Since incorporating in 1989, the Town has participated in extensive planning efforts to fulfill the vision of the community. One of the Town’s guiding documents is the General Plan, which was updated in 2018. The General Plan Update identifies the northeastern portion of the Town’s planning area, owned and operated by the State Land Department, as a special district and growth area. The special district acknowledges the need for greater flexibility while the growth area encourages the development of commerce suitable for high-tech, high-wage jobs. The area includes the extension of the State Route 24 and is envisioned to be a hub for employment.

In 2019, 4,100 acres of State Land was annexed into the Town of Queen Creek with an accompanying Specific Plan that divides the area into 19 planning units and established initial zoning of neighborhood and urban. With the change in market demands and the realignment of the State Route 24, the State Land Department submitted supplementals to rezone some of the planning units to urban employment. As part of each supplemental process, the State Land Department held a neighborhood meeting prior to rezoning - individuals and businesses within 1,200 ft (nearly a quarter of a mile) were notified of the neighborhood meeting. 

The vision for the special district is further outlined in the Town’s Economic Development Strategic Plan. Advanced manufacturing is one of five target sectors identified in the plan, noting electronic equipment and components as a subsector. The state-owned land located in the special district is specifically referenced as the targeted focus for advanced manufacturing. 

Advanced manufacturing will provide high-tech, high-wage jobs providing quality employment opportunities, a shortened commute for residents and further diversifying the local economy, which is all in alignment with the Town Council Strategic goals of providing a Quality Lifestyle and Secure Future. The Town’s strategies align with the State’s economic development strategy and also complement the existing ecosystem of advanced manufacturing that exists in Pinal County and the Greater Phoenix area. 

Queen Creek Town Manager (former) John Kross and Economic Development Director Doreen Cott

The manufacturing industry has evolved with advancements in technology, resulting in clean productions that refute the outdated perceptions of smokestacks. The industry is also regulated by county and state agencies, depending on the specific type of manufacturing. Beyond the industry progress and environmental regulations, the Town of Queen Creek prides itself on having strong design standards to preserve and enhance the physical appearance of the community. 

Arizona State Land

Arizona has nine million acres of State Trust Lands throughout the State, including the 4,100 acres in the Town of Queen Creek (with additional acres adjacent to Queen Creek in unincorporated Pinal County). Arizona State Trust lands are managed to obtain their highest and best use and to maximize their financial return to the State Trust beneficiaries. This means that individual parcels may remain undeveloped, sold for development, leased for commercial, agricultural, grazing or mineral uses, or be open for approved activities under a recreational or special use permit.

The federal Arizona-New Mexico Enabling Act of 1910 and the Arizona Constitution identify several public entities as beneficiaries to receive proceeds from the lease or sale of millions of acres of land, primarily education (K-12 public schools, public universities and Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind).