted General Plan or part thereof
applies thereto, until the location, purpose and extent of such acquisition or
disposition, such street vacation or abandonment, or such public building or
structure have been submitted to and reported upon by the Planning and Zoning
Department as to conformity with such adopted General Plan or part thereof. The
Planning and Zoning Department shall render its report as to conformity with such
adopted General Plan or part thereof within forty days after the matter was
submitted to it. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to acquisitions or
abandonment for street widening or alignment projects of a minor nature if the
Town Council so provides by ordinance or resolution.
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT CRITERIA
Any proposed amendment to the General Plan 2010 may not result in an adverse
impact to the community as a whole. Public participation shall be encouraged for
any proposed amendment to the General Plan 2010 and all legal requirements shall
be met.
Amendments to the General Plan 2010 should occur only after careful review of the
request, and of findings of fact in support of the revision at public hearing(s) before
the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Town Council. The term
“amendment” shall apply to both text and map revisions. A Major Amendment to
the Town of Fountain Hills General Plan 2010 shall be approved by affirmative vote
of at least two-thirds of the members of the Town Council.
Amendments to the General Plan 2010, in accordance with procedures set forth by
State statute, may be initiated by the Town or by formal application by the owner(s),
or owner(s) agents, of real property within the Town of Fountain Hills incorporated
boundaries. Prior to any approval of any land development that is in conflict with
the General Plan 2010; an amendment to the General Plan 2010 must be approved
and completed.
Chapter Ten General Plan 2010
General Plan Implementation Town of Fountain Hills
Minor Admendments:
¾ Any change mandated by initiative or Arizona law shall require the Minor
Amendment process.
¾ Any change in land use on parcels of 40 acres or less shall require the
Minor Amendment process.
¾ Any change in land use from residential, commercial or industrial to parks,
open space, public facilities or institutional uses shall require the Minor
Amendment process.
¾ An increase of intensity of any residential land use classification of less
than 80 acres shall require the Minor Amendment process.
¾ Minor Amendments may be brought forward for consideration at a public
hearing at any regularly scheduled public meeting. Minor amendments
will require at least one public hearing before the Planning and Zoning
Commission and at least one public hearing before the Town Council.
Major Admendments:
¾ Parks, Open Space, Public Facilities and Institutional Lands: Any change
in land use from parks, open space, public facilities or institutional land use
classification to any residential, commercial or industrial land use
classification on parcels larger than 40 acres shall require the Major
Amendment process.
¾ Residential: Any increase of intensity of any residential land use
classification of 80 acres or more shall require the Major Amendment
process.
¾ Non-Residential: Any change of non-residential land use classification,
except Parks, Open Space, Public Facilities and Institutional Land uses, of
40 acres or more shall require the Major Amendment process.
¾ Any DECREASE in the intensity of use on a property of 40 acres or more at
the initiative of the Town of Fountain Hills shall require the Major
Amendment process.
¾ Any DELETION of a requirement for the reservation or dedication of land
for Public Purposes, except for minor boundary adjustments or street
alignments shall require the Major Amendment process.
¾ Any establishment of a new, or deletion of, a planned arterial or a major
or minor collector road shown on the General Plan 2010 shall require the
Major Amendment process.
Major Admendment Process:
¾ Major Amendments to the General Plan 2010 may only be presented and
considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission for recommendation
to the Town Council at a minimum of two (2) public hearings (Planning
Chapter Ten General Plan 2010
General Plan Implementation Town of Fountain Hills
Commission Major General Plan Amendment (MGPA) hearings) during the
calendar year in which the amendment is made, and by the Town
Council at a single public hearing during the calendar year in which the
amendment proposal is made.
¾ Applicants proposing a Major Amendment should submit a formal
application at least four months prior to the Planning and Zoning
Commission MGPA hearing. Such application shall include both graphic
materials and a project narrative, together with supporting materials and
presentation materials as deemed necessary by the Director of the
Planning and Zoning Department. The graphic and project narrative shall
include a description of the public benefit and impacts in the following
areas:
• Intensity/density of use/design
• Open space and linkages
• Circulation, including pedestrian and bicycle paths
AREA SPECIFIC PLANS
An Area Specific Plan is a further refinement of all of the elements of the General
Plan 2010 in a specific area. Under the direction of the Planning and Zoning
Commission or Town Council, the Planning and Zoning Department may prepare
such plans in accordance with the General Plan and may recommend such plans
to the Town of Fountain Hills for adoption. An Area Specific Plan may be prepared
by private individuals or agencies under the supervision of the Town.
The basis for the preparation of an Area Specific Plan includes the following factors:
1. Development potential for new or expanded economic activities (including
commercial areas, employment areas and mixed use districts).
2. Development and/or revitalization (e.g. Town Center).
3. Special site characteristics (i.e. recreational, natural resources).
4. Rapid growth or economic change.
5. Other extenuating circumstances.
The Town may adopt Area Specific Plans as provided by State law. An Area Specific
Plan shall modify the overall pattern of land uses, when the pattern will not
detrimentally affect surrounding existing and/or future land use patterns, and will not
be in conflict with other provisions of the Fountain Hills General Plan 2010.
Chapter Ten General Plan 2010
General Plan Implementation Town of Fountain Hills
Chapter Ten General Plan 2010
General Plan Implementation Town of Fountain Hills
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
The implementation activities listed below consists of projects identified to be
accomplished by the year 2020. Each year the Town Council will prioritize projects
for completion in the coming fiscal year. These projects will assist in implementing
the elements of the Fountain Hills General Plan. These projects are as follows:
Table 3: Implementation Activities
Activity Element Goal /
Objective
Supports Other
Elements
Town Center Area Specific Plan Growth Areas 5.6 Land Use
Retail Trade Capture/Leakage Study Land Use 1.1 Growth Area
Shea Boulevard Access Control Plan Update Circulation 1.1 Land Use
Saguaro Boulevard Circulation Study Circulation 1.2 Land Use
Parks, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan Preparation Open Space 2.1, 2.2 Circulation
Municipal Public Safety Cost/Benefit Analysis Cost of Development 1.6 Growth Area
Economic Incentive Considerations Land Use 4.2 Cost of Development
Traffic Count Data Update Circulation 1.5 All Elements
Street Crossing Drainage Analysis Circulation 1.11 Open Space
Transit Needs/Feasibility Study Circulation 4.1 Land Use
Land Disturbance Ordinance Update Environmental Planning 1.6 Land Use
Parks and Recreation Dedication Program Open Space 7.2 Land Use
Upgrade Telecommunications Service Cost of Development 1.9 Land Use
Develop/Distribute Materials of Proper
Disposal of Hazardous Materials Environmental Planning 4.8 Cost of Development
Sanitary District Cost/ Benefit Analysis Water Resources 2.4 Cost of Development
Approved Plant List Update Environmental Planning 1.5 Open Space
Trails and Open Space Marketing/Education
Materials Open Space 5.3 Environmental Planning
Cost/Benefit Analysis of Town Providing
Water Water Resources 1.4 Cost of Development
Shea/Saguaro Area Specific Plan Growth Areas 1.5 Land Use
Policies for Rezoning Corridors to Open
Space Open Space 1.2 Land Use
Shea/Beeline Highway Plan Growth Areas 1.6 Land Use
Fountain Hills Blvd. North Area Specific Plan Growth Areas 1.7 Land Use
Annual Update of Land Use Analysis and
Statistical Report Land Use 3.1 Growth Areas
Prepare Master Circulation Plan Circulation 1.3 All Elements
Town Center Circulation Plan Circulation 1.4 Growth Areas
Special Event Parking and Traffic
Management Plan Circulation 1.9 Growth Areas
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Traffic Officials
ACC Arizona Corporation Commission
ADT Average Daily Traffic
AMA Active Management Area
ARS Arizona Revised Statutes
ASR Aquifer Storage and Recovery
CAGRD Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District
CCWC Chaparral City Water Company
DU/AC dwelling units per acre
ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers
MAG Maricopa Association of Governments
MCO McCulloch Corporation
MGD Million Gallons per Day
MGPA Major General Plan Amendment
MCSO Maricopa County Sheriffs’ Office
MUTCD Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
OSC Open Space Conservation
OSP Open Space Preservation
OSR Open Space Recreational
Plat 208 part of the Town Center development area
PM-10 gradation measurement of the size of airborne dust particles
RPTA Regional Public Transportation Authority
RUCO Residential Utility Consumer Office
RUPD Residential Unit Planned Development
SRP Salt River Project
VPD Vehicles Per Day
General Plan 2010
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Town of Fountain Hills