BUSINESS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES

1. Sovereignty. The Community is a federally-recognized Indian reservation with a constitution and has sovereign government status. The Community's sovereign rights are of central importance and will be applied to the maximum degree.
   
   
2. Trust status is held by the federal government for Community lands, either Community owned or by an individual allottee(s). This trust status makes trust lands subject to certain federal laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Archaeological Protection Act of 1979 among others. Any prospective developer should recognize compliance with these laws may be required by federal law.
   

These development procedures are intended to insure land use decisions maximize the utilization of all lands keeping with the goals of the Community. This is in order to provide the best information available to elected officials to base their decision. This allows a process that entitles Community members and entities to provide input to the decision makers. To insure that all developments on the reservation are properly designed and protect the health, safety and general welfare of the Community, adopted standards of the Community government will be observed. This includes protecting the natural environment by encouraging development practices that protect the wildlife, vegetation, land, watercourses, air and water quality and supply. All adopted ordinances of the Community, such as Native plant, Interim Zoning, subdivision and plat, pesticide, T.E.R.O>, si8gn, solid waste antiquities, all applicable building, fire codes and other applicable ordinances, are to be adhered to. This clearly defines the administrative responsibilities for all development projects in the Community.

There are three defined processes to follow:

1. Economic Development Process - any development that is commercial, industrial, recreational, tourism, gaming, or any revenue generating use of land and resources must be reviewed and approved. Any economic development proposal that involves land development that has not been specifically approved by action of the Community Council will be required to follow the "Land Use Action Review Process".
   
   
2. Land Use Action Review Process - Public, residential, community recreational, or other land uses intended to enhance the quality of Community life (including new roads/utility facilities) rather than primarily to produce revenue shall be reviewed and approved.
   
   
3. Certificate of Compliance - Areas that have been master planned and zoned by action of the Community Council shall follow an abbreviated review and approval process that will provide allowance for quick review and approval in order to insure that Community ordinances are being followed.

1. An enrolled Community member constructing a residence on an approved Community home site or individual allotment constructed in conformance with the provisions of the Community Home site Ordinance and Building Codes.
   
   
2. The cultivation, improvement or development of designated agricultural lands for agricultural purposes.
   
   
3. Routine maintenance/repair of existing buildings, structures, and facilities.
   
   
4. The stated exemptions apply to these procedures; they do not imply an exemption from any other Community ordinances, except where granted by an action of the Community Council.
   

Copies of the Business and Land Development Procedures are available through the Economic Development Department for a fee of $25.00. All developers are requested to acquire a copy of this document that will further assist them in the development process.

1. All professional firms and individuals retained on any reservation development project must have a Community business license prior to doing any work on the project.
   
   
2. Any professional involved in any development project must obtain a right of entry permit where required by Community law, prior to commencing work on the reservation.
   
   
3. Except where expressly permitted otherwise by the Community Council, all approved development projects must follow applicable Community standards. Where adopted Community ordinances specify additional requirements, those standards of the adopted Community ordinances shall prevail.
   
   
4. All site, subdivision, and engineering plans, must have the stamp of an Arizona licensed engineer.
   
   
5. All building and construction plans must have the stamp of an Arizona licensed architect.
   
   
6. All applications for developments must be signed by the developer, verifying that all information contained in the application and supporting documents are true. Incorrect information and lack of full disclosure may require the developer to repeat each step of any the processes where the proposal was considered based on incomplete of inaccurate information.
   
   
7. Each step of the process is represented by a single meeting of the decision making and advisory bodies in the identified processes. It is possible that these bodies may require additional meetings and further information prior to making a decision or formulating a recommendation.
   
   
8. Any developer should be aware that Community lands, whether Tribal or allotted that are held in federal trust are subject to federal laws pertaining to federal lands.
   
   

1. Review of proposals under the three processes should be completed within fifteen (15) working days by each Community Department. All reviews shall be submitted in writing to the Economic Development Director (Economic Development Process) or Land Use Planning Director (Land Use Action Process and Certificate of Compliance), and to the Chairman of the appropriate Committee.