Cochise County panel approves small church cemetery near Sierra Vista

The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 12 approved SU-24-23, a special-use authorization allowing Desert Rose Christian Fellowship to establish a 5,000-square-foot cemetery with about 70 burial plots on property at 4684 South Marsh Mohsen Road, approximately two miles southeast of the Sierra Vista municipal boundary.

Staff presented the application and recommended approval with conditions, including compliance with Section 2.5118 of the zoning regulations (recording a cemetery survey as a perpetual easement and filing a cemetery preservation plan), limits on grading and drainage conflicts with approved plans, and standard permitting timelines. The staff report noted that 13 property owners within 500 feet were mailed notice: staff received two responses in favor and two in opposition.

Daniel Troyer, representing Desert Rose Christian Fellowship, told the commission the cemetery would be for church members. During public comment, nearby resident Deborah Chatham asked whether decomposition or burial materials could affect groundwater; Troyer responded, "I would say that it would not affect the groundwater at all." Commissioners discussed potential property-value impacts and requested that the cemetery be visually screened from adjacent properties with native trees and shrubs; Troyer agreed to that condition.

Commissioner motioned to approve SU-24-23 with staff-recommended conditions and the added landscape-buffer amendment. The motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call voice vote with all commissioners present voting "aye." The chair advised that any appeal must be filed with the Board of Supervisors within 15 days and provided the clerk's office and online application information.

With the screening condition included, the approval requires the applicant to record required cemetery documentation and meet permitting and floodplain requirements before implementing burial operations.