As a result of CityShape 2020 recommendations, Scottsdale has employed character-based General Planning. The character-based General Plan consists of three distinct and interrelated levels, including Citywide Planning, the General Plan, Character Area Planning, and Neighborhood Planning.

Neighborhood planning results in the development and implementation of issue-based, action-oriented local plans that address neighborhoods' physical environment, land use and infrastructure issues. Neighborhood Plans generate a framework for partnership between residents, businesses and the City, encouraging collaboration and resulting in an enhanced sense of community.

Completed - July 1992

This Neighborhood Plan is the result of a neighborhood enhancement planning process initiated by area residents to identify and prioritize actions leading to the preservation and enhancement of the special characteristics and qualities of their neighborhood.

Download Peaceful Valley Neighborhood Plan

Location:

The Peaceful Valley neighborhood is located near Downtown Scottsdale and is generally bounded by Miller Road, Indian Bend Wash, Osborn Road and 2nd Street.

Key Points:

The Plan was initiated by residents who expressed an interest in participating in the city’s neighborhood enhancement program. The neighborhood desire was to have a plan which addressed the issues and goals identified by the residents and which provided a range of options to assist in achieving the desired results.

1. The 141 homes which make up the Peaceful Valley neighborhood area all zoned R1-7, single family residential. Formerly a dairy farm, Peaceful Valley originally consisted of a couple dozen homes along the bank of the Indian Bend Wash in 1954.
2. This neighborhood is included in the Suburban Neighborhoods Land Use category of the General Plan, generally allowing 1-8 dwelling units per acre. At the time of the creation of the Peaceful Valley neighborhood plan, the Land Use category was 14, Single Family Residential, 2-4 dwelling unites per acre.
3. There is no formal Homeowners Association in this neighborhood.
4. A decorative entry feature was designed and built, identifying Peaceful Valley at an entrance to the neighborhood to provide the area with a sense of identity and help foster neighborhood pride.
5. The placement of signs and traffic cones at 3rd Street, 4th Street, and Osborn Road prior to the start of major stadium events helps prevent parking by attendees of these events in the neighborhood.
6. The implementation of the Peaceful Valley plan was a cooperative effort between the city and the Peaceful Valley residents. While sponsored by the Neighborhood Enhancement Commission, the success of the plan rested upon the self-help efforts of the residents and the continued support from the city.

Completed - November 2002

The Sherwood Heights Neighborhood Area Plan will be a tool to guide future development within this neighborhood and will identify and prioritize infrastructure, functional and aesthetic needs. Specific actions and resources to address the needs are delineated in the implementation component of the plan.

Download Sherwood Heights Neighborhood Plan

Location:

The Sherwood Heights area is bounded by Oak on the south, 56th Street on the west, 64th Street on the east and Thomas Rd. on the north.

Key Points:

As a result of 5 months of intense collaboration between City staff and area residents, the Sherwood Heights Area Neighborhood has completed their draft Neighborhood Plan. The planning process benefited significantly from coordinated teamwork across city departments. Staff form Planning, Citizen and Citizen Service, Transportation and Water Resources were actively involved in the process providing resources, technical information and overseeing the development of the plan.

Citizen participation level was record high, with hundreds of neighbors involved in the planning process. The community identified their goals and priorities for action at a series of neighborhood meetings, workshops and working group sessions. Significant issues discussed include:

• Preserving neighborhood character and mountain views;
• Mitigating traffic speeds and cut-though patterns;
• Installing a sewer system;
• Burying power lines.

Effective September 2003

This Neighborhood Plan is the result of two planning processes (1997 and 2003) initiated by area residents to identify and prioritize actions leading to the preservation and enhancement of the special characteristics and qualities of their neighborhood as the neighborhood matures.

Location:

The Sundown Ranch Estates neighborhood is generally bounded by Shea Boulevard, Cactus Road, Sundown Drive, and Hayden Road, with the exception of the Scottsdale Country Club.

Key Points:

This Plan was initiated by the residents of Sundown Ranch in 1997. In 2003, a core group of neighbors asked the City to revise the 1997 Plan in an effort to respond to anticipated zoning changes along the edge of their neighborhood. City staff created an update to the Plan that responded to their immediate concerns

1. The Sundown Ranch Estates neighborhood, covers a total land area of 105 acres and is home to 80 households. The area was developed with custom single story homes between the early 1960's and 1970's.
2. The residential portion of this neighborhood is zoned R1-35. The neighborhood is included in the Rural Neighborhoods Land Use category of the General Plan, generally allowing 1/2 to 1 dwelling unit per acre.
3. There is no formal Homeowners Association in this neighborhood.
4. The Plan was initiated by residents in response to concerns about potential changes in use and rezoning activity in the area. The planning process was collaborative, City staff facilitated several working group and open house meetings in conjunction with the resident core group
5. The principal issues identified by the Neighborhood Plan include:
   1. Maintain the low scale/rural residential character of the neighborhood.
   2. Stabilize the neighborhood by opposing commercial development.
   3. Mitigate speeding and cut-through traffic along Sundown Drive.
   4. Protect the rural character of the neighborhood from traffic-related noises along Shea Boulevard.
6. Neighbors would like to maintain Sundown Drive as a narrow local street with desert character, no curbs, sidewalks, or streetlights.
7. Residents enjoy adjacency with the Starfire Golf Course at Scottsdale Country Club and would like to preserve that use in the future.

2003 Update November 2003 Meeting Minutes