Table of Contents

Title Page
Preface

Part I - The Comprehensive Plan For NE Santa Cruz County - Introduction And Process

Chapter One - Introduction to the Comprehensive Plan

  1. Why This Plan is Needed
  2. What This Plan Will Do
  3. Growth Potential
  4. The Plan Described
  5. Authority for the Plan
  6. Planning Area
  7. Planning Data

Chapter Two - The Planning Process of the Comprehensive Plan

  1. Introduction
  2. Preparing to Plan
  3. Learning About Our Community
  4. Developing Policies
  5. Getting the Plan Adopted

Part II - Policy Statements and Implementation Strategies

Chapter One - Introduction

Chapter Two - The Grasslands: A Place to Live and Work

  1. Introduction
  2. Policy 1. Open Space Framework
  3. Policy 2. Integrating Open Space in Developments
  4. Policy 3. Power Lines
  5. Policy 4. Night Sky
  6. Policy 5. Rural Residential Development
  7. Policy 6. Rural Residential Realities
  8. H. Policy 7. Water Resources

Chapter Three - The Crossroads: A Village Concept

  1. Introduction
  2. Policy 8. Crossroads Village Infrastructure
  3. Policy 9. Highways as Main Streets
  4. Policy 10. Crossroads Village Open Space
  5. Policy 11. Housing at the Crossroads Village
  6. Policy 12. Expansion of the Crossroads Village

Chapter Four - The Cooperative Context for Responsible Growth

  1. Introduction
  2. Policy 13. Las Cienegas NCA
  3. Policy 14. State Trust Lands
  4. Policy 15. Bureau of Land Management
  5. Policy 16. Coronado National Forest
  6. Policy 17. State Highways
  7. Policy 18. County and Local Organizations

Chapter Five - The Comprehensive Plan in the Life of this Community

  1. Policy 19. Public Education Policy
  2. Policy 20. Plan Review and Update

Chapter Six - Conclusion

  1. The Plan as a Positive Influence in Community Life
  2. The Development Code

Part III - A Development Code For The Strategic Vision

Chapter One - Purpose, Authority and General Provisions

  1. Purpose
  2. Authority
  3. Repeal
  4. Vested Rights
  5. Nonconforming Lots
  6. Nonconforming Uses and Buildings
  7. Private Agreements
  8. Burden of Proof
  9. Severability
  10. Effective Date

Chapter Two - Roles and Responsibilities

  1. Board of Supervisors
  2. Planning and Zoning Commission
  3. Board of Adjustment
  4. Administrator
  5. County Attorney
  6. Liability

Chapter Three - Permit Requirements and Administrative Procedures

  1. Permit Required
  2. Class I Permits
  3. Class II Permits
  4. Exemptions for Land Divisions
  5. Exemptions for Construction Activity
  6. Application Forms
  7. Application Fees
  8. Site Inspections
  9. Class I Permit Procedure
  10. Class II Permit Procedure
  11. Conditions
  12. Hearing Notice
  13. Approvals Valid for Two Years
  14. Appeals
  15. Variances
  16. Hearing Procedure
  17. Hearings Recorded
  18. Decision Record
  19. Decision Deadline
  20. Certificate of Compliance
  21. Enforcement Procedure
  22. Penalties
  23. Amendments

Chapter Four - Zoning Districts and Permitted Uses

  1. Zoning Districts
  2. Official Zoning Map
  3. Boundary Disputes
  4. Grasslands Zoning District
  5. Crossroads Village Zoning District

Chapter Five - Performance Standards for Development Review

  1. Absolute Performance Standard
  2. Absolute Performance Standards: Variance
  3. Relative Performance Standards

Chapter Six - Performance Standards for the Grasslands Zoning District

  1. Annotation
  2. Cienegas
  3. Riparian Corridors
  4. Flood Hazard Areas
  5. Groundwater Vulnerability
  6. Slopes
  7. Runoff and Erosion
  8. Wildfire Hazards
  9. Wildlife Habitat
  10. Native Vegetation
  11. Scenic Resources
  12. Night Sky
  13. Glare and Heat
  14. Noise
  15. Solid Waste
  16. HazMat
  17. Animals on Residential Premises
  18. Specification Standards
  19. Signs
  20. Home Businesses
  21. Water Supply
  22. Fire Fighting Water Supply
  23. Sewerage
  24. Private Utilities
  25. Construction in Easements
  26. Off-Street Parking and Loading
  27. Safe Access
  28. Roads
  29. Access to Public Lands
  30. Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services
  31. Large-Scale Development
  32. Plat Amendments
  33. Open Space Development Encouraged
  34. Basic Permitted Density
  35. Transfer of Development Rights

Chapter Seven - Performance Standards for the Crossroads Zoning District

  1. Annotation
  2. Riparian and Wetland Buffers
  3. Flood Hazard Areas
  4. Slopes
  5. Runoff and Erosion
  6. Wildfire Hazards
  7. Native Vegetation
  8. Night Sky
  9. Glare and Heat
  10. Noise
  11. Solid Waste
  12. HazMat
  13. Livestock
  14. Signs
  15. Compatibility
  16. Landscape Buffers
  17. Connections
  18. Home Businesses
  19. Water and Sewerage
  20. Private Utilities
  21. Construction in Easements
  22. Off-Street Parking and Loading
  23. Safe Access
  24. Roads
  25. Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation
  26. Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services
  27. Large-Scale Development
  28. Plat Amendments
  29. Employee Housing
  30. Commercial Development
  31. Residential Development

Chapter Eight - Required Improvements, Installation, and Maintenance

  1. Required Improvements Defined
  2. Installation at Developer's Expense
  3. Standards for Required Improvement
  4. Time of Installation and Development Agreements
  5. Effect of Development Agreement
  6. Guaranties
  7. Inspection and Acceptance of Improvements
  8. Inspection Fees
  9. As-built drawings
  10. Warranty of Improvements
  11. Continuing Maintenance Required
  12. Maintenance Mechanism
  13. Maintenance of Landscaping
  14. Open Space Maintenance

Part IV - Definitions And Acronyms

Definitions
Acronyms

Appendixes and Resources

Appendix A. Planning Chronology
Appendix B. Demographics, Land Use and Buildout Data
Table B-1. NE Santa Cruz County Building Activity
Table B-2. 1990 Census Household Size
Table B-3. Sonoita-Elgin Emergency Services Calls
Table B-4. Regional Population Change
Figure B-1. The Retirement Wave
Table B-5. NE Santa Cruz County Land Ownership
Table B-6. NE Santa Cruz County Private Land Use and Residential Buildout Calculation
Table B-7. Traffic Counts on State Highways 82 and 83
Appendix C. Community Values,Tourism and Growth
Appendix C-1 Community Values
Appendix C-2 Tourism and Growth
Table C-2a Demographic composition of survey respondents
Table C-2b. Factors that attract people to the Sonoita-Elgin area
Appendix D. Open Space Framework
Appendix D-1. Original Policy 1
Appendix D-2. Open Space Framework
Appendix E. Visual Preference Survey
Table E-1. Mean Rating and Standard Deviation
Appendix F. Water Supply and Land Use in NE Santa Cruz County
Table F-1. Summary of Literature
Table F-2. Mountain Front Recharge
Table F-3. Groundwater Consumption
Appendix G. Authorities for Federal and State Cooperation with Local Governments
Appendix H. The Empire-Cienega and Adjoing Public Lands
Appendix H-1. Las Cienegas National Conservation Area
Appendix H-2. Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership
Appendix J. Site Plan and Plat Requirements
Appendix K. Signs
Appendix L. Runoff and Erosion Control Plans
Appendix M. Detailed Performance Standards for Outdoor Lighting
Appendix N. Detailed Performance Standards for Home Businesses
Appendix O. Detailed Performance Standards for Off-Street Parking
Appendix P. Detailed Performance Standards for Landscape Buffers
Resources
Bibliography