Committee advances bill to let ADOT permit billboards on military‑compatibility parcels

Senators advanced an amendment to SB 12‑32 to clarify that the Arizona Department of Transportation may issue permits for outdoor advertising on properties located within military airport compatibility overlay zones when the owner holds a military compatibility permit. Proponents from Marbella Communities and Rose Law Group said ADOT denied a permit for a parcel along Northern Parkway because an underlying RU‑43 zoning appears residential in ADOT’s rules despite surrounding commercial uses; Maricopa County and Luke Air Force Base compatibility approvals exist for the site.

Speaker Liz Goodman and land‑use counsel John Gillespie explained they worked with ADOT to craft language that limits the change to military compatibility areas and to properties with a county compatibility permit, and that the amendment aligns the statutory standard with federal Highway Beautification Act requirements by keeping billboards within commercial/industrial‑type uses. The committee adopted a strike‑everything amendment in the chair’s name and gave the bill a do‑pass recommendation, 4 ayes to 3 noes.

Next steps: SB 12‑32 as amended moves to the Senate floor for further consideration; proponents said ADOT supports the clarified approach and the change would apply to a limited number of parcels within overlay contours.