Opinion ID: 2636718
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The PUD Act's Liberal Construction Provision

Text: Finally, the County relies on section 24-67-107(6) of the PUD Act to support its argument that the District must seek modification of the PUD. That section provides that the PUD Act is to be liberally construed in furtherance of the purposes of this article and to the end that counties and municipalities shall be encouraged to utilize planned unit developments. § 24-67-107(6). Our interpretation of the relationship between the PUD Act and the Planning Act does not contravene this provision. We are not construing the PUD Act or its particular provisions in isolation. Instead, we employ the principles of statutory construction to determine the proper relationship between the PUD Act and the Planning Act. Our holding that political subdivisions' long-standing override authority with respect to zoning regulations applies to the PUD Act furthers the explicit legislative intent that the PUD Act supplement the Planning Act and in no way discourages local governments from utilizing PUDs. We recognize the General Assembly's ongoing authority to amend the statutes governing the relationship between statutory counties and other statutory political subdivisions created to carry out state purposes.