Table of Contents

Biophilic Planning

This city’s codified ordinances incorporates several different biophilic planning elements. It includes native plant preservation to protect native plants that are not found outside of the Arizona Uplands from development by requiring a Native Plant Preservation Plan (§7.7). It also creates and Environmental Resource Zone to protect the open lands and habitat resources (§5.7). Additionally, a scenic corridor zone is also created to protect the views of the mountains (§5.3).

Content-Neutral Sign Regulation

The city’s unified development code includes sign regulations amended in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert (§7A). These regulations generally adhere to a literal interpretation of content neutrality (i.e., you do not have to read a sign to know whether it is in compliance with the regulations). The only exceptions are a small number of sign types excluded from regulation, under the presumption that they would withstand “strict scrutiny” because the distinctions are “narrowly tailored to serve a compelling governmental interest” (§7A.8.1).

It also include a master sign program to provide an alternative means for sign code compliance (§7A.7).

Downtown Revitalization

The city’s unified development code includes the Downtown Area Infill Incentive District to encourage pedestrian- and transit-oriented redevelopment (§5.12). The district includes design guidelines (§5.2.7-§5.2.8) and designates specific sub-districts with distinct development standards (§5.12.9 et seq).

Historic Preservation

The city’s unified development code establishes Historic Preservation Zone (HPZ) and Historic Landmark (HL) designations (§5.8). Development or demolition in these overlay zones requires additional approval to ensure compliance with historic design standards. The regulation also sets a process for establishing and amending these zones and lays out maintenance standards.

Marijuana-Related Uses

The city’s unified development code permits multiple types of medical-marijuana-related uses, subject to use-specific standards (§4.8). It defines “medical marijuana designated caregiver cultivation location,” “medical marijuana dispensary,” “medical marijuana dispensary off-site cultivation location,” and “medical marijuana qualifying patient cultivation location” (§11.3.9).

Its use-specific standards for medical marijuana dispensaries address maximum size; secure storage areas; permanent, fixed location requirements; hours of operation; waiting areas; drive-through services; outdoor seating; compliance with applicable laws; separation from other dispensaries, schools, childcare centers, parks, churches, libraries, and alcohol or drug treatment facilities; and compliance with health regulations (§4.9.9.E.1).

Its use-specific standards for medical marijuana dispensary off-site cultivation locations address maximum size; secure storage areas; permanent, fixed location requirements; separation from other dispensaries or cultivation locations, schools, childcare centers, parks, churches, libraries, and alcohol or drug treatment facilities; compliance with health regulations; and wholesale distribution (§4.9.9.E.2).

Its use-specific standards for medical marijuana designated caregiver location address maximum size; secure storage areas; permanent, fixed location requirements; separation from other dispensaries or cultivation locations, schools, childcare centers, parks, churches, libraries, and alcohol or drug treatment facilities; compliance with health regulations; wholesale distribution; home cultivation; and colocation of caregivers (§4.9.9.E.3).

And its use-specific standards for medical marijuana qualifying patient cultivation location address home cultivation and compliance with health regulations (§4.9.9.E.4).

Scenic View Protection

The city’s unified development code uses scenic corridor zones to protect scenic resources, such as views to mountain ridgelines (§5.3). Sites within scenic corridor zones must incorporate techniques to minimize impact to visual resources, including scenic route buffer areas, structure height limitations, siting and view corridor considerations.

Solar Energy

The city's development code permits the use of solar energy collectors on principal structure or accessory structures by right in all zoning districts (§6.6.2, §7.3.1) and addresses the siting of multi-story structures in order to mitigate the effect of shadows (§7.3.2). Solar energy collectors may exceed district height limits by up to 10 feet and may project up to 4 feet into required perimeter yards(§6.4.4.C.4, §6.4.5.D.3.a). The city's subdivision standards require solar access and passive solar orientation of dwelling units when practicable through flexible lot development subdivision design standards (§8.7.3.M.3). The ordinance defines "solar access" and "solar energy system" (§11.4.20).

Urban Heat Resilience

The city’s unified development code contains provisions to help address urban heat. It requires high albedo materials or other cool roof technologies in new accessory dwelling units (§6.6.3-3).

Food Systems | Urban Livestock

The city's unified development code addresses the keeping of food-producing animals (defined as miniature goats, fowl, and other small food-producing animals) as an accessory use to permitted residential uses, accessory community gardens, and accessory urban farms (§6.6.5.E). Animals are assigned different "animal units" (e.g., chicken=1, miniature goat=5), and maximum allowed animal units depend on lot size (from 24 animal units for lots of less than 16,000 SF to 48 animal units for lots of more than 144,000 SF). Standards are provided for animal shelter location and setback requirements. Accessory sales of agricultural products (including eggs produced on-site) are permitted between 7am and 8pm (§6.6.5.F).