Board holds work session on state land parcels near park, explores phased approach to housing development

The Greenlee County Board of Supervisors held an extended work session on possible housing development on state trust land near the Du Boingo park and the Loma Linda Wash, discussing which 40-acre sections to request from the State Land Department, infrastructure constraints and potential phased approaches.

County planning staff presented a conceptual map of nine 40-acre squares surrounding the park and explained that the county already owns a 10-acre parcel that is an "island" within state land. Staff said the State Land Department prefers fairly even-shaped tracts and has advised counties not to apply for more land than they reasonably expect to develop. The presenter summarized that guidance as: "they encouraged us not to apply for more land than we're reasonably going to develop all the time." The board discussed the trade-offs between asking for larger, square…