Eloy Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting: General Plan Update and Airport RFQ - May 20, 2026

The Eloy Planning & Zoning Commission met on May 20, 2026, at 5:15 PM in the Eloy City Council Chambers. The primary action was a public hearing and recommendation on the city's General Plan update (Case GPA2026-001), a major policy document replacing the 2020 plan. Commissioners also received an informational presentation on a request for qualifications (RFQ) for airport planning and environmental consulting services for the Eloy Municipal Airport. The meeting opened with roll call, pledge of allegiance, and approval of the March 11, 2026 minutes.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimous approval of the March 11, 2026 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting minutes (motion by Commissioner [unnamed], seconded, all ayes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak during the public appearances portion. No public testimony was offered during the public hearing for the General Plan update.

Discussion Items

• General Plan Update (GPA2026-001): Dan Seimer, Planning Director, and Terry Hogan of Logan Simpson presented the “Eloy General Plan: Planning Today for a Stronger Tomorrow,” covering approximately 521.7 square miles. The update followed an extensive 18-month public engagement process with about 9,400 community engagements, 4,600 website visits, 306 questionnaire responses, and 224 comments during the 60-day review period. The plan includes four themed chapters, a future land use map, and an implementation action plan. Commissioner Whitman raised several specific edits to policies and glossary terms, which were discussed and incorporated into the motion.
• Airport Planning RFQ: Christina Wozniak, Public Works Operations Manager and Airport Manager, presented information on the city’s RFQ for airport planning and environmental consulting services. Only one proposal was received, from Coffin Associates (a Pape Dawson company), which has a 30-year history with the Eloy Municipal Airport. The proposed agreement is three years with two optional one-year extensions. Services are on an as-needed basis and largely grant-funded. Commissioners expressed support for the firm’s qualifications.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Approve General Plan with Modifications: Commissioner Whitman moved to approve and adopt the General Plan update with the following modifications:
  • Policy LU 2.3 (page 66): Add “within growth areas” to the sentence about promoting sustainable mobility, and define “sustainable mobility” in the glossary.
  • Housing and neighborhoods: Change “affordable housing” to “attainable housing” throughout (consistent with glossary definition).
  • Policy DT 1.8 (page 88): Change “design for alternative mobility and curb management” to “design to accommodate mobility alternatives” and strike “curb management.”
  • Policy C 1.112 (page 133, technology): Strike the specific examples “electric vehicle charging and autonomous vehicle readiness,” keeping only “integrate emerging transportation technologies.”
  • Action PE 16 (page 141): Change “formalize programs” to “promote programs.”
  • Additionally, staff will verify the appropriateness of industrial development authority bonds for housing finance; if not suitable, alternative bonding mechanisms (e.g., CFDs, community revitalization districts) will be substituted. Non-substantive editorial comments from Commissioner Whitman were also incorporated.
  • The motion was seconded and passed unanimously on a roll call vote (Commissioners Lopez, Bacta, Whitman, Crawford, Frasetto, Vice Chair Tolson, Chairman Paulson all ayes). This recommendation will go to the Eloy City Council for a special hearing on June 1, 2026, and subsequently to voter ratification in November 2026.
• No action on Airport RFQ: The item was informational only; no vote was taken. The commission expressed support for the consultant selection, and staff will bring the agreement to city council for final approval.