Queen Creek growth issues survey goes online

Queen Creek is going hightech to get residents to weigh in on the town’s future.

The town is in the process of updating its general plan — the town’s road map for future growth and development — and is seeking public input through open-house meetings and an online survey.

“This is the first electronic survey the town has undertaken,” said Wayne Balmer, the general plan update project manager. “The idea is to get as much input as possible about the town’s future.”

The survey can be found by visiting www.queencreek.org and clicking on the link “General Plan Update Survey” under “Hot Topics.” Balmer said the survey takes about five minutes to complete and is continuously available.

“We realize not everybody can go to a meeting,” Balmer said.

The survey, in English and Spanish versions, has been online since July 25 and will be available through the end of the year.

Since Monday, 147 people have completed the anonymous survey.

Some trends already emerging from the early results indicate people value finding traffic solutions; maintaining a unique town character; attracting quality restaurants, shopping and jobs; and protecting lowdensity development from high-density development.

Those taking the survey are asked to rank priorities as “very important,” “somewhat important,” “not very important,” “not important,” or “not sure.”

According to survey results so far, about 82 percent of respondents said it was “very important” the town develop a safe and efficient transportation system for current and future needs, and 66 percent said that it was “very important” to develop an image of a unique community. Results also show a desire for high-capacity transportation.

Half of the respondents said it was “very important” to protect lower-density development from higher-density development, and about 56 percent said it was “very important” to preserve the low-density desert character of the San Tan Foothills.

Other trends emerging show residents are evenly split on the need for additional equestrian areas and facilities, half classifying additional facilities as “not very” or “not important.”

Out of the first 147 responses 75 percent say they are town residents and 25 percent were not.

The updated general plan is expected to go before the town’s Planning Commission in April and to the Town Council for approval in May. Once approved by the Town Council, voters will get their say in September.