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Greenlee County approves Desert Valley LLC rezoning after residents raise traffic and wastewater concerns
Summary
The Greenlee County Board approved a request to change a portion of parcel 300-54-069 from RU-36 to MRC after a public hearing in which a resident warned that plans lacked detail on unit counts, septic and emergency-service impacts; planning staff said state agencies oversee septic and well permits.
The Greenlee County Board of Supervisors voted March 17 to approve Desert Valley LLC’s request to rezone part of parcel number 300-54-069 from RU-36 (36-acre minimum) to MRC (multiple-residence, 1,500 sq. ft. minimum per unit) following a public hearing.
Resident Christopher Rodriguez told the board he did not believe the public or the board had received enough information about the project’s scale and its public-safety impacts. “I don’t think that they received enough information to make a good, a good solid decision,” Rodriguez said, citing what he described as a schematic provided shortly before the planning meeting and concerns about septic placement, the presence of a fire-suppression system and traffic near Highway 70 and local school bus stops.
Aiden Foy, the county’s planning and zoning planner, responded that the ordinance changes had been available for public review for more than a year and that the applicant had submitted a building permit for the existing unit. Foy said additional buildings would require separate permits and approvals, and he identified the agencies responsible for technical oversight: on-site wastewater permitting goes through the county health department and well permitting is handled by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. “If anything goes in in the county, the septic on-site wastewater system is governed by the state of Arizona,” Foy said.
Board discussion noted that the county does not itself approve access to state highways; such turnouts and road studies fall under the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Staff said they would ensure the applicant is advised to coordinate with ADOT and the health department as part of the approval and permitting process.
Supervisor Campbell moved to approve the zoning change; a motion was seconded and the board approved the request by voice vote. Planning and zoning had recommended approval with a 7–1 vote at the commission level.
The board’s action grants the zoning change; building permits, septic approvals and any required ADOT access permits must still be secured before additional units could be built and occupied. Staff noted they will follow up on outstanding permitting questions with the health department and ADWR.
