City of Tucson launches Tucson Development Center Online

The City of Tucson has launched an all-new permitting system, Tucson Development Center Online (TDC Online). TDC Online replaces the current system which had been in use since 1999.

The new permitting system is a partnership between Planning  and Development Services, Tucson Fire, Tucson Water, Transportation and Mobility, and Code Enforcement.

TDC Online provides customers transparency throughout the permitting process with email notifications and a personal dashboard to track applications from submittal to issuance. Customers can make real-time payments, schedule inspections, and create templates for frequently used applications.

All customers will need to create an online account to use TDC Online and take full advantage of the new system's features.

Learn more about TDC Online.

General Plan Update Kickoff happening in January

The City of Tucson is updating the General Plan, currently known as Plan Tucson, and this process starts with your vision for the future of Tucson.

Your input will be needed and requested as we develop a citywide plan that will create a framework for the future of Tucson over the coming decades.

The community engagement program will include a discussion of lived experiences, existing conditions assessments, future growth scenarios, and recent planning efforts to establish goals and policies. The plan will consist of goals and policies for housing, transportation, climate action, economic development, and more.

More information on the open house will be coming in the next few weeks. Sign up to receive updates.

Planning Commission Recommends Marijuana Dispensary UDC Text Amendment and Infill Incentive District Update

On November 16, 2022, the City of Tucson Planning Commission held two public hearings on proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) related to marijuana dispensaries and the Infill Incentive District (IID). 

During the public hearing to review the proposed Medical and Adult-use Marijuana Special Exception UDC Amendment, the Planning Commission voted 7-2 to recommend the proposal to a Mayor and Council public hearing, without support for the addition of a Mayor and Council Special Exception land use procedure to marijuana dispensaries in C-2 and C-3 zones. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the remaining portions of this proposed code change:  

Removing the restriction on Marijuana Establishment Licenses (Adult-use only licenses) in UDC Section 4.9.9.E.1, Use Specific Standards;   

Changing the definition of Marijuana Dispensary to include Medical Marijuana Licenses, Dual Use Licenses, and Marijuana Establishment Licenses (i.e. to encompass both dual-license and single-license dispensaries, right now only medical license or dual license are permitted) in UDC Section 11.3.9.F.  

Revising Sections 5.6.8.A.2.g and 5.6.8.B.2.g to codify a previous Zoning Administrator Determination Letter (Attachment F) clarifying that the Marijuana Off-Site Cultivation Use is a wholesaling use and not a retail use.   

The Planning Commission also had a public hearing on the proposed Infill Incentive District (IID) Update UDC Amendment, the Commission reviewed and took testimony related to the following updates:

Allow residential development in industrial zones

Incentivize affordable housing 

Update and clarify design standards for Downtown Links / Stone Ave Corridor

Integrate the Individual Parking Plan (IPP) into the IID

Adjust the IID boundary along several corridors 

Minor text clarifications

Sunset date removal

The Commission voted 9-0 to recommend approval of this proposed code change, with additional recommendations to express support for a future park on the former Nearmont Landfill site, and to direct staff to consider provisions in future IID revisions to further reduce car-centric environments, including superblocks.

Both of these proposed amendments are scheduled for public hearings with Mayor and Council for their review and decision on December 20, 2022.

You can find all the materials from this meeting at the following webpage:?https://www.tucsonaz.gov/pdsd/planning-commission. 

Approved Electric Vehicle Code Amendments going into effect

On Aug. 23, 2022, Mayor and Council approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code to ensure that new commercial development in Tucson is Electric Vehicle (EV) ready. The new regulations will go into effect on Dec. 1, 2022.

These new requirements come after more than a year of stakeholder and public engagement, community input, and technical analysis to develop the proposal. The revised proposed ordinance reflective of that process was presented to Mayor and Council and approved 7-0.

The new regulations will require all new commercial development, multi-family, office, and retail to include EV stations or outlets, as well as conduit to support future expansion of EV capacity.

These code changes support the City's climate action and adaptation response and Mayor and Council's climate emergency declaration.

Information related to these amendments and the process for their adoption may be found on the project website.

Planning and Development Services is hiring

The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department is currently recruiting as we continue to grow our customer-centric team and help shape the future of Tucson.

Construction Inspector: Coordinates inspections of construction sites to ensure compliance with contracts, standards, and specifications. The position also creates and maintains documentation of site findings.

Are you interested in learning more about open positions, City of Tucson benefits, and applying to join the team? Browse the job listing page for more information on all the open positions with the City of Tucson.