U.S. Water News Online
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Pima County plans to substantially tighten rules requiring developers to show they have adequate water supplies before allowing new homes or businesses to be built.
The county is proposing that developers provide detailed information about their water sources, where they plan to pump groundwater and locations of any ecosystems dependent on groundwater when they ask for zoning changes.
Developers also would have to provide a description of water supply options, an analysis of water levels in the area and calculate the difference in water use between existing zoning and the proposed zoning. The more water a development would use, the more information would be required.
Developers proposing to pump groundwater would have to recharge in the same area from which they pump, and if the area is prone to subsidence, they would be required to take specific steps to prevent the problem.
"I hope it leads us to considering developments that are sustainable from a water-use perspective," said Pima County Water Policy Manager Kathy Chavez. "And it gives the development community the opportunity to explain how they're going to be proactive."
The Planning and Zoning Commission plans to consider the new rules shortly.
Developers have pushed for less restrictive guidelines, or rules that do the review after zoning has changed.
County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said he takes encouragement from the complaints of developers.
"From the amount of resistance we've seen, I think we're going in the right direction," he said.
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