Planning commission forwards 8‑lot San Pedro Ranch Estates plat to supervisors

The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Oct. 8 to forward the tentative plat for “San Pedro Ranch Estates” (SUB25‑02) to the Board of Supervisors with staff‑recommended conditions.

The motion, moved to forward the tentative plat with conditions and a waiver to allow an unpaved private subdivision road, was approved 8‑0. The commission directed that an assurance agreement and recorded homeowner association covenants addressing long‑term road maintenance be provided before the Board hearing.

The project applicant, Calvin Housley, proposes to split a 36‑acre parcel north of Benson in the Pomerene area into eight 4‑acre lots and to attach the remaining acreage to his existing residence. Staff noted that the property is zoned RU‑4 and that tentative plat approval is valid for two years, with staff able to authorize one‑year extensions and the commission able to approve further extensions.

Planning staff described the standard subdivision requirements the applicant must meet, including topography and drainage documentation, setbacks from existing washes, dedication statements for access and utility easements and a chip‑sealed apron where San Pedro Ranch Road meets Pomerine Road. The commission’s recommendation also requires recording HOA covenants that make membership mandatory and require maintenance and adequate financing for common areas and private streets.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant about who will maintain the road; staff confirmed the county will not take the private road into county maintenance and that the HOA must include a comprehensive road maintenance plan. Staff also explained the assurance agreement process and said lot releases typically follow verification of improvements, and that assurance agreements often run three years but have been extended to five in recent cases depending on subdivision size.

The commission’s recommendation lists several minor technical revisions required to the tentative plat — correction of lot numbering, addition of revision dates and added general notes on rainwater harvesting and weed control — and calls for a recorded assurance agreement before the Board of Supervisors public hearing. The item will appear on the Board agenda with a recommendation of approval.

Ending: The applicant and staff were told to return the final documents, including the HOA covenants and assurance agreement, for recording and Board review. Residents or other parties who object to the commission’s recommendation were directed to attend the Board of Supervisors hearing on the docket.