Kingman Council reviews broad zoning and subdivision code overhaul ahead of Jan. 1 deadline

Kingman City Council heard a staff presentation Sept. 25 on a comprehensive rewrite and reformat of the city’s zoning code and a repeal-and-replace subdivision ordinance, work staff said is intended to modernize the rules, align them with state law and make them easier for residents and developers to use.

City staff said the update combines scattered provisions into a clearer structure, expands the land-use matrix, updates parking and sign standards, clarifies definitions, and incorporates state-required processes such as expedited plan review. "The purpose of the update is to really modernize and organize our existing zoning code, for improved clarity and usability, line it with evolving land uses, community expectations and state law, and to support businesses, residential, civic development through clearer, more flexible standards," staff member Jason said during the presentation.

Why it matters: staff told the council some changes respond to recent state legislation that requires administrative approvals and expedited review in specified cases; they also said clearer, consolidated rules should reduce confusion for staff, developers and the public. Staff said the city must have some of the new procedures in place by Jan. 1 and plans public review steps through mid-October, with Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council consideration in November.

Key details - Structure and naming: staff proposed reformatting six zoning “titles” into a more navigable code and renaming transect zones covering the core downtown area as "Downtown District" (DD) while retaining their transect-based standards. - Land-use matrix: the draft expands a concise two- to three-page matrix into a single comprehensive matrix to show where individual uses are allowed and to include use-specific standards adjacent to each use for quicker reference by brokers and applicants. - Parking: the draft increases specific parking requirements in several categories. Staff said single-family homes will be specified to provide two spaces and multifamily standards will be more detailed by unit type and guest parking needs. - New and clarified standards: the draft includes new or clarified supplemental standards for metal buildings, accessory structures, driveway surfaces and RV access, micro schools and daycares, and signage. Staff said metal buildings will be required to be visually compatible with primary structures, with different expectations for front-facing versus rear-sited buildings. - Definitions: the update merges two inconsistent definition sets into a single set to eliminate conflicting meanings across the code and the subdivision ordinance.

Process and schedule Staff said the rewrite has been underway since January, with multiple workshops and public comment periods in 2025. The draft remains open for public comment through Oct. 10; staff will prepare a final public draft and bring the new zoning code and the subdivision ordinance to the Planning and Zoning Commission in November and then to the City Council the following week. Staff said some provisions are required by state statute or legislation and must be implemented by Jan. 1.

Questions and public feedback Council members and stakeholders praised the volume of outreach and asked for clearer materials for the public. Vice Mayor Samuley commended staff and asked that the comment-and-response document be posted online; staff agreed to post the materials and a color-coded version showing moved versus new language. Developers and builders at the meeting said portions of the draft (notably landscape and parking requirements) need further refinement to avoid unintended cost or implementation burdens.

Next steps Staff will continue to collect comments through Oct. 10, post updated and color-coded materials for public review, revise the draft as appropriate and return the documents to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council in November. No formal vote or ordinance adoption occurred at the Sept. 25 meeting.