Land division; acting in concert
The implications of HB2151 extend to how counties manage land divisions and the issuance of building permits. If enacted, the bill establishes that applications for land divisions cannot be denied if they tally with the outlined processes, thereby potentially decreasing bureaucratic delays. Additionally, the bill prevents counties from requiring certain licenses, like transaction privilege tax licenses, as conditions for issuing building permits. This shift aims to simplify the permit process, fostering a more attractive environment for development, especially in less urbanized areas.
House Bill 2151, introduced by Representative Kavanagh, focuses on modifying the regulations surrounding land division and building permits in Arizona. The bill seeks to amend sections of the Arizona revised statutes related to constructing buildings, dividing land, and utility service operations. One of the significant changes entails the process by which land divisions of five or fewer lots, each ten acres or smaller, can be approved, streamlining the approval process for landowners and developers. This approach would allow counties to adopt ordinances to approve land divisions without requiring a public hearing, provided the application meets specific criteria within thirty days of submission.
Despite the potential benefits, there are concerns related to transparency and regulation enforcement highlighted in discussions on the bill. Critics raise issues regarding the defined regulations for acting in concert, which could enable parties to evade subdivision laws, effectively circumventing restrictions on creating multiple parcels. Furthermore, the bill's approach regarding utility service providers raises questions about accountability, especially in denying applications based on previous investigations without a level of due process, which opponents argue may not serve the community's best interests.