Avondale council approves zoning text amendment shifting some site-plan approvals to zoning administrator

The Avondale City Council unanimously approved a city-initiated zoning text amendment (PL260048) on April 6 that will move some site-plan and design-review approvals from Planning Commission and City Council to the city's zoning administrator.

Staff described the change as an alignment with a recent state law. "With the adoption of House Bill 2447, this requires cities to have administrative approval processes for all site plan applications, including those in special districts," planning staff told the council.

Nut graf: The amendment revises two sections of the Avondale Zoning Ordinance—Section 20-86 and Section 20-891—to remove references to commission or council action where state law now requires administrative review. Staff said the Planning Commission recommended approval 5–0 on March 18.

Planning staff presented the application and confirmed required public notifications were completed and no public comments had been received. After staff remarks, Mayor Pineda opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers.

A motion to approve came from Council Member White and a second from Vice Mayor Nielsen. Council Member Conde recorded an "aye" vote explicitly during roll call; the mayor announced the motion passed unanimously, 7–0.

Council took no additional amendments or conditions in the meeting. The ordinance amendment now moves forward under the standard implementation steps described in the staff report.