You probably don’t notice it, but the zoning ordinance of a town affects the daily lives of its residences and shapes their experience.
It can lay down the character of a town and set it apart. It is the plan to a perfect picture.
It’s why Paradise Valley looks like nowhere else.
But the town’s zoning code has not had an update in a good while. So town staff has worked on updating its zoning code to ensure it is compliant with state law and get rid of any inconsistencies, conflicts or duplications.
The code has had more than 100 amendments since its last big rewrite in 1974, with the last focused update completed in 2005.
At a study session in May, Community Development Director Chad Weaver said while there have been some clean-ups and updates along the way, some code sections are disjointed and dated.
“So I think anyone would understand that over time that many amendments in that much time passage could result in a code that is functional but maybe a little messier than we would like,” he said. “We have a code that has been around for about 50 years with a lot of additions and a lot of changes, and it’s functional — all the items are there and they do it for a reason — but it does cause some problems in terms usability for the applicants, and the builders, and the staff as well.”
Most recently, Paradise Valley council June 12 approved awarding a contract not to exceed $129,510 to consultant Michael Baker International that officials say will add scope to a zoning ordinance analysis completed by the consultant last December, as commissioned by the town.
The 21-page analysis provides a technical review of the ordinance and recommendations for structural and content changes that, the consultant says, will set the direction for a modern zoning ordinance.
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