The City of Somerton Community Development Department works within the community to ensure a high quality of life for the people who live, work and do business here. The Community Development Department endeavors to foster partnerships with local businesses, residents, developers and all other City Departments to improve the built environment and maintain the health, safety and welfare of the community.

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Community Planning

Case Review

Community Development Case Review is done on an individual basis with the applicant to create the best experience possible when working with the City.

Various types of case review are done by the Department, including subdivision review, address changes, zoning applications and various types of special, temporary, conditional use and building permits. Requests for variances, minor variances and amendments to the General Plan are also handled through the Community Development Department.

Some processes not only require an "in-house" review process, but also a public hearing process. The Community Development Department works with the applicant to create a case that will then be presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.

Neighborhood Development

Through the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, such as the SMILE program, the Community Development Department is able to provide suitable, habitable living environments. Through the use of these grants provided by the program, many households throughout the City have been provided with some of the improvements they need to be more hospitable, therefore, creating a better community for those who live here. Similar programs provided through CDBG allocate grant money for the construction of many projects that benefit the entire community.

Zoning

The use of zoning is the basis of every project done by the Community Development Department. It is often the first item that is looked at when encountering a project, since it is fundamental to ensure a balance between different land uses in the community. Zoning helps to create communities that are in compliance with the General Plan (the overall vision for the community) as well as City Ordinances.

The City of Somerton has several zoning districts including Agriculture, Suburban Ranch, Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Limited Commercial, General Commercial, Main Street Corridor, Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial and Open Space. Each district is unique in its intent for maintaining sustainability and growth throughout the City.

Property can be zoned for a different use through the application process at the Community Development Department.

Building Safety & Permits

Inspections

All inspections require a twenty four (24) hour notice to the Building Inspector.

Inspections are done to ensure safety and compliance with the City Ordinances and construction standards.

Construction or other type of work that requires a permit will also require an inspection, done by the Building Inspector to ensure that the work is being carried out in a safe manner.

Plan Review

Plan Review is done by the Building Inspector. The plan check review process can take up to ten (10) working days for the first review, and up to seven (7) working days for a second review (if needed).

The plan check review process ensures that all of the requirements of the site plan submittal, zoning, setbacks, etc. are met before any work begins on the project. Any corrections to the plan will be directed by the Building Inspector, and all re-submittals should be done in a timely manner, with the on-site corrections made as designated by the Building Inspector.

Permits

No used building or structure and no public utility, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be constructed or authorized until the location conforms to the provisions in the City Ordinance.

Building permits require zoning verification before a permit shall be issued.

The City of Somerton reserves the right to require a bond or letter of credit to be posted at issuance of building permit, in an amount sufficient to ensure compliance with the terms of the permit.

No person shall begin work without a valid building permit. It is unlawful for anyone to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building or land or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of the City Ordinance.

At the time of permit issuance, the payment of all fees are required. Inspections will then be done after a permit is issued. After all inspections are completed, a final building inspection will be done. Upon completion of all inspections, including passing the final inspection a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued.

Code Enforcement

The Community Development Department takes all complaints, anonymous or otherwise to ensure compliance throughout the City.

When a complaint is directed to the Community Development Department, the caller may choose to leave their name only if they wish. All calls are considered confidential, and you do not have to give any personal information to make a complaint.

The Building Inspector will inspect the property to verify that a zoning violation does exist. If a zoning violation does exist, the Community Development Department will make an effort to contact the owner of the property where a complaint has been received to correct the problem by issuing a notice of violation for compliance. If the property has not come into compliance after a pre-determined number of days a citation will be issued.

Planning & Zoning Commission

Armando León, Chairman
Term Expires August-2009

Renee Vuksan, Vice-Chairwoman
Term Expires August-2008

Jose Trevinó, Commissioner
Term Expires August-2009

Augustine Tumbaga, Commissioner
Term Expires August-2008

Carlos Gonzalez, Commissioner
Term Expires June 2008

Arisbey Orjeda-Garica, Commissioner
Term Expires August 2009

Arturo Lopez, Commissioner
Term Expires August 2009

City of Somerton General Plan

The City of Somerton General Plan is a comprehensive long range land planning tool that guides the physical land development of the City.

The Somerton General Plan helps to guide future growth and development within the city in a way that preserves land uses and strives to maintain compatible land uses as development occurs in the City.

The mission of the General Plan is to implement sustainability and growth management through policies and plans, such as the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, etc.

The following elements are found in the General Plan:

• Land Use
• Circulation
• Water Resources
• Cost of Development
• Growth Area(s)
• Environmental Planning
• Open Space

The General Plan guides the planning area for the City of Somerton. The planning area extends beyond the City limits, and is bordered by Avenue A on the east, Avenue H on the west, County 14th Street to the north and County 19th Street to the south. The planning area encourages new growth and development within the boundaries that is compatible with the existing community, while upholding residential, commercial and employment development policies.

Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance

The City of Somerton Zoning Ordinance is a municipal ordinance regulating the use of land, structures or both within the incorporated limits of the City of Somerton.

The regulations of the Zoning Ordinance are adopted for the following purposes:

• To protect and provide for the public health, interest, safety and general welfare of the City of Somerton.
• To guide the future growth and development of the municipality, and to provide the minimum requirements for the implementation of the General Plan.
• To provide for adequate light, air, privacy, to secure from fire, flood, and other danger, and to prevent overcrowding of the land and undue congestion of population by establishing land use classifications and by imposing regulations on the use of land, on the location, height and bulk of buildings and structures.
• To protect the character and the social and economic stability of all parts of the City of Somerton.
• To establish procedures, offices, boards, and commissions for the enforcement, interpretation, processing of amendment, variances, conditional use permits, and appeals for violations and penalties for infractions of these zoning regulations.
• To protect and conserve both the value of land and the improvements throughout the City of Somerton.
• To guide public action in order to ensure adequate and efficient transportation, water, sewer, schools, parks, playground, recreation and other public requirements and/or facilities.
• To provide for the most appropriate relationship between the uses of land and buildings.
• To prevent the pollution of air and water, and to encourage the wise use and management of natural resources throughout the City of Somerton.
• To ensure appropriate development with regard to natural characteristics of the City of Somerton.
• To provide for open space through the enforcement of these regulations and design standards.

The City of Somerton Subdivision Ordinance is a municipal ordinance regulating the subdivisions within the incorporated limits of the City of Somerton.

The purpose of these regulations is to provide for the public health, safety and general welfare of the City of Somerton; to secure adequate traffic circulation through properties; have optimum utility and livability; to secure adequate provisions for water supply and distribution, drainage and flood control, sanitary sewerage, and other health requirements; to insure and facilitate reservation of sites for schools, recreation facilities, and other public purposes; to promote conveyance of land by accurate legal description; and to establish procedures which will achieve a basis of mutual understanding and equitable relationships between public and private interests