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Commission recommends comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning for Kings Highway industrial site to board with conditions
Summary
The commission voted to forward CPA25‑02 (comprehensive plan amendment) and RZ25‑04 (rezoning) — together proposing reclassification of roughly 369 acres west of Douglas from rural/RU‑4 to developing/light industry — to the Board of Supervisors with recommended conditions including right‑of‑way dedications and a landscape buffer.
The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of CPA25‑02 and RZ25‑04, concurrent requests from Arden (Ardent) Arizona LLC to amend the comprehensive plan and rezone about 369 acres along Kings Highway west of Douglas from RU‑4/rural to a developing designation and light‑industrial zoning.
Staff framed the request as preparatory land‑use work responding to the forthcoming Port of Entry project west of Douglas; staff said utilities and road improvements associated with the port and related public projects will enable industrial development in the area. The presentation noted adjacent parcels already carry the requested developing designation and that the rezoning would enable warehousing and storage uses expected to support port operations.
Staff identified factors in favor — adjacency to existing developing growth areas and the potential for job creation tied to the port — and factors against, principally a lack of substantial nearby property‑owner support and several written oppositions from residents on Posey Ranch Road who said the rezoning would change neighborhood character and generate traffic, dust and lighting impacts.
Staff recommended that the commission forward both the comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning to the Board of Supervisors with special conditions including right‑of‑way dedications per staff exhibits, a 20‑foot landscape buffer along property lines shared with established residences, and a wildlife survey with Arizona Game and Fish recommendations to be addressed at final design. During discussion several commissioners asked the applicant to work with staff to consider a substantially wider buffer; one commissioner proposed raising the buffer to 100 feet as a minimum and asked staff and the applicant to work on revised conditions before the Board of Supervisors hearing.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend both the plan amendment (CPA25‑02) and the rezoning (RZ25‑04) to the Board of Supervisors with staff‑recommended conditions and an instruction to refine residential buffering before the supervisors' hearing. The items will be considered by the Board of Supervisors; the commission recorded the usual appeal and public hearing process.
