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City Council public hearings Monday
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Two public hearings will be held Monday night as Benson City Council seeks input on how to spend more than $300,000 in grant funding, and to take opinions on a proposed amendment to the General Development Plan.
The council will take comments and questions regarding expenditure of $334,000 in fiscal year 2010. The money is from a Federal Community Development Block Grant, which is part of the Arizona of Housing Regional Account.
The funds may be used for water, wastewater, street improvements, community facilities, public services and economic development.
The second public hearing will give the public a chance to comment on a longtime issue in the city. San Pedro Partners LLC development has been trying to annex land west of Benson into city limits for several years.
Public Works Director Brad Hamilton said before that annexation can occur, the council must first approve a major amendment to the General Development Plan. The proposed amendment will include land-use designations and text amendments.
More specifically, in the council meeting to be held after the public hearing, staff is asking council to approve changing 148 acres from low-density residential to high-density residential and commercial.
Hamilton said the issue went before the Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month. He said commissioners instead voted to change the zoning from low density to medium density. The Council has final say on the matter.
Approval would pave the way for other items on Monday night's agenda.
With the land and text amendment, the Council will also consider approving a pre-annexation development agreement between San Pedro Partners and Jimmy and Yoke Lin Harlan.
Jerry DeGrazia, of San Pedro Partners, owns 43 acres of land to be annexed, and Harlan owns 60 acres. San Pedro Partners previously annexed 305 acres of land into city limits in 2005, but the additional property annexation is sought for access purposes.
DeGrazia is planning to build up to 850 homes on the 305-acre property.
The Council will hold the meetings starting at 7 p.m. Monday night.
Two public hearings will be held Monday night as Benson City Council seeks input on how to spend more than $300,000 in grant funding, and to take opinions on a proposed amendment to the General Development Plan.
The council will take comments and questions regarding expenditure of $334,000 in fiscal year 2010. The money is from a Federal Community Development Block Grant, which is part of the Arizona of Housing Regional Account.
The funds may be used for water, wastewater, street improvements, community facilities, public services and economic development.
The second public hearing will give the public a chance to comment on a longtime issue in the city. San Pedro Partners LLC development has been trying to annex land west of Benson into city limits for several years.
Public Works Director Brad Hamilton said before that annexation can occur, the council must first approve a major amendment to the General Development Plan. The proposed amendment will include land-use designations and text amendments.
More specifically, in the council meeting to be held after the public hearing, staff is asking council to approve changing 148 acres from low-density residential to high-density residential and commercial.
Hamilton said the issue went before the Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month. He said commissioners instead voted to change the zoning from low density to medium density. The Council has final say on the matter.
Approval would pave the way for other items on Monday night's agenda.
With the land and text amendment, the Council will also consider approving a pre-annexation development agreement between San Pedro Partners and Jimmy and Yoke Lin Harlan.
Jerry DeGrazia, of San Pedro Partners, owns 43 acres of land to be annexed, and Harlan owns 60 acres. San Pedro Partners previously annexed 305 acres of land into city limits in 2005, but the additional property annexation is sought for access purposes.
DeGrazia is planning to build up to 850 homes on the 305-acre property.
The Council will hold the meetings starting at 7 p.m. Monday night.
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Nana wrote on Nov 23, 2009 12:01 PM: