Planning commission rejects request to expand Saguaro Man-style events after neighbors cite fire, dust and safety concerns

The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 12 rejected SU-24-26, a special-use authorization request by Arizona Artistic LLC to permit up to eight recreational camping events per year on an 80-acre RU-10 property near Wilcox, including the organization’s large spring event colloquially known as Saguaro Man.

Staff summarized the request and described prior administrative special-event permits the county has issued for the property. The application sought authorization for up to eight events per year (staff noted that would equate to 28 event days when setup and dismantle are included) and said the largest spring event historically has drawn roughly 1,000–1,300 participants while smaller "decompression" events typically draw a few hundred. Staff reported significant neighborhood opposition: 32 notices were mailed within a half-mile radius with multiple responses in opposition (six from within the notification area and 13 outside); no responses in favor were reported in the notification area. Complaints from neighbors included traffic and road damage, dust, noise, open burning and public-safety risks.

Applicants Lisa Sheinkopf and Ruby Bijay Surya described the organization’s principles (civic responsibility, leave-no-trace, communal effort), its safety protocols (on-site medical and fire leads, trained volunteer rangers for conflict de-escalation, a 500-gallon fire trailer and ember-chaser teams), the group’s charitable donations to Wilcox organizations and their claim that they will grade and widen Covered Wagon Road at their own expense if required. The applicants emphasized that most of the additional events they sought would be small, quiet campouts without amplified music or open burning; they characterized the high-profile April burn as a single, separately permitted event.

Neighborhood speakers opposed the special use on multiple grounds. Ignacio Chavez and Joan Edelman cited dust, a single narrow ingress/egress route, large crowds, noise and the risk of wildland fire in a dry region. Several residents said they live year-round near the property and that event traffic and blowing dust cause recurring impacts. Supporters, including volunteer emergency-service personnel and residents who previously participated in event safety roles, characterized the applicants as well organized and credited the group with local charitable contributions and trained event personnel.

Staff presented a set of recommended conditions intended to address concerns: widen Covered Wagon Road to 24 feet from the property south to Cattle Drive, require dust-control on Covered Wagon Road and on-site driveways during events, require floodplain permitting where applicable, impose noise limits at parcel boundaries (80 dB 9 a.m.–10 p.m.; 50 dB 10 p.m.–7 a.m.; 55 dB 7 a.m.–9 a.m.), require compliance with state/local burn permits, require two points of ingress/egress during events, and require an emergency evacuation plan and subscription to local fire suppression services for events involving open burning.

After extended discussion and roll-call voting, multiple commissioners cited heavy neighborhood opposition, traffic and fire risks, and dust and noise impacts as reasons to oppose the request. The commission voted against the motion; the chair announced the motion failed and explained the 15‑day appeal window to the Board of Supervisors.