Board approves 1,505‑sq‑ft hillside disturbance variance for Freeman property

The Maricopa County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to approve BA250063, allowing up to 1,505 square feet of hillside disturbance outside the principal building envelope at 47512 North 27th Avenue (New River area) to enable restorative grading and to resolve an open grading violation.

Isaac, planning staff, described the parcel as approximately 190,889 square feet (about 4.38 acres) with 86.3% of the site designated as hillside. He said the parcel has an open violation for storing materials, construction and grading without permit and that the variance would memorialize a restorative grading allowance and enable issuance of a grading permit currently under review.

Applicant Guthrie Freeman told the board he “just kinda started this without, really knowing what the process of grading was” and said he is seeking to correct the unpermitted work and move forward transparently. Engineer Catherine Mills—participating remotely—explained the requested variance applies only to disturbance outside the principal building envelope and that the remediation will include slope stabilization and ground cover per engineering plans.

Board members questioned whether the 1,505 square feet figure reflected disturbance before or after remediation; staff said it represents the pre-remediation amount and that remediation is likely to reduce the effective disturbed area. Vice Chair Persson moved to approve the case subject to staff language and Member Clapp seconded; the board approved the variance 5-0.

The board’s action allows the applicant to pursue the grading permit and remediation plan required to address the open violation.