Planning panel reinstates AR-36 zoning district for large parcels

CHINO VALLEY, Ariz. — The Chino Valley Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a text amendment on June 3 to restore an agricultural-residential AR-36 zoning district that requires a minimum lot size of 36 acres. The commission voted to approve TA 2025-03 following a staff presentation and no public comment on the item.

Town planning staff told commissioners the amendment would "add back in the AR 36 District," restoring a district removed in 2020 after a survey found no properties zoned AR-36. Staff said the town's recently adopted general plan supported reinstating the district to allow larger parcels and uses that require more on-site buffering.

The ordinance change creates an AR-36 district with a 36-acre minimum lot size and retains conditional use permit (CUP) requirements for many of the higher-impact uses listed in the code, staff said. Under the proposal, applicants for certain nonresidential uses on AR-36 parcels must apply for a CUP and submit a site plan explaining proposed mitigation measures and buffers.

Commissioner Sherr moved to approve TA 2025-03 “as reflected in attachment A subject to the staff report and information provided during this hearing.” The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

The amendment follows work by the zoning committee and review at a May work session. Staff said the zoning committee debated the draft, made edits, and that the amendment now returns the AR-36 district to the Unified Development Ordinance to align zoning with the general plan.

The commission took no further action beyond approving the text amendment; there were no public speakers on the item and no conditions beyond those included in the staff report.

The Town Council will receive the ordinance change as the next step in the adoption process.