The City has a number of tools and processes available to refine planning for specific areas. They include master plans, a development review tool used to guide the development of larger properties; and City-initiated planning efforts for specific geographic areas, such as refinement plans and special planned districts. Master plans are requested by property owners and approved as quasi-judicial land use decisions. City-initiated Area Plans are initiated by the City Council (sometimes at the request of property owners) and are adopted as legislative land use decisions. Additional area planning tools may be developed in the future to respond to specific needs.

In this chapter, the term “Area Plans” is used to encompass the full range of tools available for refinement of land uses, infrastructure and public facilities, and development regulations for specific geographic areas. Area planning can also be used as a tool for new growth in expansion areas to ensure that development is coordinated and efficient. Several types of area planning tools are described in the development code. Policies guiding area planning generally and master plans in particular are provided in the policy section of this Chapter.