A. Purpose. As authorized by A.R.S. Section 11-829, this section establishes a public process for code text amendments, upon recommendation by the planning and zoning commission and adoption by the board of supervisors, that are consistent with the guiding principles of this code.
B. Initiation.
1. The board of supervisors or the planning and zoning commission is responsible for the initiation of code amendments, and may hear requests for the same from private individuals who have submitted evidence that public benefit would result from such amendment. The board of supervisors, if initiating the code amendment, shall set the amendment for the planning and zoning commission public hearing;
2. The planning and development services department is responsible for the development and coordination of code text amendments.
C. Planning and Zoning Commission Review.
1. Commission preliminary review:
a. A preliminary hearing, as may be required by written commission policy, shall be held by the commission to determine the merits of the draft text amendment, unless the amendment has been initiated by the board of supervisors;
b. The commission may set the proposed amendment for public hearing, remand it to the department for further development, deny the request, or continue the hearing for a definite time not to exceed nine months;
2. Commission public hearing:
a. Public hearing notice shall be provided as directed by the board of supervisors for each proposed text amendment pursuant to at least one of the following notification procedures:
1) By first class mail to each real property owner, as shown on the last assessment, whose real property is directly affected by the changes,
2) By publishing a "display ad" covering not less than one-eighth of a full page in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The county shall also send notice by first class mail to persons who register their names and addresses with the county as being interested in receiving such notice. The county shall charge a fee in accordance with the development services fee schedule.
b. The commission shall hold, at a minimum, one public hearing at which all interested parties may appear and shall be heard;
c. The commission may continue the hearing for a definite time not to exceed nine months;
d. After the public hearing, the department shall transmit the findings and recommendation of the commission to the board of supervisors.
D. Board of Supervisors Review.
1. Public hearing notice shall be provided by publishing such changes prior to the first hearing on such changes in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The changes shall be published in a "display ad" covering not less than one-eighth of a full page.
E. Public Notice Register. The county shall annually publish a public notice register application form in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The form shall not be less than one-eighth of a page. Persons included in the public notice register shall receive notice in conformance with Section 18.01.070(C)(2)(a).
F. Receipt of Notice. The failure to receive notice by any person or entity shall not constitute grounds for any court to invalidate the actions of the county for which the notice was given.
(Ord. 2011-2 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1991-36 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1989-14 § 1, 1989; Ord. 1988-204 (part), 1989; Ord. 1985-141 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 1985-82 (part), 1985)