1. Preserve agricultural and resource conservation areas while providing opportunities for rural living;

2. Protect, preserve, and enhance agricultural resources and related activities from incompatible land uses and encroachment;

3. Provide large-lot, low-density residential buffers adjacent to agricultural lands, and to provide an alternative to medium-density conventional production residential development; and

4. Encourage limited development in rural areas until suitable infrastructure and subarea plans are in place to facilitate development in a manner consistent with the general plan.

1. RA Rural Agricultural. This district is intended to provide for agricultural areas within the city and to protect and conserve these areas within and adjacent to urban development. The main use of this district is for animal and food production, in terms of growing, processing, and selling. Incidental residential uses with septic systems may be allowed and are subject to Pinal County review and approval.

2. GR General Rural. This district is intended to prevent urban residential and related uses from developing near agricultural operations, thereby infringing on the full operation of farmland. Allowable uses include environmental, habitat, water conveyance, as well as limited agriculture and livestock, and necessary supportive uses such as minor agricultural processing, but not uses that have the potential to create obnoxious noise, odor, etc. [Res. 21-09; Ord. 21-05 § 2; Res. 14-36 § 201.01; Ord. 14-12 § 1.]