The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved a trio of planning items on June 2 that will allow commercial uses and an outdoor food court with food trucks on parcels along South Foothills Boulevard.

Senior planner Richard Munguia presented three related items: a minor amendment to change an approximately 0.37-acre parcel’s land-use designation from urban-density residential to local commercial (minor amendment case 25-03), a rezoning request to C-1 (rezoning case 25-08) for property at 12269 South Foothills Boulevard, and a special-use permit (case 25-06) to allow an outdoor food court with food trucks and outdoor seating on a nearby parcel at 12330 South Foothills Boulevard.

Planning staff reported no public comments in favor and one letter of opposition for the special-use permit; the planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the proposals with standard conditions. Board members raised concerns about parking and circulation on the small lots. Aaron Selye, speaking for the parcel owner, said the owner initially envisioned an office or small branch that would be by appointment, not a high-turnover food-truck site, and asked the board to delay requiring the removal of one of two existing driveways on Foothills until a site plan is submitted.

Planning and zoning director Maggie Castro told the board that changing the parcels to commercial triggers more stringent access requirements. Staff had recommended a condition to close one Foothills access point to meet current standards. After discussion, the board removed that specific condition from the rezoning action so access and driveway configuration will be finalized at building-permit review rather than as an enduring condition of rezoning.

For the special-use permit to allow an outdoor food court on the 0.97-acre parcel at 12330 South Foothills Boulevard, planning staff noted the applicant’s updated site plan shows on-site parking and that the applicant must provide screening and buffering where the property abuts residences. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval subject to conditions, including hours of operation and entertainment restrictions. Board members debated allowable hours for live music; members amended the condition so live music and other entertainment are allowed only between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The board also extended the permit term from the staff-recommended 10 years to 15 years, after the applicant noted the cost of site improvements and the desire for a longer period to recoup investment.

The board took three recorded actions by voice vote: it approved minor amendment case 25-03 as presented; it approved rezoning case 25-08 with removal of staff Condition No. 2 (the Foothills access closure requirement); and it approved special-use permit case 25-06 with amendments: entertainment hours limited to 11 a.m.–7 p.m. and a 15-year permit duration. In each instance the motion carried on voice vote.

Board members and staff stressed that site-specific engineering, parking calculations and any required access changes will be reviewed and enforced at the building-permit stage; the county indicated that commercial development must comply with public-works standards and on-site parking requirements when a site plan is submitted.