To manage future growth, the General Plan provides guidance for growth and
development within the town’s Municipal Planning Area. The Municipal Planning Area
covers 196 square miles, including approximately nine square miles of the Florence
Military Reservation’s southern end.
The Florence 2020 General Plan recognizes the Florence Military Reservation on its
Future Land Use Map, but does not contain any goals, objectives, or strategies that
support compatible development. The land uses abutting the Florence Military
Reservation are generally employment‐based uses, such as Light Industrial, Professional
Office, and Community Commercial. There is also a large portion of land designated as
Open Space southeast of the installation along the Gila River.
The General Plan also identifies the proposed North‐South Freeway as a Growth Area.
This freeway is currently being studied by the Arizona Department of Transportation in
terms of one possible route and has one alternative traveling through the center of
Florence. The Plan recognizes this freeway would increase the demand for development,
particularly surrounding the interchanges. However, there are two alternatives that are
still in the planning phases.
Development Code
Title 15 Chapter 150 of Florence’s Code of Ordinances contains the Town’s Development
Code, which identifies zoning regulations. The Code establishes 20 zoning districts and
three overlay districts. Each zoning district has specific development regulations,
including permitted and conditional uses and property development standards, such as
the minimum lot area, setbacks, building heights, and parking requirements.
The only zoning district that permits military and armory uses is the Public / Institutional
(P/I) District. The Florence Military Reservation is identified on the Zoning Map, but the
boundaries are not identified. Additionally, the portion of the installation within the
town limits is not zoned P/I, but rather a mix of Rural Agriculture (RA‐10), Single‐Family
Ranchette (R1‐R), and Light Industrial (LI).
Part 2 of the Development Code’s Regulations section addresses outdoor lighting control.
The intent of the regulations is to minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass and to
conserve energy and resources while maintaining nighttime safety, utility, security, and
productivity. The outdoor lighting code establishes the types of light bulbs that can used
and the amount of light shielding that is required (based on the location of the light
fixture) and identifies exemptions for certain uses or conditions that are not required to
comply with the regulations. It also prohibits advertising searchlights and puts time of
operation limits on lighting at outdoor recreational facilities. The restrictions help reduce
light impacts that could interfere with nighttime operations at Florence Military
Reservation.
Background Report
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