Graham County planning commission recommends rezoning to legalize long-running kennel, schedules multiple rezoning hearings

The Graham County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Supervisors rezone a 5.1-acre parcel at 7716 East Sanchez Road in Safford from A (general land use) to M (general manufacturing) to bring an existing kennel into compliance.

The recommendation applies to a request by Wade and Terry Lineberger for APN 107-30-048. Planning staff said the kennel has been in place for “20, 25 years” and is sited on the applicants’ property on the mesa adjacent to Bureau of Land Management land; staff described the site as having no neighbors other than the applicants’ siblings and said no public opposition was received. Planning staff directed the commission to send a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors; the board is scheduled to hear the rezoning at its March 3 meeting at 8:00 a.m., according to the commission.

Why it matters: the recommendation would legalize long-running, on-site animal boarding and remove a zoning nonconformity for the Linebergers’ property. Planning staff noted the property is otherwise compliant with applicable county requirements; the commission’s favorable recommendation moves the matter to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

Planning staff identified the kennel as located "up on top of the mesa in the corner of their property up up against BLM," and said the county…