Planning & Zoning Commission | September 3, 2026

The City of Casa Grande Planning & Zoning Commission held a meeting on September 3, 2026, primarily to review and recommend updates to Article 6 of the city's landscaping requirements. The discussion focused on modernizing landscaping standards to promote water conservation, improve shade and heat island mitigation, and clarify procedures for landscape plan review and maintenance. Key procurement-related topics included the incorporation of smart irrigation controllers, limitations on turf usage, and flexible screening wall requirements, with amendments passed to replace six-foot masonry walls with opaque screening and to remove the term "solar" from shade structure requirements, favoring a more inclusive definition of shade. The commission also debated the necessity of requiring landscape architects for certain developments and native plant compliance, ultimately approving motions to include these provisions. The updated landscaping code will proceed to a city council study session for further review and final approval, with the commission’s recommendations and amendments forwarded accordingly.