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VISTA 2020 – City of Sierra Vista General Plan
The State of Arizona requires that all cities adopt a comprehensive long-range plan to guide the growth of cities. VISTA 2020, the City of Sierra Vista General Plan, incorporates elements that were adopted by the City as far back as 1965. It also includes several new elements pursuant to state-mandated Growing Smarter requirements. The current plan was approved by the Mayor and City Council in December, 2002, and ratified by the voters in May, 2003.
The General Plan provides a vision and guidance for the orderly growth of the city. It forms the basis for land use and budgeting decisions and should be considered the blueprint under which the city is governed.
The elements included in the General Plan include:
Citizen Participation
Parks and Recreation
Land Use
Public Facilities and Services and Public
Transportation and Circulation
Buildings
Open Space
Housing and Neighborhoods
Growth
Redevelopment
Environmental Planning
Safety
Cost of Development
Economic Development
Water Resources
Arts and Cultural Activities
Conservation
Urban Design
Development Code
The development code is designed to encourage current and future development that provides for the public health, safety and welfare of the city. Besides ensuring there are adequate public facilities and improvements to safely serve the population, the code establishes design standards and guidelines for each zoning district. Copies of the code may be read or purchased at City Hall or at the Sierra Vista Public Library.
Zoning
The city is divided into districts that designate what can and cannot be done in each of them. They have been established in order to regulate the following:
Use of land and buildings;
Size of lots and buildings; and
Location of buildings in relation to open space and other buildings.
The regulations for each district are designed to protect and enhance appropriate development and to prohibit development that would adversely impact the district or adjoining districts. If the rules and regulations of each district are followed, permission to build is granted. The districts are detailed on the official zoning map, which may be obtained at City Hall from the Department of Community Development.
Residential zones
Mobile Home Residence and Recreational Vehicle Zone
Multi-Family Residence Zone
Single-Family Residence Zone
Non-residential zones
Commercial Zoning Districts
Industrial Zoning Districts
Site Plans
When is a site plan necessary?
A site plan is necessary for any building, structure or use to be constructed in any zoning district in the city.
Are there any exemptions?
Yes, developments meeting the following criteria are exempt from submitting a site plan although building permits are still necessary:
1. Single-family residences and accessory buildings constructed in an approved subdivision in a single-family or multi-family district.
2. Mobile home residences and accessory buildings located in an established mobile home or recreational vehicle park.
3. Multi-family residences consisting of less than five units per lot.
4. Modifications to an existing structure as determined by the building administrator.
What information is contained in a site plan submittal?
Eighteen diazo 24" x 36" prints and seven copies of all support documents need to be submitted to the Planning Division of the Community Development Department and should contain the following shown at an appropriate scale:
1. Location sketch with adjacent zoning and land-uses
2. Location and species of existing trees
3. Topography and natural drainage
4. Legal description of parcel to include total area of site
5. Location of all existing and proposed structures
6. Percentage of site covered by structures and impervious surfaces
7. Rights-of-way of all abutting streets and site access
8. Parking and circulation areas
9. Location, dimensions and description of easements
10. Location of all non-vehicular access strips
11. Future land use designation of site
12. Exterior lighting and outdoor play areas, if any
13. Service areas for mail delivery, trash, etc.
14. All existing and proposed utility locations
15. Street/alley rights-of-way to be dedicated
16. Fire hydrant location(s)
Site plan support documents (Some of these may be shown on the site plan if the development is relatively small)
1. Landscape plan
2. Parking plan
3. Building drawings
4. Soil engineering report, if required
5. Site hydrology report, if required
6. Traffic control devices to be installed (if applicable)
7. Proof of ownership and/or proof of agency
8. Development schedule
How long is an approved site plan valid?
If approved by the appropriate decision-making bodies and unless other arrangements are made, the final site plan is valid for one year from the date of approval.
Are there any fees involved in filing a site plan?
Yes, the City Council has established a fee schedule which is available from the Planning Department.
Can a site plan decision be appealed?
If any person feels that the decision made by the Development Review Committee is not appropriate, an appeal can be filed within seven days of the action with the executive secretary of the Planning and Zoning Commission for their decision.
Appeals to be City Council concerning a decision made by the Planning and Zoning Commission may be filed in seven days with the city clerk.
What other actions are required?
Application for a building permit.
Subdivision Plat
When is a subdivision plat necessary?
When any improved or unimproved land is divided:
1. Into four or more lots or tracts for the purpose of financing, selling or leasing them whether immediate or future; or
2. If a new street is involved, any property which is divided into two or more lots, tracts or parcels of land, or
3. Any piece of land whose boundaries have been fixed by recorded plat that is divided into more than two parts; and also includes:
4. Any condominium, cooperative, community apartment, townhouse or similar project containing four (4) or more parcels in which an undivided interest in the land is coupled with the right of exclusive occupancy.
What are the stages involved for a plat to be approved?
1. Pre-application stage: provides the developer/designer the option to discuss with the city staff the proposal before incurring plat submittal fees
2. Development master plan review (not required if re-subdividing)
3. Preliminary plat review
4 . Final plat review
What is included in the Development Master Plan?
The master plan provides general information as to how the development will fit in which the surrounding area, roads, sewers, plans, etc. It should contain:
1. Name of subdivision
2. Ownership and designer information
3. Property features (existing and proposed)
4. Surrounding land uses and streets
5. Preliminary proposals for water, utility and sewage systems
Six copies of this information should be submitted. It is reviewed by the Development Review Committee for basic conformance to the Sierra Vista General Plan and other objectives. If it is approved, a preliminary plat can then be prepared.
How is the Preliminary Plat different from the Master Plan?
The preliminary plat contains much more detailed information than the master plan. 15 copies of the following information are filed with the city clerk along with a fee:
1. Identification data (name of subdivision, designer, owner, scale, location map)
2. Existing and proposed site conditions
3. Soil engineering report
4. Site hydrology
5. Proof of ownership
6. Proof of agency
7. Transportation impact report, to be prepared by the city
Once the preliminary plat is approved by the appropriate entities (see ) the developer can proceed with the final plat and engineering plans. Prior to submission of the final plat, appropriate zoning must be obtained and adhered to.
Final Plat procedures
The final plat should conform closely to the approved preliminary plat and must meet specific medium of presentation requirements. The following items must be submitted to support the final plat. The required number of copies for each item is shown in parentheses.
1. The final plat (20).
2. Proof of Closure calculations from the engineer (1).
3. The final drainage report (3).
4. All improvement plans for street, water, sewer, other utilities and drainage facilities (3).
5. Cost estimates for all proposed improvements (3).
6. Updated title report and proof of ownership (1).
7. Executed Subdivision Agreement (1).
8. Executed Improvement Security Agreement (1).
9. Executed Sewer Extension Agreement (1).
10. Executed Phasing Agreement, if needed (1).
11.Original of any proposed covenants, conditions, or restrictions.
The final plat and support documents are submitted to staff and reviewed by them and the Development Review Committee. It then goes to the City Council for their review and approval and is ready for recording.
What other actions are required?
Application for a building permit.
Floodplain Development Permit: required if construction is planned in any portion of the floodplain (as indicated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map available in the director of engineering's office).
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