The Pima County Board of Supervisors has approved two zoning code amendments that will affect land use in residential zones as well as water conservation throughout the county.

At its recent board meeting, the board amended development standards for mixed dwelling and multiple residence zoned areas, which it says will allow for greater density in single-family home development. The board also hopes the move will help with the decline in the attached multi-family housing market.

“Higher density housing promotes transit opportunities, curbs sprawl, and more efficiently utilizes infrastructure and land,” Pima County Director of Development Services Carla Blackwell said in a press release. “This change does that as well as responds to the changing market for housing.”

The board also approved an amendment relating to rezoning site analysis requirements for new developments water conservation. The amendment revised the site-specific water conservations method the county is currently using and also streamlined the rezoning process. According to the county, the water policy is intended to protect ecosystems which are dependent on shallow groundwater and to reduce subsidence.

“The policies needed some updating to streamline the process for identifying impacts and offsetting those with conservation measures,” Blackwell said in a statement.  “The changes will make it easier for both developers and staff to analyze.”