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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: Design Review
end
SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION:
Summary Recommendation
Amend Title 15, Chapter 154 to authorize administrative personnel to review and approve design review in accordance with HB 2447, and to add rules and regulations regarding the voice or video appearance by a Design and Historic Review Commissioner (Community Development/Community Planning) (Alyssa Linville)
end
STRATEGIC OUTCOME:
The proposed text amendment will ensure that City regulations reflect recent modifications to the state law, supporting the City Council’s strategic outcome of Respected and Responsible.
REPORT:
The purpose of this text amendment is twofold: first, to align the City of Yuma zoning code with recent State of Arizona statute changes for the administrative review and approval of design review applications, and second, allow members of the Design and Historic Review Commission to participate telephonically at meetings, similar to members of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
House Bill 2447, approved by the legislature and signed by the Governor on March 31, 2025, requires by ordinance that cities and towns authorize administrative personnel to review and approve design review plans based on objective standards without a public hearing. Currently for the City of Yuma, design review and approval is under the authority of the Design and Historic Review Commission for projects located within the Aesthetic Overlay District, Historic Overlay District and the Old Town Zoning District.
As required by House Bill 2447, the proposed text amendment removes the review authority for design review within the Aesthetic Overlay District from the Design and Historic Review Commission and places that authority with the Zoning Administrator. The role of the Zoning Administrator is completed by the Director of Community Development or their designee.
The Design and Historic Review Commission will still have a role in design review as the Commission will be the appeal body for decisions by the Zoning Administrator regarding design review within the Aesthetic Overlay District.
This text amendment only applies to projects located within the Aesthetic Overlay District. Under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 9 Section 462.01.10, cities have the ability to establish districts of historical significance and require special permission be obtained prior to any development for any structures and sites. The Historic Overlay District and the Old Town Zoning District have been established specifically to preserve historic places and structures.
The second part of this text amendment adds the ability of members of the Design and Historic Review Commission to participate in meetings telephonically, similar to members of the Planning and Zoning Commission. This option is allowed by individual Commissioners only twice per calendar year and is only allowed for meetings that are held at the Yuma City Hall.
On October 27, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend APPROVAL (5-0) of the request by the City of Yuma for a Zoning Code Text Amendment to amend Title 15, Chapter 154, to authorize administrative personnel to review and approve design review, and to add rules and regulations regarding the voice or video appearance by a Design and Historic Review Commissioner.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - EXCERPT FROM PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES:
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
“Motion by Lorraine Arney, Planning and Zoning Commissioner, second by John Mahon, Planning and Zoning Commissioner, to APPROVE ZONE-44497-2025 as presented.
“Motion carried unanimously (5-0), with one absent and one vacancy.’
FISCAL REQUIREMENTS:
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CITY FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
BUDGETED: |
$ 0.00 |
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STATE FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
AVAILABLE TO TRANSFER: |
$ 0.00 |
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FEDERAL FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
IN CONTINGENCY: |
$ 0.00 |
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OTHER SOURCES: |
$ 0.00 |
FUNDING ACCOUNT/FUND #/CIP: |
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TOTAL |
$ 0.00 |
- |
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 |
11/25/2025 |
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Reviewed by City Attorney: |
Date: |
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Richard W. Files |
11/24/2025 |