Carefree P&Z adopts new language
by Brian DiTullio

CAREFREE – Planning and zoning officials adopted new language for the 2004 Carefree Zoning Ordinance.

Among the new items in the language is a prohibition of non‑native shrubs, plants or trees located in front yard setbacks or required yard. If the property owner wishes, native plants would be permissible for installation. Also, homeowners would not be allowed to build a fence out of flora.

This language applies to all new and future projects and does not affect homeowners who already have such plants in their yard.

Other changes include sign dimension, which the commission thought was too restrictive, making signs difficult to read from the street.

The only comment at the meeting, held on June 11, was from commission member Jamie Buchanan, who asked if the new language had been amply publicized. Pointing to the mostly empty room, she asked why there wasn’t a larger crowd.

Carefree Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Gary Neiss replied it was his opinion that the adopted language didn’t affect most people, since current developed properties are grandfathered in.