12/18 Cottonwood and the Planning and Zoning Commission are working on an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance regarding Design Review Guidelines. The city says the changes are necessary due to House Bill 2447, which takes effect December 31-st. Under the bill, the City is required to adopt an ordinance authorizing administrative personnel to review and approve site plans, development plans, land divisions, lot line adjustments, lot ties, preliminary plats, final plats, and plat amendments without a public hearing. They’ll also review and approve design review plans without a public hearing. Public hearings will be held to discuss the changes, starting in January.
The anticipated timeline for the City of Cottonwood’s changes in regards to HB 2447 is as follows:
- January 26, 2026 – Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing of Proposed Test Amendment (Round 1)
- February 23, 2026 – Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing of Proposed Test Amendment (Round 2)
- March 17, 2026 – Council Public Hearing and possible adoption
- April 16, 2026 – Design Standards in effect (30 days after adoption)
Please check the City’s website in mid-January for a draft of the Design Review Standards: cottonwoodaz.gov/157/Community-Development. Comments may be sent to the Planning email inbox at planning@cottonwoodaz.gov.
Members of the public are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in future public hearings, which will now occur at the Planning Level as opposed to the Project Approval level.
