Planning commission sends several rezones and special‑use items to supervisors, sets multiple public hearings

At its meeting the Graham County Planning and Zoning Commission approved recommendations and set public hearings for a series of rezoning and special‑use items affecting parcels across the county.

Key short outcomes and next steps — votes at a glance:

- REZ936-25 (APN 107-45-016): Applicant Joe Hernandez sought rezoning to allow a new manufactured home on a 1.1‑acre parcel. Planning staff said the parcel has city water but no sewer and that multiple half‑acre lots exist in the neighborhood. The commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. (Moved and seconded; vote recorded as carried.)

- REZ937-25 (APN 105-02-054, 3.5 acres): Leslie and Michael Orr requested rezoning for a half‑acre split while leaving other acres at one‑acre parcels; staff noted the property is partially in a flood plain (Peck Wash) and that FEMA/floodplain engineering requirements will apply. The commission voted in favor and will send the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

- SGP25-03 (APN 11-16-001F, 161 acres): Larry Wilson requested a special use permit to create a private airstrip on a portion of 161 acres in Kielberg Canyon near the Glero Mountains. The commission voted to set this request up for a public hearing at the next meeting; staff said the applicant already has a federal identifier for the airstrip and described the intended use as for small aircraft/rotorcraft and emergency landings.

- REZ938-25 (APN 105-45-054B & 052B, 2.5 acres): Lane Jensen requested rezoning to create a half‑acre parcel to build a home. The commission voted to set the item for public hearing at the next meeting.

- REZ939-25 (APN 103-28-009B, 5 acres): Clyde and Paula England requested rezoning to match commercial/manufacturing use adjacent to their business; the commission set this item for public hearing.

- REZ940-25 (APN 106-34-012, 5.5 acres of a 61‑acre parcel): Shauna Taylor requested rezoning for commercial/manufacturing to build storage units; the commission set the item for a public hearing at the next meeting.

Several items previously heard by the Board of Supervisors were recapped: a family cemetery special use permit was approved, a land split on Mullins Lane was approved, a travel trailer park rezoning was approved with waterline stipulations, and a cooperative expansion in Central was approved. The commission also approved new road names and a liquor license at the board meeting recap.

Why it matters: The set of actions moves multiple land‑use changes toward final consideration by the Board of Supervisors; one item involves floodplain constraints requiring FEMA compliance, and another special use (private airstrip) raised the need for a public hearing because of its remote location and potential access and safety questions.

Each item set for public hearing will receive public input at the commission’s next regular meeting before the Board of Supervisors takes final action.