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Council briefed on HB2447 changes to land‑development review; staff recommends against self‑certification for now
Summary
City staff outlined mandates in recent Arizona House Bill 2447 that will require administrative approval of plats and design reviews beginning Dec. 31, 2025; staff advised caution about optional self‑certification for architects and engineers and asked council for direction on implementing objective standards and expedited review processes.
City staff presented implications of recently enacted Arizona House Bill 2447 for Kingman’s land‑development review process, telling the City Council on May 25 that the law will require administrative (staff) review and approval of preliminary and final plats, and some design reviews, without a public hearing effective Dec. 31, 2025.
Jason Mookie of Development Services summarized the legislative background. He said Senate Bill 1103 (2023) had given cities the option to adopt administrative review; House Bill 2447, signed in March 2025, changes that to a statewide requirement. "The big change… governor Hobbs signed a house bill 24 47, which now is prescribing that cities must authorize personnel to administratively review and approve without a public hearing site plans, development plans, preliminary plots, and final plots," Mookie said.
Staff explained that preliminary plats and final plats — which currently come before the planning and zoning commission and city council — will no longer require public hearings under the new statute. The law also requires expedited permit review for applicants with a history of compliance and allows local governments to adopt optional self‑certification programs for registered architects and engineers.
Mookie told the council staff is preparing objective development standards, an update to the subdivision ordinance, and an expedited permitting policy to meet the Dec. 31 deadline. He said staff does not recommend adopting a self‑certification program at this time because monitoring compliance would require significant staff time, and the financial impact is uncertain. He told the council he expects to bring recommended ordinance language and procedural materials (design standards, subdivision ordinance updates, expedited permit policy) back in coming months and proposed at least two or three community workshops.
Council members voiced concern about the loss of public hearing opportunities on plats and asked about notice and transparency. Vice Mayor Samuley asked whether the public would have an opportunity to be heard; staff confirmed that public hearings for plats before planning and zoning and council would be removed and that public input would instead be channeled through zoning and general plan processes. Mookie said staff intends to provide a public dashboard and periodic reports so the public, the planning commission and council can see administrative approvals and upcoming projects.
Council did not vote on an ordinance at the meeting; staff requested direction on timing and whether to create a self‑certification program. Mookie recommended delaying self‑certification adoption and instead preparing objective standards and an expedited review program for applicants with demonstrated compliance.
