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Board approves Somerton-area rezoning despite MCAS Yuma objections
Summary
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on April 6 to rezone a 10‑acre parcel from RA‑10 to SSB‑2 within the 65 dB noise contour near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, over written MCAS objections that said residential density is incompatible with the noise zone.
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved Rezoning Case No. 25‑23 on April 6, voting 4‑1 to change roughly 10 gross acres from Rural Area‑10 acre minimum (RA‑10) to Suburban Site Built‑2 acre minimum (SSB‑2). The property lies within the 65‑decibel noise contour associated with Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, which submitted formal correspondence strongly recommending denial under state statute and county rules.
MCAS Yuma Community Liaison Mary Ellen Finch and base representative Antonio Martinez told the Board that the noise‑zone restrictions—established in prior years—were intended to limit residential density near the airfield and protect military operations. Martinez said those restrictions are based on Arizona statute and local ordinance and urged denial. The base’s correspondence was included in the staff packet and read into the record by a supervisor during the public hearing.
Raul Garcia, agent for the applicant Escondido Holdings, LLC, argued the rezoning was consistent with surrounding development patterns and said the owner would record covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) voluntarily to limit future intensity. Planning staff noted that certain statutory limitations remain for parcels inside the 65 dB contour; for example, accessory dwelling units are not permitted by right in the noise zone and any variance would be considered by the Board of Adjustment, not the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Jonathan W. Lines moved to approve the rezoning. The motion carried 4‑1 with Supervisor Lynne Pancrazi dissenting. The Board attached standard performance conditions, including recorded avigation and schedule‑for‑development disclosures, right‑of‑way dedications, irrigation access requirements, and a five‑year land‑division timeline or prior submittal of land‑division permits as specified in the adopted conditions.
Why it matters: The decision permits smaller residential lots adjacent to a military installation despite official military opposition; the conditions and recorded disclosures are intended to notify future owners of noise and range impacts and to ensure infrastructure and access requirements are satisfied before development proceeds.
What’s next: The applicant must record required disclosure statements and comply with the performance conditions before lot splits or development may proceed. Any variance requests related to density or accessory units would be handled separately by the Board of Adjustment.
