Residents raise records, sequencing and acreage concerns as board approves Palomino Ranch Parcel 10 plat on consent

Pinal County residents raised procedural and transparency concerns on March 5 about the Palomino Ranch development before the Board of Supervisors approved a bridal plat for Parcel 10 on the meeting’s consent agenda.

Residents Laurie Fuller (Thunderbird Farms) and Mary Eileen Flanagan (Hidden Valley) told the board they had submitted public-records requests for Palomino Ranch materials in October and received redacted files. They asked why the county had redacted documents and said they could not find the full plat or depiction of how Parcel 10 connects to the rest of the 640-acre development. Fuller said she observed heavy earth-moving equipment and staking in the field although some earlier parcels had not appeared on past consent agendas.

Planning staff told the board Palomino Ranch comprises roughly 640 acres divided into multiple parcels and phases; staff said developers do not have to construct parcels in numeric order and confirmed that Parcel 10 will have access through roads being built now. Staff also agreed to follow up on the public-records request and explain any redactions; the county attorney’s office reviews requested records and applies redactions when private information is identified, staff said.

The board approved the Parcel 10 bridal plat as part of the consent agenda by voice vote. The vote was taken after residents asked questions; staff answered on the record and committed to provide the public-records follow-up.

What residents asked: Neighbors asked whether the development’s long-term plan still includes larger outside lots to preserve “horse properties” and whether the original commercial acreage and school-district acreages listed earlier in older plats would return. Staff replied that the large-lot buffer cited by residents is part of parcels planned for later phases (Parcel 16 and Parcel 2) and that detailed allocations for commercial and school land are often confirmed at planning and platting stages.

Outcome: Item Q (Palomino Ranch Parcel 10 bridal plat) was approved on the consent docket. Planning staff said they would provide the records-request follow-up and confirm when Parcels 1 and 9 will come before the board for approval.

Next steps: Staff promised to provide the records-request number and relevant documents, and to report back to the residents and the board. Residents asked the county to clarify timelines and why heavy equipment appears active before some parcels have been posted on agendas.