1. Preserve agricultural and resource conservation areas while providing opportunities for rural living;

2. Protect, preserve, and enhance agricultural resources and related activities from incompatible land uses and encroachment;

3. Provide large-lot, low-density residential buffers adjacent to agricultural lands, and to provide an alternative to medium-density conventional production residential development; and

4. Encourage limited development in rural areas until suitable infrastructure and subarea plans are in place to facilitate development in a manner consistent with the general plan.

1. RA Rural Agricultural. This district is intended to provide for agricultural areas within the city and to protect and conserve these areas within and adjacent to urban development. The main use of this district is for animal and food production, in terms of growing, processing, and selling. Incidental residential uses with septic systems may be allowed and are subject to Pinal County review and approval.

2. GR General Rural. This district is intended to prevent urban residential and related uses from developing near agricultural operations, thereby infringing on the full operation of farmland. Allowable uses include environmental, habitat, water conveyance, as well as limited agriculture and livestock, and necessary supportive uses such as minor agricultural processing, but not uses that have the potential to create obnoxious noise, odor, etc. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 201.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. The maximum height within 40 feet of an RS District is 25 feet.

2. The minimum building setback from a residential district boundary shall be 20 feet.

1. RS-1 Low Density Residential. This district is intended to provide a transitional use between rural zoning districts and medium density residential districts. This district includes areas for single residence development that includes single-unit detached and attached housing on lots of at least 12,000 square feet, subject to design and development standards to ensure land use compatibility. This district also allows for parks, group and residential care homes, family day care, park and recreation facilities, and educational facilities.

2. RS-3 Medium Density Residential. This district is intended to provide areas for medium density residential neighborhoods. Housing types include single-unit detached and attached housing on lots of at least 9,000 square feet. In addition to single-unit homes, this district provides for uses such as parks and child care in homes that are appropriate in a residential environment. Clustered development, to allow somewhat smaller lot development, is also allowed, provided the overall average gross density is maintained.

3. RS-4 Medium Density Residential. This district is intended to provide areas for medium density residential neighborhoods. Housing types include single-unit detached and attached housing on lots of at least 7,000 square feet. In addition to single-unit homes, this district provides for uses such as parks and child care in homes that are appropriate in a residential environment. Clustered development, to allow somewhat smaller lot development, is also allowed, provided the overall average gross density is maintained.

4. RS-5 Medium Density Residential. This district is intended to provide areas for medium density residential neighborhoods. Housing types include single-unit detached and attached housing generally on lots of at least 5,000 square feet. Up to 25 percent of the lots in a subdivision may be below the minimum lot size, but no lot shall be less than 4,500 square feet. In addition to single-unit homes, this district provides for uses such as parks and child care in homes that are appropriate in a residential environment.

5. RM Multiple Unit Residential. This district is intended for a variety of housing types on lots of varying sizes, subject to overall general plan density standards (six to 12 units per net acre), with provisions for small-lot development subject to standards for clustering and open space. Types of dwelling units that are appropriate include small-lot single residences, townhouses, condominiums, cluster housing, and multiple residence housing. This district also provides for assisted living and transitional supportive housing, day care centers, park and recreation facilities, limited and small-scale residential support activities, educational facilities, and community and religious facilities that can be appropriate in a residential environment.

6. RH High Density Residential. This district is intended for a variety of housing types on lots of varying sizes, subject to overall general plan density standards (12 to 24 units per net acre). The density range and development standards accommodate attached single residences, townhomes, condominiums, garden apartments and multi-unit buildings developed at a scale and form that is appropriate to its neighborhood context and adjacent single-unit residential uses and forms. In addition to residential uses, this district allows for a limited number of public and semi-public uses such as day care centers, public safety facilities, and assisted living and transitional supportive housing that are appropriate in a high density multi-unit environment.

7. RMHP Residential Manufactured Home Park. This district is intended to provide seasonal or permanent housing where residence is exclusively in manufactured home use, taking into consideration existing conditions including present use of land, future land use needs, and the availability of infrastructure. It is intended that mobile home parks meet design standards and be provided with necessary community services in a setting that provides a high quality of life for residents. This district should be located in areas where they will be compatible with adjacent land uses. [Res. 22-12; Ord. 22-03 § 2; Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 202.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. Access. Cluster subdivisions may use public streets or private accessways to provide vehicular access to each cluster. Private accessways shall meet the minimum city standards for public streets in terms of engineering and design standards and construction materials. Private accessways shall be maintained by a homeowners’ association.

2. Shared Driveways. Cluster subdivisions may use shared driveways to provide access to each unit in the cluster. Shared driveways shall have a minimum width of 24 feet at the intersection with public streets or private accessways and may transition to a minimum width of 20 feet within each cluster, and shall be maintained by a homeowners’ association.

3. Required Parking. Cluster subdivisions shall provide a minimum of three parking spaces for each unit in the cluster, with at least one space per unit being nonexclusive and located within 150 feet of the dwelling unit the space is intended to serve.

4. Additional Parking. If additional parking is provided internal to the cluster, driveways to accommodate such parking should be a minimum of 18 feet long and a minimum eight feet wide per garage bay. If the garage door of any unit faces a private accessway or public street serving other clusters in the subdivision, then a minimum of 18 feet must be provided between the back of sidewalk (or curb, if no sidewalk) to the face of the garage door.

5. Minimum Maneuvering Space. Each dwelling unit driveway in the cluster shall be designed such that each driver backing a large-size passenger vehicle out of the driveway can maneuver with one turning movement in order to exit the cluster, and vehicles entering a garage can drive into the garage without having to back up. Driveways for 60 percent of the units in each cluster shall be designed such that a large-size vehicle may back out with one turning movement in order to exit the cluster without backing into the public street or private accessway.

6. Drainage. Surface water drainage shall not be allowed to pass from one cluster to another over the shared driveway of another cluster. Surface water drainage from individual clusters, however, may pass over the driveway for that respective cluster, but not from lot to lot unless located within a drainage easement.

7. Building and Entrance Design.

8. Additional Landscaping Required. A clustered development shall provide 25 percent more landscaping than required by MCC Title 17, Subdivisions, for standard size lots, which may be in common areas, landscaped right-of-way, trails, or other open space. [Res. 22-12; Ord. 22-03 § 2; Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 202.03; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. The maximum height within 30 feet of an RS District is 30 feet. From this point, the building height may be increased one foot for each additional foot of upper story building setback to the maximum building height.

2. The building setback from an RS District boundary shall be 15 feet for interior side yards and 20 feet for rear yards.

1. Projections or Recesses. All street-facing facades have at least one horizontal or vertical projection or recess at least four feet in depth, or two projections or recesses at least two and one-half feet in depth, for every 25 horizontal feet of wall. If located on a building with two or more stories, the articulated elements should be greater than one story in height, and may be grouped rather than evenly spaced in 25-foot modules. Building entrances, front porches, and projections into required yards such as stoops, bays, overhangs, fireplaces, and trellises count towards this requirement. Alternative designs that create a welcoming entry feature facing the street, such as trellis or landscaped courtyard entry, may be approved by the zoning administrator.

2. Variable Roof Form. Variable roof forms shall be incorporated into the building design, and no more than two side-by-side units may be covered by one unarticulated roof. Articulations may be accomplished by changing roof height, offsets, and direction of slope, and by introducing elements such as dormers, towers, or parapets.

1. Orientation. All units located along public rights-of-way must have the primary entrance facing this right-of-way. Exceptions to this requirement may be approved by the zoning administrator for projects where multiple-unit housing is located on streets carrying high traffic volumes and/or streets that do not allow on-street parking. In such cases, the project shall be oriented around courtyards.

2. Dwelling Unit Access. Exterior entrances to units shall be in a form of individual or shared entrances at the ground floor of the building. Unit entrances above the ground floor are also permitted; however, on any single floor no exterior access corridor located above the ground floor may provide access to five or more units.

1. Underground and Partially Submerged Parking. Parking completely or partially underground shall match the setbacks of the main structure. The maximum height of a parking podium visible from a street is five feet from finished grade.

2. Surface and Structure Parking. Surface and aboveground structure parking may be located within 40 feet of a street-facing lot line with the approval of a conditional use permit when all of following findings can be made:

1. Minimum Dimensions.

2. Minimum Area Required – Private Open Space.

3. Credit Toward Open Space Requirement for High Density Residential Subdivision. Each square foot of private and common outdoor living area provided in a high density residential subdivision shall count as 10 feet of open space for purposes of determining compliance with the “open space equivalent” requirement for these subdivisions. This credit also applies to high density projects not subject to the subdivision process.

1. Walkways shall be a minimum of six feet wide, hard-surfaced, and paved with concrete, stone, tile, brick, or comparable material.

2. Where a required walkway crosses driveways, parking areas, or loading areas, it must be clearly identifiable through the use of a raised crosswalk, a different paving material, or similar method.

3. Where a required walkway is parallel and adjacent to an auto travel lane, it must be raised or separated from the auto travel lane by a raised curb, bollards, or other physical barrier.

1. NC Neighborhood Commercial. This district is intended to provide areas for locally oriented retail and service uses that serve the surrounding residential trade area within one-half-mile to one-mile radius. Typical uses include, but are not limited to, retail stores, small grocery and drug stores, specialty food sales and services, restaurants and cafes, neighborhood dry cleaners, personal services (e.g., laundries, barbers, hair and nail salons, fitness studios), small gas stations, and convenience stores. Other compatible uses include small-scale medical and professional offices as well as public and semi-public uses. Large-format retail stores, greater than 40,000 gross square feet for a single user, and shopping centers are not appropriate in this district.

2. GC General Commercial. This district is intended to provide retail and service-oriented businesses that serve a large surrounding residential trade area within a one- to five-mile radius. Examples of allowable uses include but are not limited to animal sales, care, and services; automobile servicing; building materials; storage facilities with active storefronts; equipment rental; wholesale businesses; and specialized retail and service uses not normally found in shopping centers.

3. GO General Office. This district is intended to enhance employment opportunities and the overall economic vitality of Maricopa as well as to promote attractive development and ensure minimal impacts on surrounding development. It is intended for low- to medium-intensity office and medical center development located along thoroughfares, arterials, or collectors, or near existing/planned public transit stops. This district also allows supporting services such as banks, clinics, lodging, small-scale retail, service, or restaurant uses developed in conjunction with office use.

4. SC Shopping Center. This district is intended to meet local and regional retail demand, such as large-scale retail, office, civic and entertainment uses, shopping malls with large footprints, “big-box” retail use, and other uses that are not appropriate in other areas because of higher volumes of vehicle traffic and potential impacts on other uses. Typical uses include but are not limited to grocery store and anchored tenant shopping centers with additional drug stores, fast food chains, smaller hardware and building supply stores, gas stations with convenience stores, and restaurants and cafes. Other compatible uses include medical and professional offices as well as public and semi-public uses. The focus of district development standards is to ensure that structures complement the surrounding development pattern. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 203.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. Exception for Structured Parking Facilities. Multi-level parking garages, where permitted, are not required to meet the ground-floor transparency requirement.

2. Sites with Multiple Buildings. On sites that contain multiple buildings, the building ground-floor transparency requirement does not need to be met along street-facing facades of buildings that are located behind other buildings and not visible from the adjacent public street.

3. Reduction through Development Review Permit. The building opacity requirement may be reduced or waived by the zoning administrator, if it is found that:

1. Minimum Dimensions. The minimum horizontal dimension for a deck or balcony is six feet and the minimum dimension for a common area for outdoor living, such as a roof deck, is 10 feet.

2. Common Areas – Shared Open Space. Common areas shall be accessible to residents, open to the sky, and not include any ground-level area required for front or corner side setbacks.

3. Averaging Allowed. The amount of outdoor living area provided for individual units may vary, based on unit size and location within a project, as long as the average area per unit meets the applicable standard.

1. Walkways shall be a minimum of six feet wide, hard-surfaced, and paved with concrete, stone, tile, brick, or comparable material.

2. Where a required walkway crosses driveways, parking areas, or loading areas, it must be clearly identifiable through the use of a raised crosswalk, a different paving material, or similar method.

3. Where a required walkway is parallel and adjacent to an auto travel lane, it must be raised or separated from the auto travel lane by a raised curb, bollards, or other physical barrier.

1. The maximum height is 30 feet within 40 feet of a residential district. From these points, the building height may be increased one foot for each additional foot of upper-story building setback to the maximum building height.

2. The minimum building setback shall be 25 feet from a residential district boundary.

3. Adjoining an RS District, a minimum 25-foot landscaped setback shall be provided, free from parking and other encroachments.

1. MU-N Neighborhood Mixed Use. This district is intended to facilitate the transformation of sections of city roadways into vibrant, highly walkable areas with broad, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, trees, landscaping, and local-serving uses with new buildings that step down in relationship to the scale and character of adjacent low density neighborhoods. Development is expected to include ground-floor neighborhood-serving businesses and upper-level housing or offices. Allowable ground-floor uses include active, neighborhood-serving retail, services, and open spaces, such as plazas.

2. MU-G General Mixed Use. This district is intended to allow for either horizontal or vertical mixed use development along key circulation corridors in the city where height and density can be easily accommodated. Ground-floor retail and upper-floor residential or offices are the primary uses, with retail, personal and business services, and public and institutional space as supportive uses. These districts are intended to become vibrant, highly walkable areas with broad, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, trees, landscaping, and local-serving uses with new buildings that step down in relationship to the scale and character of adjacent neighborhoods. Automotive-oriented uses are not permitted. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 204.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. Location. Outdoor retail sales and merchandise displays shall not obstruct ingress and egress to a building, obstruct fire lanes, interfere with vehicular circulation or sight distance, or be located in landscaped areas. Outdoor retail sales and merchandise display areas shall be adjacent to the structure containing the business selling the merchandise.

2. Maximum Area. Outdoor retail sales and merchandise displays shall not exceed five percent of the total gross floor area of the business, or 200 square feet, whichever is less.

3. Height. Display merchandise shall not exceed a height of six feet above finished grade.

1. Car-share or electric car facilities;

2. Additional public gathering space or contribution to a city parks fund supporting new or improved public parks within walking distance;

3. Provision of Off-Site Improvements. This may include off-site amenities and/or infrastructure (other than standard requirements and improvements) such as pedestrian or right-of-way improvements, public safety facilities, libraries, senior centers, community meeting rooms, or child care; and

4. Provision of green roofs, solar panels, and other green building measures.

1. For any wall containing living room or other primary room windows, a setback of at least 15 feet shall be provided.

2. For any wall containing sleeping room windows, a setback of at least 10 feet shall be provided.

3. For all other walls containing windows, a setback of at least five feet shall be provided.

1. Corner Properties. Where a property fronts on two or more streets, the maximum setback shall be met according to the following provisions:

2. Sites with More than One Building. Where there is more than one building on a site, the maximum setback standard must be met for at least 50 percent of the combined ground-level, street-facing facades of all buildings.

3. Building Additions. For any addition to a building that increases the width of a street-facing facade, 100 percent of the addition must be located on or within the maximum setback until the maximum setback standard for the entire building is met, or as otherwise recommended by the zoning administrator to meet the intent of this code.

4. Exceptions to Building Placement Requirements. The following exceptions to the build-to requirement are permitted:

1. Minimum Dimensions.

2. Minimum Area Required – Private Open Space.

1. Area. Five percent of the gross floor area of the use or 200 square feet, whichever is less.

2. Hours. Outdoor storage during business hours only.

1. The maximum height within 30 feet of an RS District is 30 feet. From this point, the building height may be increased one foot for each additional foot of upper-story building setback to the maximum building height.

2. The building setback from an RS District boundary shall be 25 feet for interior side and rear yards.

1. Exception for Structured Parking Facilities. Multi-level parking garages, where permitted, are not required to meet the ground-floor transparency requirement.

2. Sites with Multiple Buildings. On sites that contain multiple buildings, the building ground-floor transparency requirement does not need to be met along street-facing facades of buildings that are located behind other buildings and not visible from the adjacent public street.

3. Reduction through Development Plan Review. The transparency requirement may be reduced or waived by the zoning administrator upon finding that:

1. Walkways shall be a minimum of six feet wide, hard-surfaced, and paved with concrete, stone, tile, brick, or comparable material.

2. Where a required walkway crosses driveways, parking areas, or loading areas, it must be clearly identifiable through the use of a raised crosswalk, a different paving material, or similar method.

3. Where a required walkway is parallel and adjacent to an auto travel lane, it must be raised or separated from the auto travel lane by a raised curb, bollards, or other physical barrier. [Res. 22-12; Ord. 22-03 § 2; Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Ord. 18-14 § 1; Res. 14-36 § 204.03; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. LI Light Industrial. This district is intended to accommodate a diverse range of existing industrial uses that provide a job base and affordable space for small-scale industrial and manufacturing businesses. Allowable land uses within this district include light industrial uses, including but not limited to businesses engaged in design, development, manufacturing, fabricating, testing, or assembly of various products, which provide important community services and employment for workers with various skills. This district also allows general service, research and development, biotechnology, warehousing, and service commercial uses. It includes industrial complexes, flex space, and industrial buildings for single and multiple uses, warehouses, mini-storage, wholesale, commercial recreation, and other related uses. Small-scale retail and ancillary office uses are also permitted.

2. GI General Industrial. This district is intended to accommodate the broadest range of industrial uses on sites identified as “Employment” in the general plan. These intensive uses include but are not limited to manufacturing, processing, assembly, research, wholesale, storage, and distribution activities that are essential to a balanced economic base. Small-scale commercial services and ancillary office uses are also permitted.

3. IP Industrial Park. This district is intended to provide for office and advanced technology uses, scientific research, and limited manufacturing of related products which require large expanses of floor area on large parcels. Development intensity is intended to provide for office uses and other uses within a campus-like environment that will be compatible with abutting residential neighborhoods, especially in terms of scale and building mass. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 205.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. The maximum height within 40 feet of a residential district is 30 feet. From this point, the building height may be increased one foot for each additional foot of upper story building setback to the maximum building height.

2. The minimum building setback from a residential district boundary shall be 40 feet.

3. There shall be a minimum 40-foot landscape buffer from any residential district lot line.

1. OS-PR Parks and Recreation Open Space. This district is intended for developed and undeveloped park lands and permanent recreation open spaces in the community. This district may include trails and other low impact public recreational uses to implement the city’s parks, trails and open space master plan. Access may be restricted to areas of sensitive habitat or which pose a danger to the public.

2. OS-POS Privately Owned Open Space. This district is for privately owned parkland and privately owned recreational open space. Uses allowed include parks and recreational facilities and supporting commercial and entertainment facilities and agricultural and other open space uses.

3. OS-C Conservation Open Space. This district is intended for permanent open spaces in the community, including environmentally sensitive lands and wildlife corridors, waterways, and deserts. It is also intended to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the people by limiting development in areas where police and fire services, protection against flooding by storm water, and mitigation of excessive erosion are not possible without excessive costs to the community.

4. PI Public-Institutional. This district is for public or quasi-public facilities, including but not limited to city facilities, utilities, schools (including but not limited to colleges and trade schools), health services, public works yards, utility stations, telecommunications facilities, and similar uses. Accessory retail uses and services, including food facilities and childcare, are permitted. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 206.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. The maximum height within 40 feet of a residential district is 30 feet. From this point, the building height may be increased one foot for each additional foot of upper story building setback to the maximum building height.

2. The minimum building setback from a residential district boundary shall be 25 feet. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 206.03; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]

1. Any PAD less than 10 acres shall be for land uses other than conventional detached single-family.

1. Nonresidential development should seek to relate, both visually and functionally, with the surrounding neighborhood including providing diversity of land uses, varieties of character and multi-modal connectivity.

2. If the proposed development departs from the community character of surrounding uses, the city may require additional buffering, landscape or setbacks, not to exceed similar zoning requirements, so that it will not be detrimental to adjacent properties.

1. The setback on the adjacent lot must be either zero feet or five feet with an aggregate of 10 feet or greater.

2. The opposite side yard of no less than 10 feet must be kept perpetually free of permanent obstructions such as a storage shed or fence without a gate.

3. Similar zero lot line exceptions can be made for the rear yard for detached garages, but not for both the side and rear yards of the same lot.

1. Permitted uses shall be established by the approved PAD plan. Land uses within a PAD District must be consistent with the General Land Use Plan, land use category definitions, and policies of the Maricopa general plan.

2. No use other than the uses called out within a PAD District shall be permitted and any use not listed within the PAD is considered a nonpermitted use. Adding a new permitted use shall be reviewed administratively for meeting the intent of the PAD or shall go through the PAD amendment process as determined by the zoning administrator.

1. In considering a proposed PAD, the commission and/or city council, with recommendation by the zoning administrator, may approve modifications of these provisions. Justification for such modification shall be supplied by the applicant in written form as part of the application submittal. [Res. 22-37; Ord. 22-18 § 2; Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 20-31; Ord. 20-11 §2(207.07). Formerly 18.60.040.]