Planning and Engineering Division
The Planning & Engineering Division handles land planning, entitlement, drainage and engineering issues affecting State Trust land throughout Arizona. Our primary mission is to handle technical and land use entitlement matters related to the management and disposition of State Trust land in the best interests of the State Trust’s beneficiaries, while advancing the mission of the Trust. Our staff is composed of AICP-certified planners, registered Professional Engineers, engineering technicians, and planning project managers.
The various disciplines that make up our staff work in tandem to leverage entitlement and technical opportunities to protect and enhance State Trust Land values and to maximize the resulting return to the Trust. Typical activities include Clean Water Act Section 404 Permitting and technical coordination, development of regional drainage and infrastructure solutions, and revisions to existing zoning entitlements to accommodate shifting market needs.
Planning & Engineering also serves as the Trust’s representative on local, regional and statewide stakeholder groups that study transportation and utility corridors, off-highway vehicle usage, development impact fees and other issues impacting the value and development utility of State Trust land.
Planning
The Land Department’s planners assist the Real Estate Division and the Department in matters related to entitlement issues and the Department’s land management and disposition activities.
Planning collaborates with local governments on planning issues such as general or comprehensive plan updates and amendments, regional and specific area planning, and the rezoning of State Trust land to accommodate market demands. Planning is the Land Department’s lead for municipal annexations. Annexation of State Trust land must be found to be in the best interests of the Trust and approved by the Department and other State authorities before these actions can be finalized by a community. Planning coordinates this review process and makes recommendations to the State Land Commissioner and the State Selection Board.
Engineering
From large-scale land development to temporary ground disturbances, the Land Department’s Engineering evaluates all uses of State Trust Land for their physical impact. Engineering’s overview typically includes proposed infrastructure, floodplain impacts, and Clean Water Act Section 404 jurisdiction.
