Revision of county codes proposed

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 8/31/2011

At a meeting in early July 40 plus residents from the New River and Desert Hills area turned out to let Maricopa County Supervisor Chairman Andy Kunasek, who represents District 3, know in no uncertain terms that they are frustrated in their attempts to deal with the county.
Specifically their issues included struggles in obtaining permitting to build on their land,  concerns about ambiguity in the codes, seemingly inconsistent enforcement and all in all a difficult time communicating with county employees.
Just less than two months after their last visit, Kunasek and members of the county staff were back in New River on Aug. 24 at Daisy Mountain Fire Station #141. Once again nearly 50 residents showed up to hear the county’s response.
“We think we’ve come up with some solutions,” he said.
Kunasek offered eight amendments to the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance and the Drainage Regulation of Maricopa County that will be discussed at a public hearing on Sept 15 meeting and voted on by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 19.
The list includes a text amendment to the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance that would change the date of a grandfather clause which currently requires a building or structure to have been built prior to 1969. The proposal would give legal non-conforming status to any building or structure built prior to Jan. 1, 2000.
Among some of the other proposals brought forth were:
• the elimination of a required minimum distance between buildings in the rural and residential zoning districts
• a reduction of the two acre minimum area for farm uses and to establish roadside stands
as accessory uses in Rural zoning districts
• a revision to section 1201 to simplify the application of and enforcement of Hillside Regulations. All disturbances will be relegated to the lot’s buildable area except for driveway, utility and roadway.
While those in attendance were largely supportive of the efforts Don Vance was among those that felt the County didn’t go far enough.
“I’m less optimistic than I’m supposed to be,” Vance said. “I like some of the items that they brought forward, but I have my doubts as to how many of those will be passed.”
Beyond questioning the rationality of what property owners do and do not need permits for there were also stories questioning the county’s inability to deal with issues in a timely manner.
One couple, the Donaldsons, mentioned a 2.5 year process to get a permit for a fence.
The county believes Valerie Beckett, recently tabbed to be an ombudsman for the county, will help residents get through the process of applying for permits in a more timely manner.
Vance said he is in the process of forming a group of residents that would offer some of its own amendments to the county code although he said he didn’t get the impression the group was something the county was interested in dealing with.
One of the issues he is concerned with was new permitting requirements for home based businesses.
“There are 17 different restrictions,” he said. “Some of them make sense, but others are fairly unintelligible. I think that the county is far too controlling. In my opinion if I’m not bothering my neighbors with what I’m doing on
my property than they need
to back off. I think it’s an invasion of my privacy.”
The proposals made by the county can be viewed at Maricopa.gov/planning.
Comments on the proposals can be made by
emailing darrengerard@mail.maricopa.gov.
The county board of supervisors will meet at 9 .m. on Oct. 19. If voted in favor of the proposals would go into effect on Oct. 20. The County Board of Supervisors meet in the Supervisors’ Auditorium, located at 205 West Jefferson St. in Phoenix.