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Board approves Foothills rezoning and related amendments after neighbor objections on buffering and traffic
Summary
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved a minor amendment (2509) and rezoning (2522) for a Foothills Boulevard property despite public concerns about buffering, traffic, and dumpster placement; staff and the applicant discussed how buffer rules apply in the Foothills and clarified that development standards are addressed at permitting.
At a public hearing on March 2, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved minor amendment case 2509 and rezoning case 2522 — a request to change land-use designation and rezone property at 12348 Foothills Boulevard to a local commercial classification — after a staff presentation and public comment from nearby residents.
Jesus Carreo (speaker 12), a staff presenter, summarized the staff recommendation and Planning and Zoning Commission findings that the proposed changes would not adversely impact the natural environment and would encourage small-scale commercial development without requiring public infrastructure expenditures. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval subject to performance conditions.
Kathy (Catherine) Sellers (speaker 6), a nearby resident, objected to the rezoning and asked that any approval include enforceable conditions to protect neighbors. She requested a 6–8 foot brick wall along the shared property line at the developer's expense, traffic and access safeguards (turn lanes), improved lighting, dumpster placement away from her mother's property, and other measures to reduce noise, visual impacts and safety hazards. "It's... creating potential fire hazard" and "I'm going on record as opposing the rezoning," she said, but added that she understood growth occurs and asked for responsible conditions if the board approved it.
Applicant representative Aaron Celia (speaker 1) asked the board to consider how buffer rules (he referenced paragraph 301) are applied in the Foothills, saying a 20-foot buffer requirement makes lots "barely developable" and that transitional areas had been used in other cases. He asked the county to revisit buffer standards in the Foothills to reduce the need for variances.
Board members and staff clarified that development standards such as buffering and screening are determined at building permit review and that deviations are addressed by the Board of Adjustment. Multiple supervisors emphasized that zoning sets permitted uses, while conditions related to site development, buffering and screening are typically handled at permit review.
After public comment and discussion, the board voted to approve the minor amendment (2509) and the rezoning (2522). The board subsequently approved additional cases presented at the hearing (minor amendment 2508/rezone 2520 and rezoning case 2521); item 6 was withdrawn. Votes were taken by voice and recorded as carried in the transcript.
Next steps: approvals send the rezoning and associated performance conditions to the permitting stage where staff will apply buffering, screening and other development standards; neighbors will be able to participate in permit reviews and any variance hearings.
