PLZM-24-0064 - DCA Phase 2 - Presentation - CC20251021.pptx

Development Code 
Update – Phase 2
Case PLZM-24-0064
City Council
October 21, 2025

Purpose and Goals
• Phase 2 of modernizing the Development Code
• Joint effort between City staff and consultant
• Consistency with state and federal law and 
other 
City codes and standards
• Updates to address recent challenges and new 
industry standards or terminology
• Opportunities to clarify standards and 
streamline development process

Phase 2 Focus Areas
Uses
Article 3
Signage
Section 5.12
Development 
& Design 
Standards 
Article 5
Land 
Subdivisio
n Article 6
Streamlini
ng
Article 8

Public Participation
• Involvement and feedback from:
oCity staff – multiple divisions and departments
oPlanning and Zoning Commission
oCity Council
oMembers of public and development community
oCommunity Advisory Committee (CAC)
• One speaker expressed support during the 
Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing 
on September 23, 2025
• Letter of support from Apex Clean Energy

Timeline
PHASE 2 KICK-
OFF SUMMER 
2024
CAC 
WORKSHOP 
10/7/24
P&Z 
WORKSHOP 
11/12/24
FIRST 
DRAFT TO 
CAC 
12/6/24
COUNCIL 
WORKSHOP 
1/21/25
COUNCIL 
WORKSHOP 
3/4/25
LAST 
DRAFT TO 
CAC 
7/8/25
HEARING 
PROCESS
2024
2025

Article 1 – General Provisions
• New Section 1.8.A.1.a, Applications Following 
Pre-Application
• Movement of Planned Area Development (PAD) 
procedural language from Section 1.8.2 to 
Section 8.6
• Clarifying edits to Section 1.9, 
Nonconformities

Article 2 – Zoning Districts
• Corrections to Table 2.1-1 for consistency 
with General Plan
• Movement of Downtown Overlay District (DOD) 
language from Article 5 to Article 2, 
alongside other overlay districts
• Removal of unutilized Single-Family Flex (SFF) 
District
• Consolidation of Community Master Plan (CMP) 
District and PAD District – PAD only moving 
forward

Article 3 – Use Regulations
• Reorganized and modernized Table 3.1-1 (Uses)
• New or updated use-specific standards:
oMiddle housing (new)
oBattery Energy Storage Systems or BESS (new)
oWireless facilities (updated)
oMarijuana uses (updated)
oCar washes and mini-storage (updated)
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – HB2720
• Backyard fowl (A.R.S. § 9-462.12)
BESS example
Detached ADU example

Article 4 – Dimensional Standards
• Agricultural (AG) District 
added to Table 4.1-1, Rural 
and Residential Districts
• Revised residential 
dimensional standards to 
accommodate wider variety of 
housing types, including 
middle housing
• Removal of lot coverage 
requirements (except AG/R1-43)
Examples of middle 
housing

Article 5 – Sections 5.1-5.11 and 
5.13
• Modified garage dominance 
language
• Additional or clarified design 
standards for middle housing, 
bungalow communities, and 
traditional multi-family
• New “big box” (large format 
retail) standards
• Revised commercial and 
industrial design standards
• Expanded landscaping and 
lighting standards
DSAP l
d ti
“Big box” example
BTR community example

Article 5 – Section 5.12, Signs
• Rewritten for Reed v. Gilbert (content 
neutrality) compliance
• New Table 5.12-1 clarifying signage by zoning 
district
• Expanded Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP) process
• Digital billboards on future SR-30
New measurement 
guidance
Internal illumination
Yard Sign Type III 
example
Blade sign example

Article 6 – Land Subdivision
• Updated subdivision 
terminology and design 
standards
oBlock lengths with open 
space
oT-intersection conditions
Open space connection 
example
• Less burdensome 
financial 
assurances 
process
• Clarified 
references to 
Engineering 
Design Standards
T-intersection with 
landscape tract

Article 7 – Review and Decision-
Making Bodies
• Removal of redundant language found elsewhere 
in City Code or procedure
• Removal of Section 7.7, Hearing Officer
oUnnecessary – not a separate position created
oDelegating authority to hear variances to Planning 
and Zoning Commission

Article 8 – Review and Approval 
Procedures
• Procedural changes required by HB2447
oSite Plans and Subdivisions now fully 
Administrative
• Approval criteria for each entitlement type
• New Section 8.10, Design Review
• Rewritten appeals and rehearing or 
reconsideration of decisions language (Section 
8.14)

Article 9 – Enforcement
• Updated in Phase 1
• No substantive edits in Phase 2 (stylistic and 
streamlining edits)

Article 10 – Definitions
• New definitions not specific to uses
• Note “Zoning Administrator” definition
• Removal of definitions that do not appear 
elsewhere in the Development Code
• Creation of new Section 10.4, Definitions of 
Signs

Appendices A, B, and C
• Modified obsolete district development 
standards (Appendix B) consistent with Article 
4 edits
• Modifications to obsolete district uses 
(Appendix C)
• Homes in Special Use (SU) District in Downtown 
Overlay District

Analysis
• Proposed DCA benefits:
oImproved customer service
oModernized requirements
oImproved and clarified procedural language
oAttractive, high-quality projects
• No outstanding issues from reviewing 
departments and divisions
• Planning and Zoning Commission recommended 
approval

Recommendation
• Conduct a public hearing
• Adopt Ordinance No. 28-25