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Stalled development denied another extension
County cites lack of progress, economy and environmental issues as reasons for halting project201-
Shar Porier/Wick Communications
Herald/Review
After waiting for 10 years to see some progress at Bachmann Springs, the county Board of Supervisors gave a unanimous "no" to a request for another three-year extension during Tuesday's meeting.
According to an overview provided by county senior planner Michael Turisk, investors in the 1,700-acre development northeast of Tombstone on former ranch land requested an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan from D-rural to C-developing which set the stage for the rezoning request from RU-4 to PD-2. Both were approved in February 2000. The plan was to build a 305-acre golf course, a resort hotel, 1,125 housing units with 890 acres of open space. Phase 1 involved the golf course and 120 housing units with 400 acres of open space (including the golf course.)
Over the past 10 years, only the golf course, an equipment storage barn, a caretaker's residence and marketing tents were constructed, noted Turisk. A number of extensions have been granted over that time and each time the department recommended approval.
That was not the case Tuesday. Department director Benny Young withdrew the recommendation for approval and instead asked for denial based on the lack of progress following the condition: "If there is no substantial progress toward the completion of Phase 1 of the master development plan within 48 months of final approval, then the rezoning will revert to RU-4 and all subsequent approvals, modifications and conditions will be null and void."
Young also pointed out that if the development reached build-out, the population of the development would be larger than that of Tombstone. "I'm very concerned with water, waste water and the road system."
Though Rick Carey, one of the investors in the property, pleaded for the extension due to the millions of dollars invested in the golf course construction, engineering and design, acquisition of right of way, electrical power substation upgrades, water and waste water system designs and 11 wells that have been drilled, the supervisors denied him.
The decision was in part reached due to the change in water use in the county, particularly in the area of the Sierra Vista SubWatershed. The development was just a bit north of the watershed boundary. Though the plan was to use re-use water for the golf course, that didn't happen. Now the course has reverted back to the desert it once was.
There was also the matter of unpaid property tax of $35,000.
If the developers couldn't do anything with the property when times were good for housing, Supervisor Richard Searle reasoned that under the current circumstances, sales would be far more difficult. And he was concerned about the water use. "Our future water outweighs the money of the investors. They still have all the design plans and they can come back when the money is in place."
The supervisors voted to deny the time extension, revert the property back to RU-4 and restoring the comprehensive plan as it was 10 years ago.
On a second time extension matter, the supervisors approved the request of Robert Burke who, due to the tough economic times and Arizona Department of Transportation mandates, has been unable to construct a mechanics shop at the corner of Whispering Pines and Highway 191 in Elfrida.
Burke hit trouble when ADOT required him to install turn lanes on Highway 191 and a $30,000 cattle guard. For someone just wanting to fix cars, the requirement was more than he expected.
COCHISE COUNTY SUPERVISORS ALSO ...
Approved three contracts with Qwest totaling $2,290 per month to provide improved Internet access for the county libraries. County library director Lise Gilliland said the added bandwidth would cost twice as much as what the county had been paying, but that the added service was needed.
Approved a three-year extension of the Rancho Arizona subdivision assurance agreement, which is a contract between the county and a trust company that guarantees lots will not be offered for sale until all improvements are constructed. The owner requested the extension due to the economy.
Approved a three-year agreement with Linda Vista Phase 4 assurance agreement, also due to the economy.
OK'd an intergovernmental agreement with the state Department of Revenue to process county property tax for $18,386.
Approved a contract renewal between the sheriff's office and Keefe Commissary Services that creates about $60,000 in revenue annually for the office.
Approved a memorandum of understanding between the county health department and the state for the reproductive heath/family planning program that reflects a change in the targeted population. The state will only test women under 25 years old for Chlamydia to prevent the complications of infertility.
Shar Porier/Wick Communications
Herald/Review
After waiting for 10 years to see some progress at Bachmann Springs, the county Board of Supervisors gave a unanimous "no" to a request for another three-year extension during Tuesday's meeting.
According to an overview provided by county senior planner Michael Turisk, investors in the 1,700-acre development northeast of Tombstone on former ranch land requested an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan from D-rural to C-developing which set the stage for the rezoning request from RU-4 to PD-2. Both were approved in February 2000. The plan was to build a 305-acre golf course, a resort hotel, 1,125 housing units with 890 acres of open space. Phase 1 involved the golf course and 120 housing units with 400 acres of open space (including the golf course.)
Over the past 10 years, only the golf course, an equipment storage barn, a caretaker's residence and marketing tents were constructed, noted Turisk. A number of extensions have been granted over that time and each time the department recommended approval.
That was not the case Tuesday. Department director Benny Young withdrew the recommendation for approval and instead asked for denial based on the lack of progress following the condition: "If there is no substantial progress toward the completion of Phase 1 of the master development plan within 48 months of final approval, then the rezoning will revert to RU-4 and all subsequent approvals, modifications and conditions will be null and void."
Young also pointed out that if the development reached build-out, the population of the development would be larger than that of Tombstone. "I'm very concerned with water, waste water and the road system."
Though Rick Carey, one of the investors in the property, pleaded for the extension due to the millions of dollars invested in the golf course construction, engineering and design, acquisition of right of way, electrical power substation upgrades, water and waste water system designs and 11 wells that have been drilled, the supervisors denied him.
The decision was in part reached due to the change in water use in the county, particularly in the area of the Sierra Vista SubWatershed. The development was just a bit north of the watershed boundary. Though the plan was to use re-use water for the golf course, that didn't happen. Now the course has reverted back to the desert it once was.
There was also the matter of unpaid property tax of $35,000.
If the developers couldn't do anything with the property when times were good for housing, Supervisor Richard Searle reasoned that under the current circumstances, sales would be far more difficult. And he was concerned about the water use. "Our future water outweighs the money of the investors. They still have all the design plans and they can come back when the money is in place."
The supervisors voted to deny the time extension, revert the property back to RU-4 and restoring the comprehensive plan as it was 10 years ago.
On a second time extension matter, the supervisors approved the request of Robert Burke who, due to the tough economic times and Arizona Department of Transportation mandates, has been unable to construct a mechanics shop at the corner of Whispering Pines and Highway 191 in Elfrida.
Burke hit trouble when ADOT required him to install turn lanes on Highway 191 and a $30,000 cattle guard. For someone just wanting to fix cars, the requirement was more than he expected.
COCHISE COUNTY SUPERVISORS ALSO ...
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