ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Mon., April 13, 2009

Pima supervisors weigh zoning relief for builders

By Adam Curtis

 

Builders worried about being unable to meet development deadlines in the face of the building and economic downturn could get a reprieve under a proposed amendment to the county zoning code. The amendment, up for vote by the Pima County Supervisors on Tuesday, would give developers the option of adding a year to the shelf life of development plans, tentative subdivision plats and Type II grading permits, said Chris Poirier, county land-use planner.

The optional extension, which would tack on an additional 25% to the permit fee, would be available for both new and existing permits, Poirier said. Currently, there are different rules that apply to each type of document, and builders can face multiple timelines for a single project.

One goal of the proposal is to improve consistency within the county zoning code by making the timelines for each of the permits exactly the same, Poirier said. Though the amendment will make the building process clearer and consistent, this is not its only intention.

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