The Planning Unit plans and guides the physical development and future growth of Yavapai County in accordance with the County’s Comprehensive Plan, Planning & Zoning Ordinance, and Subdivision Regulations. The unit’s duties includes implementation of the above-mentioned policy documents, administration and processing of zoning map changes (rezoning requests), use permits, variances, Comprehensive Plan amendments, updating policy documents as required, development of area and neighborhood plans, development of long-range growth strategies, and responding to all customer inquiries. Planners also coordinate with other private and public agencies, support the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
Current Planning & Zoning cases going before the Planning Commission and/or Board of Supervisors.
Set-back requirements, building heights, yards, lot sizes, lot area per dwelling unit, lot coverage and density district.
Handles and presents requests for variances & appeals of interpretive decisions to the applicable Board of Adjustments & Appeals.
Agricultural, Mining, Pre-Existing and Medical Variances are also processed thru this office.
Comprehensive Plan and maps.
All applications for the Planning unit are difficult to categorize and may be found in this section.
Arizona’s counties are enabled to perform planning activities by the authority granted under Title 11, Chapter 6 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS). ARS Section 11-802 states:
“The Board of Supervisors of a county, in order to conserve and promote the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, shall plan and provide for the future growth and improvement of its area of jurisdiction, and coordinate all public improvements in accordance therewith, form a planning and zoning commission to consult with and advise it regarding matters of planning, zoning, and subdivision platting and in the manner provided in this chapter, adopt and enforce such rules, regulations, ordinances and plans as may apply to the development of its area of jurisdiction.”
Planning Division plans and provides for the future growth in accordance with the Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan, Planning & Zoning Ordinance, and Subdivision Regulations; Provides support, processes, and presents applications to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Supervisors. Applications may be for Use Permits, Zoning Map Changes, Cell Towers, Subdivisions and other planning issues.
Design Review provides for technical review of all subdivisions, land developments and oversees that development construction is in accordance with County Ordinances. Staff also inspects bond documents and authorizes the release of monies held as assurances for subdivision construction of infrastructure of roads and utilities.
Growing Smarter Acts
In 1998 and 2000, the Arizona State Legislature added the “Growing Smarter” and “Growing Smarter Plus” Acts, with amendments in 2002, to city and county planning statutes. The Growing Smarter Acts created additional mandates in the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan for Counties with populations over 125,000. These include a broad-based Public Participation Plan, coordination with the Arizona State Land Department, a 60-day agency review period, planning elements of land use, circulation/transportation, and water resources. Other elements are required for counties over 200,000 in population.
The Growing Smarter Acts also specify that “the policies and strategies to be developed under these elements shall be designed to have regional applicability”. Other significant statutory additions state that the plan “is effective for up to ten years” and that a new plan or re-adoption of the existing plan must happen at that time; and that “zoning and rezoning ordinances, regulations, and specific area plans” must be “consistent with and conform to the adopted county plan.”