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Supervisors plan meeting with planning and zoning amid debate over RU-4 mobile-home restrictions and appeal rights
Summary
Board members asked to meet planning and zoning commissioners and possibly schedule a work session after concerns about RU-4 rezoning stipulations (mobile-home prohibitions), enforcement, and whether neighbors should be able to appeal special-event permit approvals.
Cochise County supervisors on March 20 agreed to pursue a meet-and-greet with members of the planning and zoning commission and discussed a possible follow-up work session to address recurring zoning questions, including a stipulation used on a prior RU-4 rezoning that prohibited mobile homes.
Context and issue: staff and supervisors said a 2020 rezoning (referred to in the meeting as the "tiny shiny" rezoning) included special conditions prohibiting mobile homes or manufactured homes on the rezoned parcel. County staff cautioned that staff tend to avoid such conditions because they are difficult to enforce long term, but planning and zoning recommended a similar condition on a subsequent RU-4 application (the board was told planning and zoning recommended a condition for Mr. Prince's application). Supervisors discussed whether such stipulations could or should be added to future approvals in the county.
Appeals and special-event permits: supervisors also raised whether the county's ordinance allows neighbors to appeal approvals for special-event permits. Staff said under the current ordinance, only applicants who are denied can appeal; neighbors do not have an appeal right when a permit is approved. Several supervisors asked to add that topic to a future work session and to consider ordinance changes to allow appeals by parties other than the applicant.
Transparency and materials: staff reminded supervisors that planning and zoning minutes, staff reports and attachments are posted in the agenda system (AgendaQuick) and that commissioners' recommendations and the planning hearing dates are included with agenda materials. Several supervisors asked for earlier notice and for materials to be reviewed before the board meeting so they could be prepared.
Next steps: supervisors suggested meeting planning and zoning commissioners before a monthly P&Z meeting (possible May timing was discussed to avoid a busy April calendar) and holding a follow-up work session to examine potential ordinance changes on mobile-home stipulations and appeal rights. No ordinance changes were adopted at the work session.
Ending: staff will coordinate a meet-and-greet with planning and zoning and schedule the work session; materials for contested items will remain available in the agenda packet for the board's review prior to final action.
