Pima County updates its comprehensive plan, Pima Prospers, every ten years to guide long-term regional policy. For the 2025 update, the County hired the Drachman Institute to prepare research-based policy memos on housing, climate, energy, and water. This work directly informed the County’s final recommendations for a more resilient and sustainable future.
Researchers
- Courtney Crosson (PI)
- Daniel Kuhlmann – Housing
- Atticus Jaramillo – Housing
- Ladd Keith – Climate
- Patrick Bunn – Energy
- Philip Stoker – Water
- Andrea Gerlak – Water
- Rashi Bhushan – Water
Community Partners and Consultants
- Pima County Development Services
Project Details
Budget: $250,000
Where: Pima County, Arizona
Outcomes:
- A set of four research-based policy reports in housing, climate, energy, and water
- Policy recommendations incorporated into Pima Prospers 2025
Adoption of Net Zero Urban Water goals, a first-of-its-kind framework in the Southwest
Project Overview
Every ten years, Pima County initiates its comprehensive plan—known as Pima Prospers—to outline long-range policy direction for the region. For the 2025 update, the County engaged the Drachman Institute to develop research-driven policy memos across four key areas: housing, climate, energy, and water. These memos synthesize current data, best practices, and trend analyses to support evidence-based decision-making and guide future policy recommendations. The research conducted by the Drachman Institute directly informed the County’s final Pima Prospers 2025 documents, shaping strategies for a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable Pima County. Final comprehensive plan materials can be found at the County’s website: https://www.pima.gov/3368/Pima-Prospers-2025
Project Description
Every decade, Pima County updates its long-range comprehensive plan—Pima Prospers—to guide future land use, infrastructure investment, environmental stewardship, and community development. For the 2025 planning cycle, the County partnered with the Drachman Institute to strengthen the plan with current research and policy analysis in four critical domains: housing, climate, energy, and water.
The Drachman Institute team prepared a series of detailed policy memos addressing demographic trends, environmental risks, economic conditions, regulatory frameworks, and best practices relevant to each topic area. This work included assessment of regional housing affordability and supply challenges; climate adaptation and mitigation strategies; pathways for advancing community-scale energy resilience; and innovative approaches to water conservation and management in an arid region. Each memo integrated data analysis with policy evaluation to present actionable recommendations aligned with the County’s long-term sustainability and resilience goals.
The Drachman Institute’s research directly informed the County’s development of the Pima Prospers 2025 Comprehensive Plan. The final plan integrates forward-looking policy guidance to support resilient urban development, climate preparedness, sustainable infrastructure, equitable housing strategies, and responsible water and energy planning. This collaboration ensured that the updated comprehensive plan reflects cutting-edge research and regional priorities. The completed plan documents can be viewed at: https://www.pima.gov/3368/Pima-Prospers-2025
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