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STRATEGIC OUTCOMES |
ACTION |
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Department: |
☒ Safe & Prosperous |
☐ Motion |
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Community Development |
☒ Active & Appealing |
☐ Resolution |
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☐ Respected & Responsible |
☒ Ordinance - Introduction |
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Division: |
☐ Connected & Engaged |
☐ Ordinance - Adoption |
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Community Planning |
☐ Unique & Creative |
☐ Public Hearing |
TITLE:
title
Text Amendment: Industrial Zoning Districts
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SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION:
Summary Recommendation
Amend Title 15, Chapter 154 to update development regulations and allowable uses within the Light Industrial (L-I) and Heavy Industrial (H-I) Zoning Districts. (Community Development/Community Planning) (Alyssa Linville)
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STRATEGIC OUTCOME:
The proposed amendment advances the City Council’s strategic outcomes of Safe and Prosperous and Active and Appealing by modernizing regulations to attract diverse industries, reducing regulatory barriers, ensuring safe operations that protect surrounding neighborhoods, and aligning land use with long-term community goals that enhance Yuma’s livability and economic vitality.
REPORT:
The proposed text amendment will update the list of permitted, conditional, and prohibited uses within the Light Industrial (L-I) and Heavy Industrial (H-I) Zoning Districts. The amendment will clarify existing language, introduce contemporary industrial classifications, and adjust allowed uses to reflect evolving industry practices while maintaining compatibility with adjacent land uses.
The City of Yuma’s zoning regulations for industrial districts have remained largely unchanged for several decades. As industrial business models, manufacturing processes, and regulatory standards evolve, periodic updates are necessary to ensure alignment with modern industry trends, safety standards, and economic development objectives.
This amendment:
- Defines key industrial terms such as Light Manufacturing, Heavy Manufacturing, and Extraction, providing clarity for applicants, staff, and the public.
- Expands allowable uses in the L-I District to focus on light industrial activities with minimal environmental impacts.
- Restricts uses in the L-I District that involve dangerous materials to better protect surrounding areas.
- Allows for non-hazardous recycling centers within enclosed buildings in the L-I District to support sustainable practices.
- Establishes the H-I District as the appropriate location for more intensive industrial operations, including Heavy Manufacturing, Extraction, and Hazardous Recycling Centers, while ensuring appropriate screening and environmental considerations.
The proposed amendments to the Light and Heavy Industrial Zoning Districts are anticipated to enhance the City of Yuma’s economic development efforts by creating a more robust and permissive regulatory environment for industrial activities. Modernizing the list of allowable uses positions the City as a more attractive destination for new industries seeking clarity and flexibility in zoning. By accommodating a broader range of manufacturing, processing, logistics, and recycling operations, the City supports both business attraction and the expansion of existing enterprises. These updates reduce regulatory barriers, making it easier for companies to adapt their operations, introduce new product lines, or expand facility footprints within appropriately zoned areas.
Moreover, aligning industrial zoning with contemporary industry standards and practices enhances the City’s competitiveness in attracting regional and national investments. This is particularly relevant for sectors such as advanced manufacturing, agricultural processing, renewable energy production, and materials recycling, industries that bring skilled employment opportunities and contribute to the diversification of the local economy. The amendment also promotes the efficient use of designated industrial lands, encouraging infill development and maximizing the utility of existing infrastructure while preserving greenfield areas for future growth. Collectively, these benefits support the City’s broader goals of fostering economic vitality, creating jobs, and maintaining a resilient industrial sector that contributes meaningfully to the community’s prosperity.
The proposed text amendments to the Light and Heavy Industrial Zoning Districts represent a proactive approach to modernizing the City of Yuma’s development regulations. By clarifying definitions, refining allowable uses, and balancing industrial flexibility with community safeguards, the amendment supports responsible growth and economic diversification. These updates reflect the City’s commitment to promoting business-friendly policies while ensuring that industrial activities remain compatible with the community’s long-term planning objectives. Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments as a strategic measure to enhance both land use management and economic development opportunities within the City of Yuma.
On August 11, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend APPROVAL (6-0) of the request by the City of Yuma for a Zoning Code Text Amendment to amend Title 15, Chapter 154, to update development regulations and allowable uses within the Light Industrial (L-I) and Heavy Industrial (H-I) Zoning Districts.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - EXCERPT FROM PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES:
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF
NONE
PUBLIC COMMENT
NONE
MOTION
“Motion by Chelsea Malouff-Craig – Planning and Zoning Commissioner second by John Mahon – Planning and Zoning Commissioner to APPROVE ZONE-44199-2025 as presented.
“Motion carried unanimously, (6-0) with one vacancy.’
FISCAL REQUIREMENTS:
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CITY FUNDS: |
$ 0.00
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BUDGETED: |
$ 0.00
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STATE FUNDS: |
$ 0.00
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AVAILABLE TO TRANSFER: |
$ 0.00
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FEDERAL FUNDS: |
$ 0.00
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IN CONTINGENCY: |
$ 0.00
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OTHER SOURCES: |
$ 0.00
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-
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TOTAL |
$ 0.00
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FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
NONE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION FORM THAT ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK:
NONE
IF CITY COUNCIL ACTION INCLUDES A CONTRACT, LEASE OR AGREEMENT, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTING THE DOCUMENT FOR SIGNATURE AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL?
☐ Department
☐ City Clerk’s Office
☐ Document to be recorded
☒ Document to be codified
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Acting City Administrator: |
Date: |
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John D. Simonton |
09/05/2025 |
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Reviewed by City Attorney: |
Date: |
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Richard W. Files |
09/04/2025 |