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Dear Planning and Development Department Partners,
At the Planning and Development Department, our work is driven by a shared mission: to preserve, shape, and build Phoenix through outstanding service, engagement, and innovation. Whether you're planning a new development, renovating your home, or helping shape the future of our city, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Our vision is to be partners in planning, preserving, and developing a safe, vibrant, and well-designed city.
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That word – partners – is important. We know that progress happens through collaboration, and we’re committed to working alongside you to achieve your goals while ensuring safety, quality, and long-term success for our community. To guide our work and strengthen how we serve you, we’ve made five clear Service Commitments:
- Serve as a leader to develop a city through continuous advancement of policy, codes, processes, and technology.
- Ensure building safety, preservation, and planning are at the forefront of all we do.
- Reinforce a culture of respect and collaboration.
- Value and deliver personal, seamless, and innovative service.
- Empower a professional, proficient, and dedicated department of civil servants.
In May’s newsletter, you’ll see how these commitments come to life. From the launch of our We’re Here to Serve video series to celebrating Building Safety Month and Historic Preservation Month, we’re proud to highlight the work we’re doing to serve Phoenix. You'll also meet our new Deputy Director, Jack Roberts, who brings a wealth of experience and a strong focus on service and innovation.
Thank you for your continued investment in our city. We value the opportunity to partner with you to preserve, shape, and build Phoenix.
- Joshua Bednarek, Director
What's New: Check out Our Vision, Mission, and Service Commitments flyer! You'll see it in our hallways, near our counters, and at our team members' workstations.
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We're Here to Serve
As part of our commitment to personal, seamless, and innovative service, we make sure that you can access our services in the way that works best for you. Our team is available to assist you, whether it’s in person, online, or in your community. Learn more about how from our staff in our new video series, We’re Here to Serve.
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Meet Jack Roberts, New Deputy Director
Jack Roberts may be new to his role as Deputy Director, but he’s no stranger to the Planning and Development Department, or to the City of Phoenix. In his new role overseeing the Inspections Division, Jack brings experience in structural inspections, housing, and construction management along with a strong service mindset.
Jack first joined the City as a Structural Inspector with Planning and Development. He then spent time in the Housing Department, taking on roles in building maintenance and later supervising federally funded construction projects. Eventually returning to Planning and Development, Jack served as a Combination Inspector with the Permit By Inspector (PBI) team and rose to become the team’s Supervisor.
Now, as Deputy Director of the Inspections Division, Jack focuses on improving processes, supporting field teams, managing division resources, and delivering excellent customer service. Jack’s team helps ensure every structure across the city’s 519 square miles, from single-family homes to downtown high-rises, is built to code and safe to occupy.
“One thing I want our customers to know is that we’re not just here to enforce codes — we’re here to serve,” Jack says. “We aim to be a bridge that helps customers access the information and resources they need to bring their projects to a successful completion.”
Outside of work, Jack enjoys time with his family, is active in his local church, and likes fishing and golf.
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Building Safety Month: The Safety You Don't See
When you walk into a movie theater, sports arena, or concert venue, you’re probably thinking about the show, not the structure. The same goes for living in a high-rise apartment or staying in a hotel. But behind the scenes, every beam, stairway, sprinkler system, and exit door is part of a carefully designed code that helps keep you safe.
May is Building Safety Month, a time to recognize the building codes and professionals who make sure Phoenix’s structures are safe, sound, and built to last. From large public venues to residential buildings, modern building codes are designed to protect you without you ever having to think about it.
Have you ever wondered why exit doors in a stadium are spaced so far apart? Or why concert venues feel wide open, yet so secure? That’s building code at work. In large public venues, building codes ensure there are enough exits, wide aisles, and clear escape routes to keep crowds moving safely in an emergency. From the placement of stairs to the strength of guardrails and fire-resistant materials, every detail is designed to reduce risk and protect the public. Even the strength of the floor in any given building is carefully calculated – for example, denser crowds mean stronger materials and construction.
In larger residential buildings, you’re protected by an entire system of fire-rated walls, sprinkler systems, alarms, and ventilation, all designed to give you time to escape and minimize the spread of fire, smoke, or harmful gases.
Building code may seem invisible, but it shapes nearly every part of the built environment. In fact, the reason we don’t often think about safety in the places we live, work, and gather is because your city’s building code is quietly doing its job. And this Building Safety Month, we're celebrating the engineers, inspectors, plan reviewers, and other professionals who ensure Phoenix’s buildings are built not just for function or design, but for safety. Thank you for your important work and dedication to safety.
Learn more about Phoenix's building code on our website.
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Historic Preservation Month
Historic Preservation Month is a time to celebrate the work of our Historic Preservation Office and its vital role in shaping the future of our city. In a fast-growing city like ours, preservation goes beyond saving old buildings. Preservation helps us honor our shared history while planning thoughtfully for what comes next. Our Historic Preservation team works every day to identify, protect, and promote the places that reflect the city’s cultural, architectural, and historical identity.
From iconic mid-century landmarks to community-rooted neighborhoods and early adobe structures, Phoenix’s historic places tell the stories of the people and events that have shaped the Valley. Through careful research, policy guidance, and collaboration with property owners, developers, and community leaders, our team ensures that these places are not only remembered, but actively integrated into the city’s ongoing development.
The Historic Preservation Office also supports:
- Sustainable growth through adaptive reuse and conservation of materials
- Community revitalization by helping preserve neighborhood character
- Economic value by enhancing the appeal of historic properties
- Equity and inclusion by recognizing the diverse histories that make up our city
This month, we celebrated those efforts through public outreach, community storytelling, and hosting the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference here in Phoenix. But w e’re proud of the work our Historic Preservation Office does year-round to balance growth with respect for the past. In preserving Phoenix’s history, we’re helping to build a city that is deeply rooted and uniquely ours.
Explore the future of preservation in Phoenix by viewing PreserveHistoricPHX2025, the newly updated draft of the City's historic preservation plan!
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