SB 57, introduced by Senator Steele, creates a public question process to determine whether a county should adopt a comprehensive zoning ordinance. A county legislative body is permitted to put a public question on the ballot or it can be compelled to put one on the ballot if 10% of the voters in the unincorporated portions of the county sign a petition. The public question would ask whether the county should “exercise planning and zoning.” The question can be binding or non-binding, but that has to be specified in advance.
An affirmative vote on a binding question would require the county to adopt a planning ordinance within two years. A negative vote would prohibit adoption of an ordinance for two years. A new public question could not be held for another four years.
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