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Commission approves conversion of approved indoor arena to outdoor equine arena with conditions
Summary
The commission approved a modification of SU23‑14 that allows an indoor arena approval to proceed as an outdoor arena for equine events at 8191 Barataria Boulevard, subject to conditions including daytime‑only events and required right‑of‑way and easement actions.
The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission approved SU25‑07, a modification of a prior special‑use authorization (SU23‑14) to allow an outdoor equine arena and related daytime events at 8191 Barataria Boulevard, approximately three miles southeast of Sierra Vista.
Staff noted the project sits on about 21 acres zoned RU‑4 and that the original two‑phase approval anticipated a hay barn, storage buildings and an indoor arena. The applicant requested authorization to stage outdoor equine events rather than build the larger indoor arena immediately. Staff recommended approval with conditions, and commissioners adopted those conditions in their motion.
Applicant Al Armenta said events would be daytime only and that organizers do not plan to add light poles for nighttime shows. "Our outdoor events are always going to be in the daytime," Armenta told the commission. He described family‑oriented programming for riders and children and said organizers were testing outdoor events to determine whether to proceed with adding a covered arena later.
Staff reported notification to property owners and noted one written opposition among about 30 notices mailed to nearby owners. Two nearby residents spoke in favor at the hearing. One, Graham Yos, said he and his family attend and support the events; another speaker, Cody Zedek of Outsource Academy, described positive community impacts and participation by riders from across the region.
Conditions tied to the modification include: (1) limiting outdoor events to daylight hours; (2) obtaining a right‑of‑way permit for secondary arena access along Barataria Boulevard; (3) recording an ingress easement or otherwise resolving access across an adjacent parcel if primary access requires it; (4) a traffic analysis at build‑out; and (5) compliance with septic and restroom requirements at full build‑out. The commission voted unanimously to approve the modification and sent the item as a completed action for the applicant to pursue permits and easement records.
