County May Abandon Ambitious Zoning Over Community Pushback

As spring approaches, Pinal County is making headlines for its proposed zoning code updates, a significant revision that hasn’t occurred since 2012.

Pinal County Development Services has initiated modifications aimed at modernizing zoning regulations impacting unincorporated communities like Hidden Valley and Thunderbird Farms. However, the future of these changes hangs in the balance as local opposition mounts.

Residents have expressed strong disapproval, particularly regarding specific regulations that govern animal keeping. For instance, while zoning allows for one pig per acre, it imposes a cap of three pigs regardless of land size. Similarly, horse ownership restrictions permit two horses for the first acre and then one for every half-acre afterward, a policy that many feel undermines their rural living aspirations.

Maricopa’s new county supervisor, Rich Vitiello, highlighted these concerns, noting that criticisms emphasized a disconnect between the zoning proposals and the desires of the community. “People choose unincorporated areas for a rural lifestyle, and these rules need reevaluation,” he stated.

The discontent has led to the creation of a Facebook group where residents share concerns and organize protests against the proposed measures. As tensions escalated, Supervisor Chairman Mike Goodman acknowledged the feedback, announcing plans to revisit the proposed code during the upcoming board meeting. “We heard the citizens loud and clear. I’ll put it on the agenda for Wednesday and we will start over,” he affirmed.

Goodman expressed a desire for rules that better accommodate residents, aiming to ensure the new zoning code aligns with community needs. Vitiello echoed this sentiment, advocating for an approach that listens to the will of the people before moving forward.