501 North 44
th
St, Suite 200 Phoenix AZ 85008 (602) 506-3301
Plan of Development Process Internet: www.maricopa.gov/planning 10/30/19
Department
PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
INTRODUCTION
All development involving non-residential zoning
districts, two-family or multi-family residential
development in a two-family residential zoning district
or multi-family residential zoning district, or property with
a Unit Plan of Development (UPD), Planned Area
Development (PAD), or Planned Development (PD)
overlay shall be subject to a Plan of Development
(POD) approval as set forth in the provisions of
Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance (MCZO).
GENERAL PROCESS
Obtaining a POD is an administrative approval process
involving a precise site plan, narrative report, and other
supporting documentation (see attached checklist).
Approval of a POD is required before any development
of the property can occur. The use, height, yard, intensity
of use, parking, loading and unloading, and any
additional regulations shall remain the same as specified
in the primary or approved UPD zoning district.
Per MCZO, Section 306, an application and phasing
plan, if proposed, for a POD shall be submitted to the
Planning and Development Department through the
One Stop Shop (OSS) on an official form provided by
the Department. The application shall satisfy the
submittal requirements as well as pertinent regulations
as set forth in the provisions of the MCZO or from other
County departments. The application shall contain
sufficient information for staff to determine whether the
proposal meets the requirements of the County.
A pre-application meeting is recommended.
Please note there is a fundamental difference between
the site plan required for a POD and that required for
subsequent permits. In the case of a POD, the site plan
must convey the conditions that will ultimately exist at
build-out, whereas the site plan submitted for
construction permits may only consider existing
structures and those contemplated by that/those
particular construction permit(s).
ARS §11- 1605
As of September 13, 2013, the Plan of Development
(POD) process shall be subject to ARS §11-1605, a State
statute that mandates establishment of timeframes to
either approve or deny a “license” as defined by the
statute. The full statute may be viewed at:
http://www.azleg.gov/arstitle/
The statute sets up two types of review timeframes:
Administrative and Substantive. The Board of
Supervisors (BOS) through the P-30 Licensing Timeframes
Ordinance, has adopted a 90 (working) day
administrative timeframe and a 180 (working) day
substantive timeframe for PODs. An application related
to a residential use is not subject to the statute. An
application that is part of design build project may
establish negotiated time process during the pre-
application meeting.
Administrative Review Period
The statutes allow for multiple reviews during the
administrative review period.
Substantive Review Period
Only one review is allowed for the substantive review
period. The County can amend the substantive review
comments to address legal requirements not identified
on the original substantive review comments.
The applicant can authorizes a 50% time increase. This
authorization can be given at time of application or at
any time during the process.
After receipt of a POD application, the administrative
review period begins and Planning will review for
administrative completeness. The applicant will receive
a formal response from their assigned planner and may
be required to submit additional information. Once
administrative comments have been given to the
applicant, the timeframe clock will stop and will resume
upon resubmittal of the application materials. Once
the application is deemed administratively complete,
the planner will formally notify the applicant that the
project has entered the substantive review period and
shall set a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) date.
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) REVIEW
After an application is deemed administratively
complete, the assigned planner will set a date for the
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to meet. The TAC is
composed of representatives of the County’s Planning,
Transportation, Drainage Review, Flood Control, Storm
Water Management and Environmental Services
Departments, as well as representatives from any other
County Departments, fire district, school district, City or
Town, homeowner association, or other interested party
that is in close proximity or has jurisdiction over the site. The
owner or authorized agent is required to attend the TAC
meeting.