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Florence to expand public‑notice radius for larger projects under new ordinance
Summary
Town council approved an amendment to the land‑use code to keep a 300‑foot notice for projects under 20 acres, expand to a 600‑foot radius for parcels of 20 acres or more, and notify neighborhood organizations within a quarter‑mile.
The Florence Town Council adopted an amendment May 20 to the town’s land‑use code that increases the required radius for mailed public notices on larger development projects and clarifies notice language for adjacent property owners and neighborhood organizations.
Planning staffer Andrew presented the ordinance amendment and said the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended the changes after two public meetings. The change keeps the statutory 300‑foot individual notice for parcels under 20 acres but raises the radius to 600 feet for parcels of 20 acres or larger. The amendment also requires the town to notify registered neighborhood organizations within a one‑quarter‑mile radius for any project, regardless of parcel size.
Why it matters: Increasing the notice radius for larger projects is intended to bring more potentially affected property owners into the public‑hearing process for projects that could have broader neighborhood impacts. Staff compared practices in several Valley jurisdictions and modeled Florence’s approach on examples such as Buckeye’s size‑tiered radii and Phoenix’s practice of notifying nearest adjacent residents.
Details: Andrew showed sample buffers on small (under 20 acres) and large (about 40 acres) parcels to illustrate the difference between a 300‑foot and 600‑foot radius. The ordinance language also clarifies that neighborhood organizations are encouraged but not mandated to notify their members; responsibility for individual owner notice remains with applicants. The code sections amended include conditional use permits, temporary use permits, the citizen review process, and application/fee requirements.
Board action: After opening and closing the required public hearing (no public comment), the council voted to adopt ordinance 159‑25 amending Florence Town Code Title 15 sections listed in the ordinance. The motion carried unanimously.
Implementation: The town clerk and planning staff will update application checklists to reflect the new ownership list requirements and will use the town’s HOA contact list for notifying organizations within the quarter‑mile radius.
