Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommends rezoning 10 Rim Road parcels to half-acre standard

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 9 voted unanimously to recommend that the Town Council approve Z-92, a zoning map amendment that would change minimum-lot requirements for 10 parcels off Rim Road from one acre to one-half acre.

The change is intended to bring several existing, undersized parcels into conformance with the town's development standards and to allow property owners to obtain building permits for small accessory structures the town's director said had been denied under the one-acre standard. Director Lowey told the commission the parcels do not meet the town's one-acre minimum and said the likely cause was past county-approved splits done without town signature authority: "The only rational explanation is, at one time, the county was proving splits without authority or signature authority from the town," he said.

Commissioners debated whether approving half-acre zoning for the ten identified parcels would create a spot-zoning precedent and discussed an observed pair of contiguous vacant parcels that, if combined, would meet the one-acre minimum. "I would think that parcel should be left alone because you're giving this person an unfair advantage," said Commissioner (speaker 2), referring to two contiguous vacant parcels owned by Royce Payne. Other commissioners countered that many of the lots already contain homes and that the proposed zone change would regularize existing development: "The rational thing in moving forward is make them half'acre. They all conform," said Commissioner (speaker 6).

Public commenter Laura Allen, who said she owns one of the subject parcels, told the commission she has lived on her property for 25 years and that emergency responders have been able to find her address: "Fire trucks came right out," Allen said, describing past 911 responses. Commissioners and staff also discussed address and access issues: staff said the road serving the parcels exceeds 200 feet and would need a formal name and that property owners would likely need a road maintenance agreement and readdressing as part of implementation. Director Lowey noted utility and septic questions: the area is not served by the town's sewer and the parcels rely on wells and septic systems; the Pinetop Lakeside Sanitary District was mentioned in the discussion as the local sewer provider for nearby areas.

After discussion, a motion to recommend approval of Z-92 to the Town Council was made and seconded; the commission voted unanimously in favor. The motion listed parcel identifiers included in the amendment and asked the council to rezone the properties to the lower-density standard so the lots would conform to current town development requirements.

The commission's recommendation does not itself change zoning. The matter now moves to the Town Council for final action; staff noted additional administrative steps likely would include road naming, readdressing, and any required maintenance agreements or utility confirmations.