The CityShape 2020 Steering Committee of Scottsdale, Arizona, with the input of the Advisory Team Issue Groups and the Citizens Conferences, and in reviewing our existing General Plan, has developed 6 draft guiding principles. These guiding principles are intended to highlight and organize the most important goals of this community in a document that has more than 100 policies and guidelines. Each key priority has a two part format -- the "concept" and the "strategies." 

CONCEPT 

The "concept" is a statement that in general terms, and in a very few words, relays the meaning of a guiding principle. The "concept" describes a community goal that applies in general terms to the whole community. 

STRATEGIES 

The "strategies" are examples of ways in which we can operationalize the guiding principles. They still must be applicable to the community as a whole and will ultimately be fine tuned and applied to a specific area of the community through the development of Character Plans. 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

1. Preserve Meaningful Open Space 
2. Enhance Neighborhoods 
3. Support Economic Vitality 
4. Seek Sustainability 
5. Advance Transportation 
6. Value Scottsdale's Unique Lifestyle and Character 

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #1:
Preserve Meaningful Open Space

The City of Scottsdale is committed to promoting the acquisition, dedication, and setting aside of open space as a community amenity and in support of the tourism industry in Scottsdale. Open space includes, but is not limited to, open space for passive enjoyment and low impact recreational activities, open space for active recreational uses, and setbacks for vista corridors along major streets. The character and function of open space will be different depending upon the character of the area within which it is located. 

Strategies: 

• promote three distinct types of open spaces through acquisition, dedication, or "set aside":
 
• passive natural open spaces that will preserve wildlife and view corridors andsensitive historic/archeological sites, and provide areas for low impact recreational activities such as hiking and horseback riding. 
• a system of contiguous open spaces, accessible from Scottsdale neighborhoods, that connect the desert, mountains, washes, and canal systems. 
• park space and facilities for active recreational activities such as softball,tennis, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and equestrian pursuits. 
• encourage public acquisition of natural area of developed open space through direct purchase, purchase of development rights, or purchase of open space easements
• provide incentives to promote the dedication of natural area open space by property owners
• promote creative residential and commercial development techniques consistent with the character plan for an area, to further preserve meaningful and accessible open space
• develop strategies to encourage the revegetation of disturbed or damaged open space 

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #2:
Enhance Neighborhoods

Scottsdale's residential and commercial neighborhoods are a major defining element of this community. The quality of our experience as a Scottsdale citizen is expressed first and foremost in the individual neighborhoods where we live, work, and play. Scottsdale is committed to maintaining and enhancing our existing and future neighborhoods. Development, revitalization, and redevelopment decisions, including rezoning and infrastructure planning, must meet the needs of our neighborhoods in the context of broader community goals. 

Strategies: 

• integrate public safety into the design of neighborhoods and their community facilities and amenities 
• enhance neighborhood attractiveness by integrating them with and linking them to public amenities such as greenbelts, desert open spaces, parks, Downtown
• address neighborhood edges, especially adjacent to major streets and areas of commercial development
• encourage the blending of new and existing neighborhoods
• designate historic neighborhoods to reinforce neighborhood character and enhance value
• identify mature neighborhoods that may benefit from revitalization and/or redevelopment and pursue reinvestment through public projects, private and individual initiatives, and other incentives
• support Downtown Scottsdale and other commercial centers that strengthen adjacent and nearby residential neighborhoods

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #3:
Support Economic Vitality

The strength of Scottsdale's economy has enabled the city to provide a high level of service to its residents at a relatively low cost through tourism and sales tax subsidies. In order to maintain its economic advantage, it is important to foster a balanced economic development program. We are committed to the goal of supporting our existing strengths by: targeting new opportunities which can diversify our economic base; providing for the fiscal health of the city; and forming partnerships with the community which strengthen our ability to meet this goal. 

Strategies: 

• encourage opportunities for existing businesses to grow and prosper
• enhance the local tourism industry by providing for a comprehensive tourism development strategy, seeking out new opportunities within the tourism industry, and protecting our unique Sonoran Desert environment
• target new economic activities and job opportunities that are compatible with Scottsdale's lifestyle, such as medical and research; especially those that are non-polluting and use advanced technologies that support telecommuting and alternative transportation modes
• ensure that there are adequate opportunities for future commercial and business activities throughout the community
• continue to form community and regional partnerships as the best means of dealing with critical issues and emerging opportunities
• ensure that any new areas being considered for annexation into Scottsdale can support the economic goals and priorities of this community
• encourage a variety of housing types and densities in new development if they foster neighborhood identity

GUIDING PRINCPLE #4:
Seek Sustainability

Scottsdale is committed to the effective management of our finite and renewable environmental, economic, social, and technological resources to ensure that they serve future needs. It is essential that there will always be sufficient resources to maintain or improve the level of services, environmental quality, economic vitality, and access to amenities that contribute to the quality of life Scottsdale offers today. 

Strategies: 

• plan and promote the orderly building of infrastructure such as water, sewer, and transportation facilities
• encourage development patterns where land uses and locations are compatible and supportive of alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycle systems, pedestrian ways, and transit
• encourage a variety of compatible land uses throughout the city in appropriate locations allowing people to live, work, play, and shop in the same general area
• anticipate the needs and secure land for public facilities such as water treatment plants, reservoirs, well sites, street rights-of-way, parks, libraries, and other public needs such as police and fire services
• promote partnerships to accommodate efficient use of resources, land, and services

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #5:
Advance Transportation

The transportation system must be the backbone of the city, supporting its economy and serving and influencing its land use patterns in a positive way. Scottsdale's commitment to transportation planning will be reflected in both development and redevelopment decisions. Historically, Scottsdale has grown up with the automobile as the primary mode of transportation. Although the automobile will likely remain the primary mode of transportation, Scottsdale shall provide alternatives to diversify our city's transportation system. The alternatives will provide greater accessibility for residents and visitors, alleviate pollution and congestion, and serve and influence land use patterns. 

Strategies: 

• maintain a continuous and integrated land use and transportation planning process to ensure that development and infrastructure planning accurately reflect the travel demands and complement each other.
• provide for adequate transportation corridors by allocating enough land during the planning process to allow for high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, bike lanes, multi use paths, and transit facilities for future travel demands.
• encourage land use patterns that reduce the amount of travel by the development of neighborhoods where mixed use centers and services are easily accessible from residences.
• expand and enhance pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access by considering safe and inviting access to shopping, offices, schools, etc. from multi use paths and transit facilities in all development decisions.
• ensure the physical location and design of our transportation corridors are environmentally sensitive to our desert, mountains, scenic corridors, and neighborhoods.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #6:
Value Scottsdale's Unique Lifestyle and Character

Scottsdale offers a superior and desirable Sonoran Desert lifestyle for its citizens and visitors. Scottsdale's lifestyle and character embrace the beauty of our natural features including the desert, mountains, and washes, and our contributions to the physical environment such as quality residential development, distinctive commercial and employment centers, and pleasing public amenities. Ensuring a variety of living, working, and leisure opportunities is fundamental to our community. The preservation of this unique lifestyle and character will be achieved through respect for our natural and man-made environment, while providing for the needs of our citizens. 

Strategies: 

• define a variety of character areas that are compatible with the surrounding natural and man-made area by taking advantage of existing amenities.
• ensure that development or redevelopment reflects the form, scale, materials, design features, and overall ambiance established in a character area plan.
• encourage projects that are responsive to the natural environment, site conditions, and unique character of each area, while being responsive to people's needs.
• support accessibility to the desert and mountains for all citizens where appropriate
• incorporate public art into emerging and mature areas that express the dominant lifestyle or character of an area, through public and private development and redevelopment opportunities.
• establish art districts, where appropriate, throughout the city capitalizing on existing opportunities such as Downtown Scottsdale.