Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning Procedures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts ordinance implementing state law requiring administrative plat review; some council members protest
Summary
The council approved an ordinance (2026‑963) amending the Unified Development Ordinance so staff will administratively review and approve preliminary and final plats as required by recent state legislation; several council members criticized the state change but supported the ordinance as compelled by law.
Chino Valley’s town council approved Ordinance 2026‑963 to amend the Unified Development Ordinance so administrative personnel may review and approve preliminary and final plats in compliance with a new state statute that takes effect Jan. 1.
Staff advised the council that the statute removes the requirement that planning commission and council review certain plats and requires an administrative approval pathway; staff said the department will retain its internal outreach and agency review processes and that applicants can appeal administrative decisions to the planning commission.
Council members spoke strongly against the state change. One council member said the legislation undercuts elected oversight and lamented the loss of the council’s review role, but the council voted to adopt the ordinance because it is a required change to the town code. The ordinance carries forward staff’s commitment to provide public notification and the opportunity to appeal administrative decisions.
The vote implements procedural changes required by state law; staff said they will continue to present outreach materials and that the town will pursue any legislative remedies they can to restore local review privileges if state law changes.
