Hearing officer orders Bacon property cleaned up; 30 days given to remove derelict vehicles

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A Coconino County hearing officer on April 7 granted the county's request for a 30-day compliance period and scheduled a May 8 follow-up after Walter and Dana Bacon admitted to zoning violations tied to multiple derelict vehicles and stored materials on their property.

Hearing Officer Howard Brown opened the video- and auditorium-based proceeding on the zoning violation citation PCC220040, County of Coconino v. Walter and Dana Bacon, and confirmed that the Bacons had been served with the citation and related materials. Brown said the Bacons could avoid a full hearing and a $100 initial penalty if they admitted the violations; one of the Bacons acknowledged the violations during the hearing.

Coconino County zoning inspector Mr. Stentel described the county's evidence, saying, “There are at least 6 remaining vehicles in various states of disrepair on the property. All have flat tires. Several have fire damage. None have moved, within at least the last, 4 years based on satellite imagery and site visits,” and identifying stored materials shown in exhibits submitted by the county. Stentel said the county requested a 30-day compliance period followed by fines of $20 per day per violation if the property remained in noncompliance and asked for a recall hearing on May 8, 2025 to determine compliance.

The Bacons asked for a 60-day period, citing a late winter that delayed work, that they live on Social Security, and mobility limitations; they said they do not currently live on the property and that arranging repairs had been difficult. Stentel told the hearing officer the county would not grant a 60-day extension, noting the matter had been under enforcement since 2021 and the county had previously allowed additional time.

Hearing Officer Brown said he would grant the county's requested relief, waive the initial $100 penalty because of the admitted violation, and order a 30-day compliance period. Brown ordered the parties to reconvene on May 8, 2025 to assess progress. Brown urged the Bacons to keep communicating with the county inspector and said he would issue a written order describing the relief and next steps.

Under the order, if the violations are not cleared within 30 days the county will impose $20 per day in fines per violation, which the county's representative calculated as $600 if unpaid at the end of the initial 30-day period. The county's photographic exhibits were marked as 6a–6j; the county told the hearing that several photos were taken the prior Friday and are included in the exhibit set.

The hearing was limited in scope because the respondents admitted the violations; the hearing officer indicated any additional exhibits or testimony the Bacons had not previously submitted could be excluded at his discretion. The hearing record shows at least one prior complaint and prior enforcement contacts dating back to about 2021.

The hearing officer said he would provide a written order and the county will hold the recall hearing May 8 to determine whether the property has been brought into compliance.