The Gilbert Planning Commission on Wednesday studied potential changes to the town’s land development code to comply with a new state law that shifts certain development approvals away from public hearings and into administrative review.

House Bill 2447, passed in the past legislative session, requires cities and towns to allow staff to approve preliminary plats, design reviews based on objective standards, and certain grading and drainage work without going before planning commissions. The law takes effect January 2026.

Principal Planner Veronica Gonzalez told the commission the town has no choice but to amend its code.

“What this bill does, it requires all cities and towns to authorize staff to review and approve certain items,” she said. “Those items being preliminary plats design re

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