Dof1a Ana County panel backs 18-lot subdivision, asks for culvert documentation

The Dof1a Ana County Development Review Committee on Thursday recommended that the Planning and Zoning Commission consider approval of an 18-lot subdivision and a roadway modification for a 36-acre property near Chipwa Trail and Akenbach Canyon Road in the Tala area.

Staff described the proposal as a subdivision and a concurrent modification request. The applicant is asking to split two parcels totaling about 36 acres into 18 residential lots ranging about 1.5 to 3.3 acres. Water service would be provided by Moongate Water and each lot would use on-site septic. Access to the subdivision would come from the existing, unpaved, privately maintained Chipwa Trail; the applicant plans two new cul-de-sacs named Lonesome Mine Court and Rose Creek Mine Court and internal roads built to county standards but remaining privately maintained.

The applicant's representative, Rene Molina, said the modification includes resurfacing Chipwa Trail with base course, installing two culverts to address drainage and sight-distance issues, and constructing internal roads to county standards with asphalt surfacing (described in the record as 2 inches of hot mix over 6 inches of base course). "The roadways are to be privately owned and privately maintained," Molina said.

Committee members and staff discussed technical details for the two culvert crossings, including vertical curvature, sight-distance improvement, and minimum pipe cover. Staff reported that Flood Commission staff had commented on minimum cover at one crossing (called Crossing E) but that the issue had been addressed by email to Gregory Bustillos and that proposed cover meets the pipe manufacturer's minimum recommendations under expected loading conditions.

Several committee members asked that the Planning and Zoning packet include explicit technical documentation so the record clearly justifies any deviation from code. The committee agreed to recommend conditional approval to PNZ on that basis: the DRC requested that the pipe manufacturer's cover recommendation and an affidavit from the engineer of record confirming concurrence with the recommended cover be included in the PNZ packet.

Chair introduced the formal motion to approve the modification with that conditional documentation; the committee seconded the motion and the motion passed. No additional staff input was offered, no members of the public were present, and the committee adjourned at 9:32 a.m.

What happens next: The committee's recommendation and the requested technical documentation will be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission for its review and a final determination.