Commission backs plan amendment, rezoning and special‑use for Bowie truck stop and associated business uses

The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a comprehensive plan amendment and a rezoning to General Business for parcels along the Interstate‑10 Business Loop west of Bowie, and approved a concurrent special‑use authorization to allow a truck stop, truck parking and a repair facility.

Staff presented concurrent dockets CPA25‑01 and RZ25‑02 and the special‑use docket SU25‑01 for an applicant identified as Sunaka LLC (represented by Om Prakash). Staff said the applications request a plan amendment for roughly 33 acres of an approximately 83‑acre parcel (Tax Parcel 30215001D) to change the land‑use designation from rural to developing and the growth area from D to C, and to rezone multiple parcels from RU‑4 to GB (General Business) to legitimize existing commercial uses and allow proposed truck‑oriented services.

Taylor, the county planner, said existing uses on and adjacent to the parcels include a convenience store with fuel sales, an RV park (Mountain View RV Park), and a single‑family residence; those uses date to the 1970s and under current RU‑4 rules would require special‑use authorization or rezoning to GB. The applicant’s concept plan shows a convenience store with diesel pumps on an existing commercial parcel, truck parking and a repair/tire shop on western parcels, and semi‑truck parking on portions of the larger parcel.

Om Prakash, the applicant, said the development is intended to “beautify” the property, add a truck stop and repair facility and create local employment, and that his team will work with county staff on design and county compliance if the zoning and plan amendment are approved.

Staff recommended approval of the plan amendment and rezoning, and recommended approval of the special use with conditions. The commission approved the comprehensive plan amendment unanimously and then recommended rezoning RZ25‑02 to the Board of Supervisors without special conditions. For the special use SU25‑01, staff recommended and the commission approved conditions including floodplain and clearing permits, chip‑sealing driveways to reduce dust, on‑site gravel improvements, screening and limits on truck parking: a cap of 30 truck spaces on tax parcel 30215013D and 40 spaces on tax parcel 30215001D. Staff also extended the permit‑application window from 12 to 24 months given project scope.

No public opposition was recorded in the staff summary; staff said the applicant mailed notices to property owners within 1,500 feet as required for a plan amendment, and the staff response map showed one nearby property owner responding. Commissioners described the project as appropriate for a location between a major highway and a rail line and said it could provide safety and services for interstate travelers.

The commission’s approvals were unanimous. Staff noted the special‑use authorization and any associated site work will require additional permits and compliance with the county’s development code and floodplain regulations before construction.