As with all cities Chandler has a city plan and that city plan, approved in April 2016, gave rise to the current Areal Plan, Master Plans, and Capital Improvement plans. From the City Plan and various detailed planning areas and topics, comes the City’s budget and Strategic Framework.
The City prioritized 5 focus areas and has dedicated its resources to fulfil those focus area needs. The five focus areas are:
- Infill and Redevelopment
- Innovation and Technology
- Mobility
- Neighborhoods
- Quality of Life
Infill and Redevelopment: We usually think of this topic as placing buildings on vacant land or tearing down and rebuilding existing buildings. Chandler has a discussion regarding the historical preservation of the community. One unique feature to their historical preservation ordinance is the ability of a private property owner or neighborhood to establish a historical preservation district on private property.
They also concentrated on business retention and expansion. Office, Industrial and Medical development topped the lists of business expansions with Downtown Chandler seeing modernization and new businesses.
Innovation & Technology: This includes technology to improve the water, wastewater and utility infrastructure. Fiber optics and communications infrastructure enabled the City to host several public meetings virtually over the course of 2020.
Mobility: Mobility includes roads, highways, sidewalks, bike paths, public transit, the airport…essentially anything that helps people get from one point to another.
The ability for contractors to obtain road restriction and closure permits online sped the process up and at the same time provided real time data for the City’s interactive Traffic Restrictions Map.
The Chandler Airport Master Plan was updated April 1, 2021 and gives residents and businesses a view to the future of the airport and the surrounding area.
Neighborhoods: This section outlines the variety of housing types in Chandler: HOAs, traditional neighborhoods, apartments, condos, etc.
This section discusses the maintenance of neighborhoods and alleys. Schools are an important part of any neighborhood and the City highlights Operation Back to School. Public Housing, housing vouchers and the Emergency Home Repair Program are some of the programs designed to help residents with housing needs.
Quality of Life: This section highlights the arts, culture, community services, public safety and events the City offer residents and businesses.
You can read more about these five focus areas in the City Manager’s 2020 Annual Report.