Commission approves zoning cleanup to implement HB2447 administrative review and clarify 'objective standards'

The Town of Queen Creek Planning Commission approved text amendments to implement requirements of HB 2447, clarifying administrative review authority for planning and engineering applications and refining the town’s approach to objective design standards.

Sarah Clark, principal planner, said HB 2447 requires local governments to permit administrative review of certain planning and engineering applications — site plans, development plans, lot ties, pre-plats and final plats — and to allow administrative review of design-review plans where objective standards exist. Clark said Queen Creek already performs administrative review for many of these items and that the amendment removes outdated references to commission or council approval and defines design review plans and the term “objective.”

Clark said staff reviewed design standards to identify unclear or redundant language, provide clarification on how applicants can demonstrate compliance and remove conflicts. She emphasized the changes do not add new design standards; they clarify how applicants and staff determine compliance and noted further, more comprehensive design-standard updates could return to the commission later.

The amendment also relates to two statutory requirements the town will present to council: allowing “at-risk” grading permits (the town already does so) and establishing expedited permit review for applicants with a documented history of compliance. Clark said the expedited review process will be included in the ordinance going to council.

A commissioner moved to approve the text amendment identified as P25-0086; the motion passed.

Next steps: Staff will transmit the ordinance changes to council for the items that require council action and apply the clarified review process in administrative plan-review workflows.