Cochise County has released a draft of its updated Comprehensive Plan, which serves as the county’s main guide for future growth, development, and conservation. The plan outlines goals and policies to direct land use, infrastructure planning, natural resource management, and community needs.
The current version of the Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2015. Arizona law requires that such plans be updated every ten years. Residents can now review the draft update on the project website at cp2045.cochise.az.gov. Hard copies are also available at the Development Services Department in Bisbee and at all five county library branches: Alice Woods Library (Sunizona), Elfrida Library, Jimmie Libhart Library (Bowie), Myrtle Kraft Library (Portal), Sunsites Community Library, as well as the Sierra Vista Library.
Community members are encouraged to provide feedback on various aspects of the plan including its direction, specific goals and policies, map accuracy, potential impacts on communities, corrections needed, or local insights from their own experience. The county requests that comments reference specific chapters or sections when possible.
Suggestions for submitting helpful feedback include being specific about locations or map titles and explaining reasoning behind recommendations.
Comments can be submitted by email to developmentservices@cochise.az.gov with “CP2045 comments” in the subject line. They may also be mailed to Cochise County Development Services at 1415 Melody Lane in Bisbee (Attn: Christine McLachlan). Submissions through the project website are also accepted. The deadline for public comment is January 25, 2026.
A spokesperson stated: “Your feedback on this draft is essential.” Another message reads: “Your input is greatly appreciated.”
As residents consider how education fits into long-term planning efforts like this one, recent data show ongoing challenges for students in Cochise County schools. In the 2022-23 school year, 70% of students in grades 3 through 8 did not pass the mathematics section of Arizona’s AASA assessment (https://www.azed.gov/). Among high schoolers taking the ACT during that same period, 76% failed mathematics (https://www.azed.gov/). English language performance showed similar trends; 62.4% of students in grades 3 through 8 failed English on AASA tests (https://www.azed.gov/) while 65% of high schoolers did not pass English on the ACT (https://www.azed.gov/).
More recent results indicate some improvement: In the 2023-24 school year ACT exam cycle for high schoolers in Cochise County, about 27% passed mathematics (https://www.azed.gov/). For grades three through eight taking AASA math assessments during that time frame, approximately 28.5% achieved passing scores (https://www.azed.gov/).
The comprehensive plan update process provides an opportunity for residents to weigh in on issues like education alongside other priorities affecting future growth and quality of life throughout Cochise County.
