Annexation Growth
FAQ City of Casa Grande, Arizona Annexation Frequently Asked Questions Planning and Zoning Q. What is annexation? A: Annexation is the process by which a city or town may assume jurisdiction over an unincorporated territory adjacent to its boundaries. Q. Who can initiate annexation? A: The City of Casa Grande, a group of interested citizens, or an individual property owner residing immediately outside the City limits can initiate an annexation request. Q. How much is the cost to annex my property? A: The current cost to annex is $545. Please refer to the City website for updates at: http://www.casagrandeaz.gov/web/guest/feeschedule . Q. If I do not sign and return the blank petition, is this considered a “NO” vote? A: Not signing the petition is a “NO” vote. If a property owner is in favor of the annexation, he/she will vote “YES” by signing and returning the signed petition to the City. Q. Can I keep my County zoning? A: No. By State law, Casa Grande must convert the County zoning into a comparable City zoning, which will be the initial zoning of the site upon approval of the annexation. Q. Will annexation affect our existing Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)? A: No. Annexation will not affect any existing CC&Rs. Q. The County granted me a Use Permit for my current land use; will the City allow me to continue the same Use Permit? A: Under the City Code, legal non-conforming uses can continue upon annexation, and may continue until such time the use terminates. Some Use Permits have terms and conditions as well as time limitations. Once your permit expires after an annexation, you need to contact the Development Center at 520-421-8637 and ask to speak to a City Planner to determine the type of permit you will need under the City Code. Q. Will easement agreements between neighboring properties change? A: No. Private easements are agreements between landowners on private property. The City has no authority regarding these easements. Q. How long does it take to process an annexation request? A: It all depends on the completeness of the application, and the time to get the information requested from other jurisdictions to go forward with the request. Typically, it takes about six (6) months to a year to process an annexation request. There are steps to follow in an annexation. Once the annexation petition is filed in the County Recorder’s office, there is a 30-day waiting period before the City can begin obtaining signatures of the property owners. After the 30-day waiting period, the City has one (1) year to obtain the signatures and finish the annexation process. The Mayor and City Council may approve the annexation during the one-year period, once the petition has been signed by more than 50% of the landholders and once the valuation of their properties is more than 50% of the total in the annexation area. Q. Can I put another house or trailer on my property after annexation? A: No. You will need to do a lot split and maintain property setbacks to allow another residential unit or trailer home on your site. Q. What restrictions will I be subject to if I operate a business on my property? A: You will be required to get a business license in the City through the Finance Department. If you have a home occupation, you will need to obtain a home occupation permit from the City of Casa Grande.
Building/Property Codes Q. What type of enforcement for code violations (weeds, junk, disabled vehicles, etc.) can we expect? A: Casa Grande makes every effort to insure the health and safety of its residents from potential fire hazards, nuisances, etc. by means of field inspections. The primary reporting for code violations is citizen complaints. A code specialist conducts an inspection when a resident calls in a complaint in reference to a neighbor’s property. These complaints are handled on a case-by-case basis and every attempt is made to solve the problem short of issuing a citation.
Public Works Q. Will the City require property owners to put in streetlights, sidewalks, fire hydrants, and other infrastructures? A: No. The City does not require property owners to install streetlights, sidewalks, or fire hydrants in existing housing developments. These would only be required in new developments, as required by City Code. Q. Are County-maintained roadways maintained by the City of Casa Grande after annexation? A: Yes. The City will maintain those roads which were previously maintained by the County to the same or better level. Q. Our roads are gravel or dirt roads maintained by the County, after annexation would the City take over the maintenance of our dirt road? A: Yes. The City will maintain public gravel or dirt roads, and will maintain to the same quality as that of the County. Q. How soon can I get City services? A: Services become available 30 days after the second reading of the annexation ordinance by the Council. This is a mandatory waiting period by state law. Q. Will Casa Grande maintain private road and easement? A: No. Casa Grande will not maintain private roads and easements. Q. What is the cost for trash service in the City? A: The City currently charges $11.35 per month for trash pick up. The cost includes trash pick up twice a week. The City also picks up recyclables with no additional fee. City residents do not pay a fee to utilize the landfill.
Public Safety Q. Will the City build a fire station and /or police station to service the annexation area? A: The City will evaluate the need for building fire and/or police stations in the annexed area. Q. What is an ISO public protection classification number? A: An Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating is a measurement process on public protection classification evaluated through the effectiveness and capabilities of the City of Casa Grande Fire Department. The purpose of this classification establishes insurance coverage rates for homeowners and businesses. The numbering system utilized is on a graduated scale 1-10, 1 being the best. Q. What will my ISO public protection classification number be? A: The City of Casa Grande Fire Department enjoys a split public protection classification known as 4/9. In general, a home or business located within 1 ½ miles of a fire station, and 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant , are in a 4 public protection classification. Q. Who responds if we have an emergency call after annexation? A: When you have an emergency call after the annexation becomes final and recorded, the City of Casa Grande Emergency Response Team will answer your call. To avoid confusion during the transition period following the annexation, it is helpful for property owners to mention to the 911-dispatch operator that they were recently annexed into the City. Q. Will homeowners’ insurance premiums go up or down? A: It is difficult to answer because insurance policies vary from insurance company to insurance company. In general, residential properties located inside a city with a full-service fire department will have lower insurance rates than homes in a rural area without a dedicated fire department.
Water and Sewer Q. Will my water company still provide service to the area after annexation? A: Yes. The City does not provide water service to the public. A private company, the Arizona Water Company, provides water service. Q. Can I still have irrigation? A: Yes. The City does not provide or regulate flood irrigation. Q. Can I keep my water rights? A: Yes. Annexation does not affect your water rights. Q. We are on a private well. Do we have to connect to Arizona Water Company? A: No. You can continue using your private well. If you wish to connect to the water system, please contact the Arizona Water Company at 520-836 -8785. Q. Will property owners be required to connect to the City sewer system? A: No. Property owners are not required to hook up to City sewer unless their septic tank fails and they live within 300 feet of a City sewer line.
Cost of Annexation Q. What is the property tax implication? A: Property taxes would increase in order to cover the costs of supplying police, fire, sanitation, and other City services that will be available to a City resident. The City’s primary tax rate is $.7468 per $100 of assessed valuation, and the secondary tax rate is $.6308 per $100 of assessed valuation. Q. What is the change in requirement and cost for business licenses? A: The City of Casa Grande charges $50.00 annually for a business license. Pinal County does not require a business license.
General Questions Q. Will school districts change? A: No. School districts will remainthe same. Q. Will we have to change our address or the name of our street? A: Yes. Your house number will change to a City number. So long as your street name does not have the same street name already existing within the City of Casa Grande, it does not have to change. The City informs the new residents of their new addresses so that they can request a change of address with the Post Office, and notify everyone that they transact business with. There are instances that the City will change a major arterial street name to comply with the Street Name and Addressing Procedure and to be consistent with the existing City street name on the same alignment or the same major grid line. Examples of these alignments are the following: Storey Road and Clayton Road in the County is Cottonwood Lane in the City; Gila Bend Highway, State Route 84 and State Highway 287 in the County is the same alignment as the City’s Florence Blvd; Kleck Road in the County is the same alignment as the Kortsen Road in the City of Casa Grande; Sunland Gin Road in the County is Hacienda Road in the City. Make sure you inform the Post Office of your new address by submitting a change of address request to the Post Office. | |||
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