News
Solar park eyed for Benson, would create jobs
Adam Bernal/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
A new solar park has been planned for the area south of Aviation Drive to help bring more jobs to the Benson area and make it an attractive option for outside businesses.
At the city council meeting Jan. 12, council unanimously approved rezoning 25 acres near Aviation Drive from RT (Rural Transitional) to I-2 (Heavy Industrial). The application from Colt RR, LLC to the city's planning and zoning department described the concept of an industrial business complex specializing in alternative energies, including research and development, manufacture, warehousing and wholesale activities.
Colt RR LLC, is a group of land improvement contractors and ranch property owners who purchased the rezoned property.
The property is south of Aviation Drive, west of Ocotillo Road and east of Benson Municipal Airport.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning of the parcels on Dec. 9, 2008.
Benson resident Kevin Rasch, one of the owners of Colt RR LLC, said the rezoned 25-acre property is the first phase of a long-term solar park development that will eventually cover 200 acres.
Rasch received the money to fund the $3,200 rezoning from private funding and from investors interested in the solar park project.
Rasch said he originally bought the property for ranching but decided it could be better used as a space for potential businesses.
Rasch said plans for the property include a solar park to promote the use of solar power as an alternative fuel. He said the group is trying to target solar panel manufacturers and has discussed business ideas with Allstate Industries, which specializes in biofuel.
Another goal of the solar park project is to prepare the entire 200 acres of land to attract outside businesses and bring more job opportunities for residents. With alternative energy becoming a larger commodity, he said the possibility of bringing high-paying technology jobs to the area would be a great opportunity for many job seekers.
"It's to help the community by offering new jobs," Rasch said about his goals for the solar park. "I think alternative energy is the marketplace of the future."
Rasch hopes to use the park to promote solar power and have Benson be a leader in helping make that happen in an efficient way that is friendly to the local environment.
"We'd like this to be a model to learn how to develop the independence of bringing solar power to their communities," Rasch said.
Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols said the solar park would be a great benefit for Benson to bring in green industries and help attract more employment opportunities to the area.
"It would bring in clean energy and provide jobs for people in the community," Nichols said.
After receiving the rezoning approval, Rasch hopes to get the rough grading done sometime in early 2009. There are also plans in the spring to show the land to potential business clients, he said.
A new solar park has been planned for the area south of Aviation Drive to help bring more jobs to the Benson area and make it an attractive option for outside businesses.
At the city council meeting Jan. 12, council unanimously approved rezoning 25 acres near Aviation Drive from RT (Rural Transitional) to I-2 (Heavy Industrial). The application from Colt RR, LLC to the city's planning and zoning department described the concept of an industrial business complex specializing in alternative energies, including research and development, manufacture, warehousing and wholesale activities.
Colt RR LLC, is a group of land improvement contractors and ranch property owners who purchased the rezoned property.
The property is south of Aviation Drive, west of Ocotillo Road and east of Benson Municipal Airport.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning of the parcels on Dec. 9, 2008.
Benson resident Kevin Rasch, one of the owners of Colt RR LLC, said the rezoned 25-acre property is the first phase of a long-term solar park development that will eventually cover 200 acres.
Rasch received the money to fund the $3,200 rezoning from private funding and from investors interested in the solar park project.
Rasch said he originally bought the property for ranching but decided it could be better used as a space for potential businesses.
Rasch said plans for the property include a solar park to promote the use of solar power as an alternative fuel. He said the group is trying to target solar panel manufacturers and has discussed business ideas with Allstate Industries, which specializes in biofuel.
Another goal of the solar park project is to prepare the entire 200 acres of land to attract outside businesses and bring more job opportunities for residents. With alternative energy becoming a larger commodity, he said the possibility of bringing high-paying technology jobs to the area would be a great opportunity for many job seekers.
"It's to help the community by offering new jobs," Rasch said about his goals for the solar park. "I think alternative energy is the marketplace of the future."
Rasch hopes to use the park to promote solar power and have Benson be a leader in helping make that happen in an efficient way that is friendly to the local environment.
"We'd like this to be a model to learn how to develop the independence of bringing solar power to their communities," Rasch said.
Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols said the solar park would be a great benefit for Benson to bring in green industries and help attract more employment opportunities to the area.
"It would bring in clean energy and provide jobs for people in the community," Nichols said.
After receiving the rezoning approval, Rasch hopes to get the rough grading done sometime in early 2009. There are also plans in the spring to show the land to potential business clients, he said.
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