The nearly 110,000 residents of San Tan Valley are within a few steps of being able to seek a vote to incorporate the community.
Without dissent, the Arizona Senate Government Committee approved legislation Wednesday, which removes the ability of nearby communities to veto another new city or town on its borders.
The bill now goes to the full Senate.
Area resident Tisha Castillo said it’s about time.
"Obviously, if other communities have veto opportunity on you being able to vote on whether or not you want to become a city, you end up with communities that grow from 4,500 people to almost 110,000 people without any say in their future," Castillo said.
But ending the veto power of neighboring Florence or Apache Junction does not guarantee San Tan Valley would be a new town. It still would require an affirmative vote of half the residents.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been modified to correct the spelling of Tisha Castillo's name.