The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 24, during which the board adopted resolution approving a comprehensive update to the Navajo County Zoning Ordinance.
The revisions made include an update and modernization of the zoning ordinance, including establishing modified land use regulations that will guide future development and design throughout the unincorporated areas of Navajo County.
“As a summary of our changes, the proposed comprehensive update includes revised zoning districts, administrative procedures for code enforcement and code compliance, permitted and special permitted land uses for each zoning district that are specific development standards, countywide provisions and standards, as well as updated land use definitions that were outdated,” explained Project Manager Cody Cooper.
There were updates made to important sections of the existing Zoning Ordinance which include: Special Development Zoning, Renewable Energy, Parking, Signs, General Provisions, Enforcement, Nuisances and Abatement and Definitions. Staff conducted outreach efforts through listening sessions, work sessions and online public comments, which influenced the updates. It was noted that 21 community comments were received in relation to this project, all of which were related to renewable energy. Because of this, Cooper specifically touched on Article 12 of the ordinance, which focuses on renewable energy. “We did want to give some special emphasis to this because we understand it is important to our public.”
Updates made include combining general development standards for solar and wind, under Renewable Energy Generation Facilities. Preferred criteria and performance standards as well as a clause to allow for the use of development agreements in-lieu or in combination with special use permits were added, as well as strengthening road use agreements.
“We did add requirements for applicants to consult with municipalities and tribal entities within five miles of proposed project boundaries,” stated Cooper. Codifying a mandate of the use of best available, commercially proven technology to minimize impacts on wildlife as well as another mandate for site studies such as environmental, cultural, wetlands and photo-simulations. “These are expectations that we have of projects currently and submittals that we have, but we wanted that codified.”
During the public hearing on the ordinance, Tim Grubbs, Don Fogel and Samantha Cloud, all residents of the Show Low area, spoke in support of the updates, specifically for renewable energy ordinances. “I’m in favor of clean renewable energy, not dirty unsustainable energy of the past,” stated Fogel, “Large scale renewable energy projects can bring tens of millions of dollars in local revenue, which can help schools and local services.”
Also during the meeting was a presentation for the family of Jana Richards, who passed away recently. Richards worked in the Assessor’s office for 10 years. Family and coworkers spoke about her fondly during the presentation. “She was indeed a phenomenal example and wonderful human being with so much care and concern for her family, her friends and her coworkers,” stated Rita Sedillo and Colleen Smith-Murph.
Following the meeting, the board held a work session where staff presented and got feedback on a new strategic planning process for Highway User Revenue Fund transportation partnership projects.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the use of the southwest corner of the Navajo County Complex for the annual community July 4 Fireworks Display.
* Approved naming an existing unnamed road in the Taylor/Shumway area of Navajo County as “Blue Flax Drive” in Section 30, Township 12 North, Range 22 East. To effectively address the needs of emergency services, an access road needs a name when three or more property owners use the same access.
* Approved naming an existing unnamed road in the Taylor/Shumway area of Navajo County to “Rain Lily Drive” in Section 30, Township 12 North, Range 22 East. To effectively address the needs of emergency services, an access road needs a name when three or more property owners use the same access.
* Approved naming an existing unnamed road in the Linden area of Navajo County to “Five Card Draw Road” in Section 09, Township 10 North, Range 21 East. To effectively address the needs of emergency services, an access road needs a name when three or more property owners use the same access.
* Approved naming an existing unnamed road in the Clay Springs area of Navajo County, to “Moonstone Lane”, located in Section 15, Township 11 North, Range 19 East. To effectively address the needs of emergency services, an access road needs a name when three or more property owners use the same access.
* Approved an amendment for the Navajo County legal services contract with Moore Law, PLLC to continue legal services contract with the County Attorney’s Office.
* Accepted the Fiscal Year 2026 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission Drug, Gang and Violent Crime Control grant award to pay partial salaries for two dedicated prosecutors to prosecute drug sales and trafficking offenses. The grant will fund $101,414 in salaries and $34,060 in fringe benefits. The county fiscal impact is $227,435.
* Passed a resolution approving the form and authorizing the execution and delivery of an agreement between the Treasurer of Navajo County and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association providing for a line of credit for the county; ratifying all actions taken to date with respect to such agreements.
* Passed a resolution approving the form and authorizing the execution and delivery of an agreement between the Treasurer of Navajo County and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association providing for separate lines of credit for each political subdivision of the state for which the County Treasurer of Navajo County acts as Treasurer; ratifying all actions taken to date with respect to such agreements.
* Approved to conduct an election for the City of Holbrook on Nov. 4.
* Approved to conduct a board member election for Pinedale Domestic Water Improvement Districts (DWID), Porter Mountain DWID and Sky-Hi DWID on Nov. 4.
* Approved the appointment of Ernest N. Sopera as Democrat Precinct Committeeman for his respective precinct valid through Oct. 1, 2026.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between Navajo County, County Recorder and Snowflake to conduct town elections for the span of five years to expire on Jan. 1, 2030.
* Approved of the legal services for dependency cases for Public Defenders Office amendment extending the contract with Belt Law Firm for one additional year to Aug. 11, 2026.
* Approved a contract amendment extending the contract for On-Call Surveying Services with Painted Sky Engineering & Survey, LLC, for one additional year to July 30, 2026 and increasing the contract sum. This amendment also increases the contract sum by an additional $40,000.
* Approved contracts signed by county manager pursuant to Board of Supervisors Resolution: Insurance Proposal for White Mountain Lake County Recreational District and Joseph City Streetlight Improvement District.
* Convening as the Navajo County Public Health Services District, the board approved a resolution adopting the 2025 Navajo County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan. The mitigation plan was reviewed by both the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and found to be complete in the most recent update by all participating jurisdictions within the county. FEMA has provided approval pending adoption for the plan as of June 13. The plan must be adopted by resolution by all participating jurisdictions to complete the process.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Snowflake requesting financial assistance for the extension of the 7th South Street Project in the amount of $120,000. Eligible costs are actual expenses associated with the cost of project construction.
* Approved consideration of a liquor license for Jeffrey Craig Miller for the 4S Barn located at 7863 White Mountain Lake Road, Show Low. A public hearing was held in which no one spoke.
* Approved consideration of a Liquor License for Aaron Thomas James, AJ’s Getaway RV Park, located at 3537 Buckskin Road, Overgaard. A public hearing was held in which no one spoke.
* Adopted a resolution approving a master development plan amendment for an approved, approximately 80-unit, single-family residential subdivision to be amended to allow for 49 single-family lots, 74 townhome units and changes to the roadways as well as open spaces in the Starlight Ridge Estates Special Development within the Wagon Wheel area. This item was previously tabled by the board on Aug. 27 2024, in order to make sure that water supply with Show Low and traffic concerns for the development were acknowledged. The applicant has now provided documentation for each of these requests and is returning to the hearing process.
