Representatives of the Arizona Town Hall and participants at the last state meeting drew a crowd of more than 50 leaders and businessmen during a visit last week.

Douglas City Manager Curtis Shook expounds on the value of the Town Hall program.

The Arizona Town Hall staff made a presentation at the Visitors Center on its last issue: Land Use: Challenges and Choices for the 21st Century.

Along with Arizona Town Hall participants and a short video presentation, Douglas City Manager Curtis Shook spoke about the importance of the town hall process and this particular issue.

Arizona Town Hall is a private, nonprofit civic organization created in 1962 to establish, through research and discussion, an ever-increasing body of Arizona citizens accustomed to the processes of searching analysis and well-informed on the many facets of the state's economic, cultural and social life.

Twice each year, the Arizona Town Hall brings together a wide cross-section of approximately 150 prominent Arizona citizens to consider and discuss a topic of major concern to Arizona's future. Since the very specific Town Hall process cannot encompass all of Arizona's more than 6 million citizens at one time, individuals are nominated for invitation to each session by Board members.

Land use recomendations

With Arizona’s population expected to double in 45 years, decisions on what to do with State Trust Land and how best to manage land development are crucial to our future. Participants at the 91st Town Hall reached consensus that current systems of planning and land-use regulation are inadequate to address Arizona’s rapid growth. Collaborative planning among all levels of government—local, regional, state, tribal and federal—is crucial, particularly in managing infrastructure, transportation, education, environmental concerns, energy, and natural and water resources. Following are just a few of the key recommendations and essential actions identified by the participants in the 91st Arizona Town Hall.

 √  State trust land reform must be enacted. The State Land Department must receive adequate funding and authority to become a trust asset manager.

√  Additional and diversified revenue sources should be adopted to support long-range smart growth planning and implementation. Revenue sources should be related to the end users, including developers and existing users.

√ State statutes should be changed so that municipal and county planning statutes are made comparable by granting municipal planning authority to counties.

 √ The Governor’s Growth Cabinet, in partnership with the Arizona Planning Association and the private development community, must develop a smart growth vision for Arizona and a training program for planners, local elected officials, planning and zoning commissions and other volunteer boards.

√ Arizonans should establish a broad-based, diverse citizen organization that can provide a sustained presence in support of effective growth management.

√  The Town Hall recommends changes in local zoning to encourage employers to locate close to affordable and workforce housing.

√ Town Hall recommends encouraging higher density through impact fees on infrastructure, reflecting the cost of servicing certain areas.

√ To maximize livability, Arizona should preserve open spaces, natural landscapes and habitats, and public lands in both rural and metropolitan areas.