The Queen Creek Town Council has directed staff to begin the process of removing two large residential areas in Pinal County from its Municipal Planning Area (MPA). The areas are located in what is commonly known as San Tan Valley, but they are currently unincorporated Pinal County — not within Queen Creek's town limits and not within the incorporated Town of San Tan Valley boundaries.

Together, the two areas include approximately 2,041 residential parcels and an estimated 6,300 residents.

At the same time, Queen Creek is advancing a separate annexation of approximately 6.9 acres at the southeast corner of Ocotillo and Meridian Roads.

A Municipal Planning Area is a boundary shown in a town's General Plan that identifies areas it may consider for future annexation. It is larger than the town's actual municipal limits.

Being located inside a town's planning area does not mean the property is part of that town. It does not mean residents pay taxes to that town, receive services from that town, or are automatically annexed.

Planning areas are intended to guide long-term growth discussions. Under Arizona law (A.R.S. §9-471), annexation requires contiguity and statutory notice and petition requirements. A planning area designation alone does not annex property and does not prevent other jurisdictions from planning for or annexing contiguous territory.

According to Queen Creek staff, both residential areas were developed under Pinal County jurisdiction and county development standards. They were never part of Queen Creek and did not pay Queen Creek impact fees or development-related revenues at the time of construction.

One area includes 461 parcels, including a subdivision currently under construction. The other includes approximately 1,580 parcels.

Council members indicated that removing the areas from the planning boundary would clarify that Queen Creek does not anticipate annexing them in the future. The General Plan Amendment process to remove the areas is expected to take approximately four months and will include public meetings and hearings.

During discussion, council members referenced several considerations:

• Service and infrastructure costs
• Impact fee history
• Long-term growth planning
• The recent incorporation of the Town of San Tan Valley

The Town of San Tan Valley incorporated in September 2025 with boundaries smaller than the overall geographic area commonly referred to as "San Tan Valley." Thousands of residents and businesses remain in unincorporated Pinal County outside the new town limits.

If Queen Creek removes the two residential areas from its planning boundary, those areas would remain unincorporated unless another jurisdiction annexes them.

In a separate matter, a 6.9-acre property at Ocotillo and Meridian Roads is moving forward in Queen Creek's annexation process. The annexation ordinance appears on the March 4, 2026 consent agenda.

Town documents indicate the applicant intends to pursue a commercial rezoning request following annexation.

A public hearing on the annexation was previously held in November 2025. One neighboring resident spoke in opposition at that time, expressing concerns about potential future commercial development in the area.

The annexation ordinance itself was not voted on during that earlier hearing and is now scheduled for council consideration.

For the planning area removal:

• Neighborhood meeting: March 18
• Planning Commission hearings: April 8 and April 22
• Town Council hearing: May 6

If approved, the two residential areas would no longer appear within Queen Creek's Municipal Planning Area in its General Plan.

The Ocotillo and Meridian annexation remains a separate action and will follow its own statutory process.