Board hears update on 2025 Joint Land Use Plan; MCAS Yuma says it's working toward compromise

City of Yuma project manager Alyssa Linville and county planning director Maggie Castro briefed the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 18 about the 2025 Joint Land Use Plan update, an effort to reconcile community development goals with Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma operational needs.

"The intent of this [effort] is to update the 1996 and 2005 joint land use plan," Linville told the board, saying the project was funded with a 2024 Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation grant and that a working group and steering committee with representation from jurisdictions, developers and agricultural stakeholders prepared a draft document earlier this year.

Supervisors and public commenters raised concerns about the plan's rollout, the potential effect on private landowners and developers (including takings claims), and the perception that restrictions could reduce development opportunity or create inequitable tax burdens via improvement districts. Board members repeatedly emphasized the draft is advisory and can be revised: one supervisor said, "This is providing that kind of guidance — not saying this is written in stone."

Representatives from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, including Antonio Martinez, said the base has been reviewing the draft and is seeking middle‑ground solutions. Martinez said some earlier recommended noise zones have been removed and that the base remains willing to compromise while protecting training ranges and mission needs.

The board requested that staff email each supervisor a copy of the draft and provide tracking of recent edits; staff said they were awaiting final MCAS comments and hoped to present a finalized draft to local jurisdictions in November.

No formal action on the plan was taken at the meeting; the discussion focused on project transparency, outreach and balancing residential, industrial and agricultural land uses near the base.