Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pinal County residents press supervisors to pause major development code rewrite
Summary
Dozens of residents criticized proposed development-code changes at the Jan. 29 Board of Supervisors meeting, urging the board to slow the process and preserve rural property rights; county leaders said staff will expand outreach.
Dozens of residents from San Tan Valley, Coolidge, Gold Canyon and other unincorporated parts of Pinal County told the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 29 that a proposed countywide development code rewrite would sharply curtail rural living and small-scale agriculture.
The public outcry concentrated on draft restrictions in the RU‑1.25 and related sections that would limit animal keeping and place new structure, setback and manure‑management requirements on properties that today allow more flexible rural uses. At one point the board paused regular business to hear three hours of public comment on the draft.
The criticism was wide-ranging. Ellen Owens, who said she keeps stock and small‑scale production animals, warned the board that the draft rules “would adversely affect and criminalize a tremendous number of families” and called the proposals “a gross overstep of government.” Samuel Jacobs, another resident, said the rules would threaten families who depend on livestock for food and income: “When there were shortages, where did they go? Those subdivisions … needed our supplies.”
Other speakers — including small‑business owners, 4‑H volunteers and parents of children in junior rodeo programs — told the board that limiting livestock by acres would harm youth programs, local food production and family livelihoods. Mark Linder, vice chair of the San Tan Advisory Council, asked county staff to present the 436‑page draft at an evening public session; the council requested the Board’s help in scheduling staff to brief residents and answer questions.
Board members acknowledged the strength of the reaction and outlined next steps. Chairman Wayne Miller said the meeting showed high engagement and asked staff to expand outreach. Supervisor Mike Goodman, who said he grew up farming in Pinal County, proposed that county staff work with each supervisor to set up district‑level briefings and explain both current code provisions and proposed changes.
County manager Leo Lutz and planning staff reiterated that the development code update is a multi‑step process. Lutz said the public review period for the draft runs Jan. 16 through April 15, with subsequent work sessions before Planning & Zoning and eventual hearings before the Board. Planning staff indicated the draft will be revised during review and that written comments and focus groups are part of the planned outreach.
Why this matters: The rewrite covers countywide land‑use rules that determine what residents may do on private property — from animal keeping and home‑based businesses to setbacks and accessory structures. Opponents said the draft resembles homeowners‑association rules and would limit choices that drew many residents to unincorporated Pinal County; supporters of an update have argued the county needs clearer, consistent standards as growth continues.
The board did not adopt or reject the draft code at the meeting. Supervisors directed staff to expand neighborhood outreach, to present the draft at community meetings outside business hours, and to coordinate with advisory councils on further education sessions. Several supervisors said they want additional time for district‑level feedback before any final vote.
The county’s posted timeline remains: public comment through April 15, Planning & Zoning work sessions and, later, Board public hearings. Residents and neighborhood councils asked the board to consider pausing any Board decision while the county provides additional, scheduled briefings in each district.
