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Tusayan adopts ordinance allowing hearing officer to take on zoning duties amid unfilled planning commission
Summary
The Tusayan Town Council adopted Ordinance 2026-01 on April 30, authorizing a hearing officer to perform duties normally carried out by a Planning and Zoning Commission while the Town lacks a seated commission; council members said the change can be reversed if a commission is formed.
The Tusayan Town Council on April 30 adopted Ordinance 2026-01, which authorizes a hearing officer to act in place of a Planning and Zoning Commission while the town does not have a seated commission.
Town Manager Clifton introduced the ordinance and said public notice had been provided. Town Development Attorney Frank Cassidy told the Council the change is intended to speed land-use decisions when the Town is unable to staff a Planning and Zoning Commission. Cassidy said the ordinance is written so the Council can restore a commission later if residents step forward to serve.
The Council opened a public hearing. Carolyn Oberholtzer, participating remotely, told the Council she supported the approach and thanked the Council and attorney for the solution. After closing the hearing, Vice Mayor Greg Brush moved to approve Ordinance No. 2026-01; Council Member Josh Collet seconded and the motion carried. The vote was recorded as Aye: Mayor Clarinda Vail, Vice Mayor Brush, Council Member Collet, Council Member Andrew Aldaz; Absent: Council Member Elena Villanueva.
The ordinance will take effect after the statutorily required 30-day period, and staff said the town expects to recruit one or more hearing officer candidates with the goal of having them in place by June.
Why it matters: The change removes a procedural bottleneck for rezonings and other land-use matters when a Planning and Zoning Commission is not staffed, while preserving the Council’s option to restore a commission in the future.
The Council did not take additional land-use actions during the hearing; instead, staff said they will pursue candidates and implement the ordinance if and when it becomes effective.
