Yuma County Supervisors Vote on Planning Amendments
On October 6, 2025, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors decided to send two related proposals back to the Planning and Zoning Commission. One pertains to an amendment of the Yuma County 2030 Comprehensive Plan to create an “impact area” designated for military installations. The other involves a similar amendment to the Yuma County Zoning Ordinance aimed at defining the impact area and adding corresponding boundaries to the official zoning maps and GIS layers.
Javier Barraza, the Senior Planning Officer, explained to the board that these proposed amendments respond to changes in state law that occurred with the implementation of House Bill 2548 on September 14, 2024. This new law broadens notification requirements and clarifies that the area of influence includes all properties within a two-mile radius of any military installation. It mandates local governments to inform the military commander when a land use application, like a comprehensive plan amendment or rezoning, is complete and to seek military input before any public hearings are held.
Staff presented a draft impact area map for Yuma County, which was color-coded in yellow, along with a proposed glossary definition for “an impact area of a military installation, range, or Arizona National Guard property.” Initially, the map omitted some federal lands—like those in La Paz County and the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge—but it was later revised to include additional boundaries based on feedback from the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG).
Barraza summarized the staff’s recommendations. Both proposals were suggested for return to the Planning Commission to kick-start a formal amendment process that would add the impacted area definition to the glossary and update Section 14 (zoning adjustments) and the official Zoning Map Index accordingly. He noted that both YPG and the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (MCAS Yuma) support the proposed changes.
During the meeting, supervisors inquired if the measure was obligatory as per state law. Staff confirmed that the county’s procedures needed to be aligned with HB2548. Subsequently, the board voted unanimously to send both the comprehensive plan amendment and the zoning ordinance amendment back to the Planning Commission to initiate the amendment process.
This action will lead to a formal review by the Planning Commission, which will provide any recommendations back to the board for a public hearing and a final decision. Officials stressed that counties aren’t required to reject applications merely due to their proximity to military sites; however, they must incorporate the notice and mapping provisions stipulated by state law.
