Chino Valley commission unanimously approves APS substation expansion at Jerome Junction

The Chino Valley Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 3 to approve Conditional Use Permit CUP 2024-04, allowing Arizona Public Service (APS) to expand an existing substation on about 2 acres at 3011 Jerome Junction in the Jerome Junction area of Chino Valley.

The approval follows a staff presentation by Jessica Berrigan, Development Services senior planner, who said the property lies in the AR-4 (agricultural residential, minimum 4-acre) zoning district and that the town's Unified Development Ordinance (section 3.7(c)(0.6)) requires a conditional use permit for a public utility service in that district. Berrigan told the commission that properties within a 1,000-foot radius were mailed notice, a public notice sign was posted on site, and staff had received no written opposition. "Staff does recommend that the Planning and Zoning Commission forward to town council a favorable recommendation of approval for the conditional use permit CUP 2024-04," she said during the presentation.

Paul Murphy, the project manager for…