This Existing Conditions Report is the first major technical product of the General Plan Update process. It describes the current conditions in the City of Casa Grande and identifies preliminary issues relevant to the update of the 2020 General Plan update. This report details conditions specific to Casa Grande in the areas of locational context, demographics, housing and economic development, land use, historic preservation, transportation, environment and water and wastewater. The information provided in this Existing Conditions Report is intended to provide a basis for community discussions that will inform the City of Casa Grande General Plan Update 2020.

This update comes at a critical time in the history of Casa Grande. The City has experienced significant change since the 2001 adoption of the Casa Grande General Plan 2010. City limits have expanded and new development has come forward at a rapid pace. These changes raise pertinent questions about how the City can and should accommodate the cycle of development over the next 10, 20, and even 30 years.

Takes a comprehensive view of ironwood habitats in both the United States and Mexico, evaluating the ecological and cultural resources supported by the ancient ironwood tree. The study provides an overview of the history and ecology of desert ironwood, and a discussion of the binational research effort undertaken to produce the report.

State trust lands are among the greatest public assets in Arizona’s portfolio. Set aside at statehood, the Arizona State Land Department manages more than 9 million acres of trust lands on behalf of 14 beneficiaries. The largest of which by far is Arizona Public Education K through 12.The mission of the Land Department is to maximize revenues from these trust lands. In FY 2005, state trust lands generated $115 million for all beneficiaries, of which $101 million was designated to support public K-12 schools.These amounts are increasing rapidly as more state trust land becomes attractive for development in Arizona’s urban areas.

The parcel discussed in this report, “Superstition Vistas,” stands out as the jewel among Arizona’s trust lands. Not only is it situated in the path of metro Phoenix growth, but it also borders thousands of acres of public land managed by the Tonto National Forest and U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Estimates of its total value run well into the billions of dollars.

"The Treasure of the Superstitions" sets the stage for a continuing dialogue about the potential for Superstition Vistas, and indeed, all of Arizona’s trust lands. We look forward to listening to and working with our beneficiaries, citizens, counties, municipalities, real estate businesses, and other interested parties to make the most of Arizona’s “treasure.”

Afterschool youth-development programs (AYDs) have grown significantly during the past 15 years in Arizona and nationally. Many providers have moved beyond simply providing a safe haven to actively promoting young people’s development. However, there is still tremendous opportunity for growth. There is also a continuing need to enhance coordination and collaboration among programs in order to extend their resources and heighten their impact.

Morrison Institute worked with AzCASE and VSUW to construct a 55-question survey using Qualtrics on-line software. While the term “afterschool” was used, the survey was designed to measure all types of out-of-school programs, regardless of whether they operate before or after school, on weekends, or during school and summer breaks. Approximately 1,800 questionnaires were distributed to individual program sites in Maricopa and Pima counties via a list provided by AzCASE. Though the survey did not utilize a random sample, its 38 percent response rate (681 returns) suggests that its findings can help educators, youth-development professionals, policymakers and the business community understand the scope, characteristics and needs of afterschool services in Arizona’s two largest population centers.

The Concho Community Plan is an expression of how the residents of our community wish to see our community grow, develop and prosper. The entire region is experiencing rapid growth. Rather than allow this growth to be haphazard or of low quality, the Concho Community Plan sets forth guidelines to assist in planning for orderly growth that meets its needs and standards. The Concho Community Plan addresses the current and future elements that the community indicated were the most pressing. It also utilizes the various established deed restrictions and proposes to base the zoning districts on them, thereby eliminating many conflicts and enhancing enforcement.