A.R.S Section 9-461.07
Administration of the
General Plan
A. After the municipal
legislative body has
adopted a general plan,
or amendment thereto,
the planning agency
shall undertake the
following actions to
encourage effectuation
of the plan:
1. Investigate and make
recommendations to the
legislative body upon
reasonable and practical
means for putting into
effect the general plan
or part thereof in order
that it will serve as a
pattern and guide for the
orderly growth and
development of the
municipality and as a
basis for the efficient
expenditure of its funds
relating to the subjects
of the general plan. The
measures
recommended may
include plans,
regulations, financial
reports and capital
budgets.
2. Render an annual
report to the legislative
body on the status of the
plan and progress in its
application.
3. Endeavor to promote
public interest in and
understanding of the
general plan and
regulations relating to it.
4. Consult and advise
with public officials and
agencies, public utility
companies, civic,
educational,
professional and other
organizations and
citizens generally with
relation to carrying out
the general plan.

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13 – IMPLEMENTATION &
ADMINISTRATION
The General Plan provides comprehensive direction for the growth and
development of the City of Yuma. The plan is intended to be both long
range and visionary and to provide guidance for actions to be taken in
the next ten years. Essentially, the General Plan provides policy for
more detailed decisions.
Implementation and administration of the General Plan is authorized
within state statutes. The roles and responsibilities of the Planning
Agency and the Planning Commission are noted in those statutes and
within the City of Yuma Zoning Code. Administration of the Plan is
focused on the nuts and bolts of update and maintenance - when and
how to make revisions, the level of public participation and the timing of
the updates. Implementation of the plan is focused on how to meet the
Goals and accomplish the Objectives identified within each element.
Implementation is only possible if there are available resources. These
include funding, staff and public as well as municipal support.
This final chapter of the General Plan will review the authorized
implementation and administration methods found in the state statutes
as well as methods adopted by the City of Yuma.

IMPLEMENTATION
Planning Agency – State Law authorizes the Planning Agency with the
administration of the General Plan. The City Council designated the
Department of Community Development as the Planning Agency for the
City of Yuma (O2001-57, July 3, 2001). As such, the Department of
Community Development is responsible for developing and maintaining
the general plan, promoting public interest and understanding of the
plan, developing specific plans, reviewing the capital improvement
program for conformance with the general plan and other planning
functions. Additionally, the Planning Agency is responsible for reviewing
and determining conformance for municipal property acquisition and
disposition and producing an annual report on the status of the plan and
progress in its application. The annual report will identify the
implementation status of the plan.
General Plan Conformance – State Law requires that all zoning and
rezoning actions shall be consistent with and conform to the adopted
general plan. Further clarification is provided in that a rezoning
ordinance conforms with the land use element of the general plan if it
proposes land uses, densities or intensities within the range of identified
uses, densities and intensities of the land use element. As a result of
this requirement, the City of Yuma has developed a Zoning Conformity

City of Yuma 2012 General Plan

IMPLEMENTATION

Matrix. The matrix identifies which zoning districts are allowed and in
conformance with the land use designations of the General Plan. This
matrix can be found on page 13-7.
Implementation of each zoning district should allow densities no greater
than or less than those identified in the General Plan Land Use
Category. General Plan Land Use densities should be applied as a
gross acreage to each specific development. The matrix is a tool for the
application of appropriate zoning in each General Plan Land Use
designation. The Matrix does not take precedence over the listing of
allowed and permitted uses identified in the Zoning Districts and Overlay
Zones of the Zoning Code.
Planning Commission - The Planning and Zoning Commission plays a
significant role in developing and maintaining the General Plan and
through the review and recommendation of development actions as well
as capital improvement programs, the Commission can directly influence
conformance to the General Plan. Created by the City Council nearly 50
years ago, the duties of the Commission are identified in state law and
occur in a number of ways:
ƒ Through the development and amendment of the General Plan,
the Planning Commission is acting in their role as appointed
citizens to assure that the plan developed will provide for
sustainable development and meets the long as well as short term
needs of the community. The Commission is involved in
workgroups focused on specific items of the plan and through the
public hearing process develops a formal recommendation to the
City Council on the General Plan.
ƒ Prior to adoption by City Council, all rezoning and subdivision
proposals, are referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission
for public hearings and formal recommendations to the City
Council. At this point in time the commission has the opportunity
to review these actions in light of meeting the goals, objectives
and policies of the General Plan. For example, will the subdivision
retention basin meet the size and facility need for a neighborhood
park?
ƒ The Commission makes recommendations to changes in land use
regulations. The Commission forms study groups and holds
public hearings about changes to the subdivision regulations,
zoning code, sign code and other similar local laws governing the
development of land in Yuma. The Commission makes
recommendations to the City Council about all such changes.
ƒ And lastly, through the annual review and recommendation to
Council on the Capital Improvement Program, the Commission
reviews the project lists to determine if they are in conformance
with the General Plan. For example, are water lines being
extended to areas that are intended for urban development?

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City of Yuma 2012 General Plan

IMPLEMENTATION

City Council – The City Council is the primary authority for
implementation of the General Plan. Through annual budget adoption,
adoption of policy, approval of land use actions and the review and
adoption of the Capital Improvement Program, the City Council sets the
course for and is directly involved in the development of the City. Found
within the annual budget and the Capital Improvement Program are
specific projects that implement the Action Plans of the General Plan.
Examples include: the construction of roadways and bike paths, the
development of parks and the budgeting of staff and the allocation of
funds for the development of needed plans and programs.
Citizens – The citizens of Yuma participate in the implementation of the
General Plan in a number of ways: workgroup participation, as
commission and board members, commerce, industry and construction of
the built environment and finally through Voter Ratification. The City of
Yuma regularly involves citizen workgroups, made up of individuals with
an interest in the particular proposal, to review, modify and bring forward
development requirements or opportunities for Council consideration.
The City will continue this successful strategy with general plan action
items that would modify any code or development requirements. All
changes to codes and development requirements will require action of the
City Council by ordinance.

ADMINISTRATION
Although extensive efforts and time are put into developing a General
Plan, following adoption occasions will arise that will require an
amendment to the plan. These primarily take three forms: as needed
updates to elements of the General Plan, the decennial comprehensive
update of the Plan and amendments to the land use map of the Land Use
Element.
Element Update - Any number of factors could prompt the update to an
element of the General Plan. New population numbers from the
decennial or mid-decade Census could have a significant effect on
transportation and utility planning. New regulations, such as the addition
of new elements, could also prompt an update of the Plan. These types
of amendments follow the standard process for legislative update and
may include the involvement of workgroups and multiple public hearings
prior to adoption. The scope of citizen participation will be dependent on
the scope of the element. For example, an update of the Parks,
Recreation and Open Space Element is likely to appeal to a broad range
of citizens versus an update to the Public Services Element, which may
interest only the development community.
Decennial Update – The second method through which the General Plan
is amended is at the time of the comprehensive decennial update. State
Law has mandated that cities, counties and towns update their General
Plan every ten years. Following this update, the plan must be ratified by
the voters at a general election.

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City of Yuma 2012 General Plan

IMPLEMENTATION

Land Use Map Amendments - The third type of update involves an
amendment to the land use map of the Land Use Element. The land use
map is a section of the General Plan that is the most sensitive to
changing economic conditions and expectations. At the time of adoption,
the Land Use Element provided a vision of development into the future
based on the development in place, the needs of the community and the
desires of property owners. It has been found that over time, visions
change and new opportunities arise. Amendments have and will need to
occur. Amendments to the Land Use Element are required in any
situation where a proposed rezoning is not in conformance to the adopted
general plan land use map.
Due to additional state mandated requirements for public review by type
of amendment, it is necessary to determine the level of impact, major
versus minor, the amendment will cause. The Arizona Revised Statutes
define Major Amendments as (Section 9-461.06 Sub Section H):
A substantial alteration of the municipality’s land use mixture or
balance as established in the agency’s general plan land use
element. The agency’s general plan shall define the criteria to
determine if a proposed amendment to the plan effects a substantial
alteration.
Amendments to the Land Use Element will be reviewed in light of the
effect on the City’s ability to provide a balance of land uses to meet the
needs of the community and the effect on the mix of land uses in relation
to each other and to their location within Yuma’s geographic area. In
situations where the public agency is faced with numerous minor
amendments to adjacent geographic areas, staff will determine if a major
amendment would be more appropriate.
An effect on the balance of land uses will be measured by the proposal’s
impact on each land use. This is measured by the loss or increase of
acreage or developable dwelling units. The Balance Matrix table
outlines a potential impact to each land use with a determination as to the
type of amendment that may or may not be necessary. These matrices
apply when the proposed use is not in conformance with the Land Use
Element. For example, a proposed gas station, that would require
General Commercial (B-2) zoning, in the Low Density Residential land
use designation.
The effect on the mixture of land uses will be determined by reviewing
whether the proposal would cause a change in land use designations that
would create a significant development intensity difference between two
or more neighboring land uses. An example of this would be a change
from Low Density Residential to Industrial in proximity to Suburban
Density Residential. An outline of compatible General Plan land uses can
be found in the Mixture Matrix.

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IMPLEMENTATION

MAJOR AMENDMENT DEFINITION
The following definition for a Major Amendment to the Land Use Element
applies to the City of Yuma:
A PROPOSAL THAT EFFECTS A SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION OF THE CITY OF
YUMA GENERAL PLAN AND MIXTURE AND/OR BALANCE OF LAND USES AS
IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE BALANCE AND MIXTURE MATRICES.
EXAMPLE: a 10-acre project has requested a land use designation
change from Low Density Residential to Commercial to support a new
retail establishment. The anticipated loss of dwelling units (du) is
estimated at 49 (maximum density allowable, 4.9 du an acre, multiplied
by 10 acres). The surrounding designated land uses are Low Density
Residential to the south and east, Mixed Use to the north and
Public/Quasi-Public to the west.
Per the Balance Matrix, the projects would be determined a Minor
Amendment because the loss of units is between 7 and 400 and the
increase in Commercial acreage is between 2 and 40 acres. Per the
Mixture Matrix, the proposal would be defined as a Major Amendment.
This is due to the conflicting adjacent uses that would result Commercial activities adjacent to Low Density Residential dwelling
developments.
The more stringent determination would be applied. Therefore, this
proposal would be defined as a Major Amendment to the Land Use
Element of the City of Yuma General Plan.
Major amendments involve an expanded public review process. Local
governmental agencies are limited by State law, to one time per calendar
year to review major amendments to the Land Use Element. The
deadline to submit Major Amendments is June 15th in order to meet the
noticing requirements for each entity.
Minor amendments will involve a standard 5-month public review period
with adoption by the City of Yuma City Council. This process involves
two public hearings by the City of Yuma Planning and Zoning
Commission and one public hearing by the City Council. Minor
amendments can be requested at any time in the calendar year.

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IMPLEMENTATION

BALANCE MATRIX
Where a proposed use/zoning is non-conforming with the General Plan
Current GP Land
Use Designation
Agriculture

Amendment not
Required
X

Result of Proposed Amendment
Loss of less then 1 acre and proposal adjacent to allowable land use

Minor
Amendment
X

Loss of less then 20 acres of farm land
Residential Rural, Estate,
Suburban, Low,
Medium, High and
Mixed Use
Commercial
Mixed Use,
Commercial and
Business Park
Industrial Industrial and
Ag./Industrial

Public/QuasiPublic

Major
Amendment

X

Loss of 20 acres or more of farm land
Loss or increase of less then 7 units and proposal adjacent to
allowable land use
Loss or increase of less then 400 dwelling units

X
X
X

Loss or increase of 400 or more dwelling units
X

Loss of less then 2 acres and proposal adjacent to allowable land use

X

Loss of less then 40 acres of commercial space

X

Loss of 40 acres or more of commercial space
X

Loss of less then 5 acres and proposal adjacent to allowable land use
Loss of less then 80 acres of industrial space/Loss of less then 40
acres of Ag/industrial land
Loss of 80 acres or more of industrial space/Loss of 40 acres or more
of Ag/industrial land
Loss of less then 1 acre and proposal adjacent to allowable land use

X
X
X
X

Loss of less then 20 acres of public space

X

Loss of 20 acres or more of public space
Resort,
Recreation &
Open Space

X

Loss of less then 1 acre and proposal adjacent to allowable land use

X

Loss of less then 10 acres of recreation/open space

X

Loss of 10 acres or more of recreation/open space

MIXTURE MATRIX

COM

BP

IND

Rural Density Residential (RDR)– Maximum density:
1 dwelling unit (du) per 2 acres

M

M

M

M

M

M

Estate Residential (EDR) – 1 du per 5 acres to 2du per 1 acre

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M
M

Suburban Density Res. (SDR) – 1 du per 2 acres to 3 du per acre
Low Density Residential (LDR) – 1 to 4.9 du per acre
Medium Density Residential (MDR) – 5 to 12.9 du per acre

M

High Density Residential (HDR) – 13 to 18 du per acre

M

M

M

M

Mixed Use (MU) – 5 to 10 du per acre

M

M

M

M

Commercial (COM)

M

M

M

M

Business Park (BP)

M

M

M

M

Industrial (IND)

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

M

Agriculture/Industrial (AG/IND)

M

M
M

Public/Quasi-Public (P/Q-P)
Resort, Recreation & Open Space (OS) – 1 du per 5 acres

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City of Yuma 2012 General Plan

OS

MU

M

AG/
IND

HDR

M

LDR

M

SDR

M

Ø Proposed Land Use

RDR

Agriculture (AG)

AG

MDR

Adjacent Land Use Ö

P/Q-P

Incompatible adjacent General Plan designated land uses
(M = Major Amendment will be necessary)

M

M

IMPLEMENTATION

ZONING CONFORMITY MATRIX
Residential Development

X

X

X

X

Xo

X

X

XP

X

X

X X

X

X

X

X

X
X

Mixed Use
XM

XM

XM

X

XC

X

High Density Residential
XM

XM

X
X X

X
X

XD

XF
X

XM

XM

XM

X

XE

XF

XM

XF

XM

XN

XM

XM

Low Density Residential
Medium Density Residential
High Density Residential
Mixed Use
Commercial
Public/Quasi-Public

MR

CVSP

HP

H-I

L-I

I-P

BP

B-2

B-1

PSC

OT

Land Use Designations

TR

Zoning District
AG

Mixed Development

X
X
X
X

XA

XL

XL

XG

X

XH

XL

XL

X

X

Matrix Footnotes
XA - Old Town is consistent with Resort, Recreation & Open Space
and Mixed Use in the areas bordered by 4th Ave, 1st St,
Penitentiary Ave and the Colorado River.
XB - In conjunction with a Planned Unit Development, or a
Development plan that includes a balance of uses. Possibly
demonstrated in a Floor Area Ratio (FAR).
XC - Maximum 12 dwellings units an acre.
XD - High Density (maximum 18 du/ac) development with a CUP only.
XE - RV Park and Co-op only.
XF - Maximum 10 dwelling units an acre.
XG - Minimum site size of 4 acres is required.
XH - Permitted only in Mixed Use designation north of 12th Street and
east of 4th Avenue

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X
X

H-I

X

X

XK
X
X

X
X

MR

X
X

X

RO

HP

I-P

X

XB
X
XJ

BP

B-2

XG

B-1

OT

X

XA
XI

X
X

PSC

TR

Agriculture
Resort, Recreation & Open Space
Commercial
Business Park
Industrial
Agriculture/Industrial

XL

Zoning District
AG

Land Use Designations

XL

L-I

X
XL

Non-Residential Development

13-7

RMH

R-3

R-2

R-1-40

R-1-20

R-1-12

X
X

X
X

X

XM

XC

XO

Medium Density Residential

Public/Quasi-Public

MHP

Low Density Residential

MHS

X

RVS

X

X

R-1-8

X

X

Suburban Density Residential

R-1-6

X

Estate Residential

R-1-5

X

RE-35

X

RE-18

X

RE-12

SR-4

Rural Density Residential

SR-3

Land Use Designations

SR-2

SR-1

Zoning District

X

X
X

XI - The commercial category is only applicable along 4th Avenue, north of Giss
Parkway.
XJ - Retail businesses (except in the 70 or higher Ldn noise zone), offices, light
industrial uses and commercial outlets only.
XK - Minimum site size of 35,000 square feet is required.
XL - Restricted to publicly owned and operated facilities or those devoted to
public use by government, quasi-public, or non-profit entities.
XM - Public Schools, parks, playgrounds, & recreational uses.
XN - Public Schools, parks, playgrounds, & recreational uses with a CUP only.
XO - Maximum 2 dwelling units an acre. Conforming zoning district: RMH-20.
XP - Maximum 3 dwelling units an acre. Conforming zoning districts: RMH-10,
RMH-12 or RMH-20.

City of Yuma 2012 General Plan

IMPLEMENTATION