Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA Monday, November 3, 2025 6:00 PM Sahuarita Town Hall 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita, AZ 85629 In accordance with A.R.S. § 38-431.02, notice is hereby given to the public that the Sahuarita Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a meeting on the date, time, and location specified above. Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission will attend either in person or virtually. To better serve our community, the Sahuarita Council Chambers is wheelchair accessible. Individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting the Town Clerk’s Office at 520-822-8801. Requests should be made no later than three working days prior to the meeting to allow for proper arrangements. All attendees are expected to observe rules of propriety, decorum, and good conduct. Unauthorized comments from the audience, signs, and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in the Sahuarita Council Chambers. Violations may result in being banned from this and future meetings. Please remember to turn off or silence all electronic devices during the meeting. 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call 4. Election of Commission Chairperson and Vice Chairperson Discussion and appointment of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. 5. Approval of Minutes Approval of the June 2, 2025 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting minutes. 6. Public Hearing and Possible Action 6.a Zoning Code Text Amendment to Sahuarita Town Code Chapter 18.05 (SA8-25-00005) Public hearing, presentation, discussion and possible action regarding Zoning Code Text Amendment to Sahuarita Town Code Chapter 18.05 ( Zones, Maps, and Boundaries) 6.b Zoning Code Text Amendment to Sahuarita Town Code Chapter 18.09.020 (SA8-25-00007) Public hearing, presentation, discussion and possible action regarding Zoning Code Text Amendment to Sahuarita Town Code Chapter 18.09.020 related to reasonable accommodations for group care homes. 7. Community Development Director's Report Report from the Anna Casadei, Community Development Director, on current activities. 8. Future Agenda Items Discussion of potential items for future Planning & Zoning Commission meetings.  Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Agenda 9. Adjournment Notice to Parents: Meetings of the Planning & Zoning Commission are recorded. If you allow your child to participate in the meeting, a recording will be made. You have the right to decline consent by not permitting your child to participate. You and your child may also leave the meeting at any time. Page 2 of 17 Planning & Zoning Commission Staff Report COMMISSION MEETING DATE: November 3, 2025 AGENDA ITEM: Election of Commission Chairperson and Vice Chairperson FROM: Nathan Barrett, Community Development Deputy Director BACKGROUND: Sahuarita Town Code Chapter 2.55.040 requires that all standing commissions and boards elect a chairperson in each odd numbered year. The last election of the chairperson of the Planning & Zoning Commission was July 1, 2024, and was necessary because the former chairperson and vice chairperson had resigned. The chairperson and vice chairperson elected at that meeting effectively served out the remainder of those terms. Because 2025 is an odd-numbered year, a new election of a chairperson and vice chairperson is now required to fulfill the Town Code requirements for the upcoming full term. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the commission elect a chairperson and vice chairperson. ATTACHMENTS: None Page 3 of 17 PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Date: June 2, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Sahuarita Town Hall 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita, AZ 85629 Members Present: Commissioner Aaron Escamilla, Commissioner Kevin Rau, Chair Mark Ferguson, Commissioner Lori Brown Members Absent: Vice Chair Daniel Millet _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Ferguson at 6:00 PM. 2. Pledge of Allegiance The Commission and the attending audience led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Roll Call Chair Mark Ferguson confirmed a quorum was present. 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes MOTION was made to approve the minutes as presented. MOVER: Commissioner Kevin Rau SECONDER: Commissioner Lori Brown AYES: (4): Commissioner Aaron Escamilla, Commissioner Kevin Rau, Chair Mark Ferguson, and Commissioner Lori Brown ABSENT: (1): Vice Chair Daniel Millet RESULT: APPROVED (4 to 0) 4.a April 7, 2025 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes June 2, 2025 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3 Page 4 of 17 5. Public Hearing and Possible Action 5.a Public Hearing for a Zoning Code Text Amendment to establish an administrative review process for Temporary Use Permits. Dylan Parry, Senior Planner, presented an overview of the current process and the proposed zoning code text amendment. The amendment introduces an administrative approval process for seven types of temporary uses and includes updated standards for temporary signage. Staff analysis concluded that the changes would streamline the process for minor temporary uses. There was no initial discussion from Commission Members. Chair Ferguson opened the public hearing. No members of the public spoke, and the hearing was subsequently closed. Chair Ferguson asked once more if there were any comments from the Commission. He posed one question, which Community Development Director Anna Casadei addressed. MOTION was made to recommend approval of the proposed zoning code text amendment to the temporary use standards. MOVER: Commissioner Kevin Rau SECONDER: Commissioner Aaron Escamilla AYES: (4): Commissioner Aaron Escamilla, Commissioner Kevin Rau, Chair Mark Ferguson, and Commissioner Lori Brown ABSENT: (1): Vice Chair Daniel Millet RESULT: APPROVED (4 to 0) 6. Presentations 6.a Commission Training—Open Meeting Laws and Best Practices Town Attorney Jon Paladini conducted a training session on the Arizona Open Meeting Law and meeting etiquette. Commission members actively participated and discussed the material throughout. No formal action was taken. 7. Community Development Director's Report Community Development Deputy Director Barrett shared several announcements with the Commission. 8. Future Agenda Items Community Development Deputy Director Barrett shared several agenda items for future Commission meetings. June 2, 2025 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 Page 5 of 17 9. Adjournment The Chair adjourned the meeting at 7:37 PM. June 2, 2025 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3 Page 6 of 17 Planning & Zoning Commission Staff Report COMMISSION MEETING DATE: November 3, 2025 CASE TITLE: Public Hearing, presentation, discussion and possible action regarding Zoning Code Text Amendment to Sahuarita Town Code Chapter 18.05 (Zones, Maps, and Boundaries). CASE NO.: SA8-25-00005 Prepared by: Larry Myers, Assistant Planner Reviewed by: Nathan Barrett, Community Development Deputy Director Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Text Amendment SUBJECT: Public hearing: For a Zoning Code Text Amendment to Sahuarita Town Code Section 18.05 Zones, Maps and Boundaries. LOCATION: Town-wide APPLICANT: Town of Sahuarita PROPOSAL: The proposed amendment updates the list of zoning districts contained in Chapter 18.05 to reflect changes adopted through a previous zoning code text amendment to Chapter 18.12, Ordinance No. 2023-167. This is an administrative, non-substantive update to maintain internal consistency within the Zoning Code. No new regulations, map changes, or rezoning of properties are proposed. BACKGROUND: On September 25, 2023, the Town Council adopted Ordinance No. 2023-167, which comprehensively amended several chapters of the Town’s Zoning Code, including repealing outdated residential zone sections and creating Chapter 18.12 (Rural and Residential Zones). As a result of these changes, Chapter 18.05 (Zones, Maps, and Boundaries) must be updated to accurately reference the current list of active zoning districts and remove those that have been marked as “Reserved.” PUBLIC INPUT: A display notice was published in the Green Valley News on October 19, 2025. As of the date of this report, no public comments have been received. Page 7 of 17  Page 2 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Planning & Zoning Commission forward a recommendation of approval of the Zoning Code Text Amendment to the Town Council. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the zoning code amendment to have the list of zones correctly reflect the changes made through the residential zones text amendment that was adopted with Town of Sahuarita Ordinance No. 2023-167. This amendment updates Chapter 18.05 to reflect the Town’s current zoning framework and enhances the accuracy and usability of the zoning code. REQUIRED ACTION: Conduct a public hearing to determine if this code amendment is in the best interest of the Town. RECOMMENDED MOTION: “I move to forward a recommendation of approval of Zoning Code Amendment SA8-25-00005 to the Town Council.” ATTACHMENTS: 1. Red line copy of proposed code amendment changes 2. Ordinance No. 2023-167 (for reference) Page 8 of 17  Chapter 18.05 ZONES, MAPS AND BOUNDARIES Sections: 18.05.010 Zones. 18.05.020 Maps. 18.05.030 Determination of boundaries. 18.05.010 Zones. A. Establishment. For the purpose of this code, the following types of zones are hereby established: 1. Rural: RH Rural Homestead Zone; GR- Rural Residential Zone; 1 SR Suburban Ranch Zone; SR- Suburban Ranch 2 Estate Zone; SH Suburban Homestead Zone; 2. Residential: TH Trailer Homesite Zone; R-1 Single Residence Zone; R-2 Single Residence Zone; R-3 Single Residence Zone; R-4 Mixed-Dwelling Type Zone; R-5 Multiple Residence Zone; Page 9 of 17  MH- Manufactured and 1 Mobile Home-1 Zone; MH- Manufactured and 2 Mobile Home-2 Zone; 3. Businesses: MR Major Resort Zone; NC Neighborhood Commercial Zone; B-1 Local Business Zone; B-2 General Business Zone; MX Mixed-Use Zone; 4. Industrial: CPI Campus Park Industrial Zone; I-1 Light Industrial/Warehousing Zone; I-2 General Industrial Zone; 5. Overlay: AE Airport Environs and Facilities; GC Golf Course Zone; 6. Specific plan zones. B. Restrictiveness. The following zones are given the following values, from most to least restrictive: 1. GC Golf Course Zone; SR Suburban Ranch Zone; 2. RH Rural Homestead Zone; SR-2 Suburban Ranch Estate Zone; 3. R-1 Single Residence Zone; 4. GR-1 Rural Residential Zone; Page 10 of 17 5. R-2 Single Residence Zone; 6. R-3 Single Residence Zone; 7. SH Suburban Homestead Zone; 8. R-4 Mixed-Dwelling Type Zone; 9. R-5 Multiple Residence Zone; 10. MH-1 Manufactured and Mobile Home-1 Zone; 11. MH-2 Manufactured and Mobile Home-2 Zone; 12. TH Trailer Homesite Zone; 13. MR Major Resort Zone; 14. NC Neighborhood Commercial Zone; 15. MX Mixed-Use Zone; B-1 Local Business Zone; 16. B-2 General Business Zone; 17. CPI Campus Park Industrial Zone; 18. I-1 Light Industrial/Warehousing Zone; 19. I-2 General Industrial Zone. C. Zones without Values of Restriction. The following zones are not given values of restrictiveness: 1. AE Airport Environs and Facilities; 2. SP Specific Plan Zones. [Ord. 2015-105 § 1; Ord. 2011-048 § 1; Ord. 1995-06 § 2.] Page 11 of 17 Page 12 of 17 Page 13 of 17 Page 14 of 17 7 -0 all Page 15 of 17 Planning & Zoning Commission Staff Report COMMISSION MEETING DATE: November 3, 2025 CASE TITLE: Public hearing, presentation and discussion of Zoning Code Text Amendment to Sahuarita Town Code Chapter 18.09.020 related to reasonable accommodations for group care homes. Case No. SA8-25-00007 Prepared by: Anna Casadei, AICP, Community Development Director Reviewed by: Nathan Barrett, Community Development Deputy Director Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Commission forward a recommendation of approval to the Town Council. SUBJECT: Public Hearing: Discussion and possible action - Zoning Code Text Amendment to STC 18.09.020 related to reasonable accommodations for group care homes LOCATION: Town-wide APPLICANT: Town of Sahuarita PROPOSAL: Staff proposes to amend STC 18.09.020, Group Care Homes, to formalize a procedure by which operators of Group Care Homes may apply for “reasonable accommodations” – minor deviations from the applicable standards to make housing for individuals with disabilities more feasible. This amendment brings our town code into compliance with Senate Bill 1308 (attached) as well as the federal Fair Housing Act. BACKGROUND: This code amendment was prepared in response to Senate Bill 1308, which was signed into law this year. SB 1308 mandates that if a municipality has a zoning ordinance that restricts the distance between sober living homes, the municipality shall establish a procedure by which a deviation from the requirement may be granted as a reasonable accommodation. In the Town of Sahuarita Zoning Code, sober living homes fall within the definition of Group Care Homes. “Group care home means a licensed home suitable for accommodating more than six, and no more than 10 adults or minor children who require special care for physical, mental, or developmental disabilities.” The proposed amendment formalizes the required procedure to allow Group Care Home operators to apply for minor deviations from the zoning code requirements. This ensures equal housing opportunity for individuals with disabilities in recovery, as required by SB 1308 and the federal Fair Housing Act. Page 16 of 17 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Commission forward a recommendation of approval to the Town Council. REQUIRED ACTION: Conduct a public hearing to determine whether this proposed zoning code text amendment is in the best interest of the Town of Sahuarita. Forward a recommendation to the Town Council. RECOMMENDED MOTION: “I move to forward a recommendation of approval of Zoning Code Amendment SA8-25-00007 to the Town Council.” ATTACHMENTS: 1. STC 18.09.020 Redlines 2. SB 1308 Page 17 of 17