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Neighbors of testing site air concerns
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Ainslee S. Wittig/Range News Raytheon representatives, from right, John Liebsch, deputy director of the Bike Shop group, and Nassim Slim, principal systems engineer, speak with neighbors to the Raytheon testing site. From left, county Supervisor Richard Searle and county Planning and Zoning Commissioner Dave Walters of Willcox. About 10 neighbors were also present. |
By AINSLEE S. WITTIG/Arizona Range News
Two meetings last week between Tucson-based Raytheon Missiles representatives and several North Fort Grant-area property owners "went well", said a consensus of both parties.
The first meeting was held Monday, Feb. 6, at the Elks Lodge with about 30 people attending.
About 15 people attended the second meeting Thursday at Peggy Bennett's home on Fort Grant Road.
The meetings allowed neighbors of a 10-month-old Raytheon testing site to learn what the company is doing, and discuss issues of concern as the company must now apply for rezoning of the small plot of land.
Dale Bennett, who lives in the 8000 block of N. Fort Grant Road, leased a portion (less than five acres) of his 160-acre land to Raytheon Missiles to use as a testing facility.
John Liebsch, Raytheon's deputy director of the Bike Shop group in Tucson, said "the testing is not considered high security or top secret and there are not chemicals, explosives or hazardous materials being used."
The company has been using the land about 12 miles north of Willcox on and off since April or May 2005.
"We are verifying the functionality of certain military-type hardware to be sure that it performs the way the customer hopes it will."
Linda Cleveland, who attended the first meeting last Monday night, said Liebsch and Nassim Slim, the Bike Group's principal systems engineer, "answered a lot of questions regarding noise issues, zoning issues and about the road, and it came to a pretty good ending" after about three hours.
"Most of us agreed that a special use permit would be better than rezoning to heavy or light industry," she said. "We just don't know if they'll be able to do the special use permit."
The land, which is currently zoned residential (RU4), must be rezoned as heavy or light industry in order to be used for research and development purposes, said Richard Searle, Cochise County District 3 supervisor, who attended Thursday's meeting.
"That's the rules, and whether they make sense or not, that's a different question. That's why the county is currently rewriting the entire code. But that could take another six months before the (county planning and zoning) code is approved."
Liebsch said "Raytheon is not trying to and does not want to rezone the area," but if that is the only option, they will comply.
Shim Bennett, landowner with brother Dale, said he and Raytheon want to be in compliance with the county.
"Unless the county modifies or decides not to modify those rules, we must continue with the process to comply with the county's regulations as they stand," Shim Bennett said Thursday.
Dave Walters, a county planning and zoning commission member who lives outside of Willcox, said the rezoning to heavy or light industry could be restricted to only research and development.
"We'd rather address the issue under the special use permit, but by law, we have to rezone at this point," Walters said.
Searle said he will do what he can to convince the planning and zoning department that the special use permit would be the better choice and is "what the people want."
Neighbor Danny Dillman said the three main issues neighbors have brought up are "1) the zoning, which most neighbors would rather as a special use permit than rezoning to heavy or light industry; 2) the road, where the traffic makes it worse. But the vehicles using it could slow down and Raytheon could water it, and that would help; and 3) everyone just wants to know what's going on."
Liebsch told everyone in attendance that he is not trying to hide anything Raytheon is doing there, and he discussed in detail the projects he has done there and reiterated that there is "no chemicals, explosives or fuels used and no residue or waste left. It is environmentally friendly testing."
Liebsch said that using a 21-foot diameter by 21-foot deep grain silo filled with water, they tested a rubber closure that goes over a missile hatch on a submarine by breaking through it with an air gun to make sure it did not break apart. And currently, they are testing a fuse, ordinarily be attached to a missile, sent barreling into a cement wall to be sure that it will survive the impact.
Neighbor Jacque van der Lelij said, "That's why I'm here. I had no idea what they're doing. Otherwise, I'm OK with it."
Some neighbors asked about loud noises at various times and planes flying overhead without lights.
However, Liebsch said, "We have to abide by OSHA's strict regulations. We must have a procedure plan for all the tests we do, and they have to approve it. OSHA does not even require us to wear earphones (to protect from noise), although if you were standing right next to the air gun, you might get a shock."
Searle said that the planes are from Fort Huachuca, which has permission to use the air space for night training, and they fly over without lights.
Raytheon and the Bennetts have started the process to submit a rezoning request from residential (RU4) to heavy industry by Friday, Feb. 24, he said.
"The rezoning requires a public hearing and the request will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission (within about 45 days of submitting the request). It will then go before the county Board of Supervisors about three weeks later," Apel said.
"They will be allowed to finish the current testing," which they said will take about a month, Apel said. "For other similar projects, they must be rezoned to heavy industry and a permit received for research and testing."
Liebsch said, "We don't want to delay our work by having to find a new place. The cost in other places is also higher. We want to contribute to the local economy, for which we've already contributed more than a quarter of a million dollars.
"I wouldn't want anything to preclude us from using this area," he said.
Searle said, "It's safe to say that the county wants Raytheon here too. We just must stay in the county's parameters."
The first meeting was held Monday, Feb. 6, at the Elks Lodge with about 30 people attending.
About 15 people attended the second meeting Thursday at Peggy Bennett's home on Fort Grant Road.
The meetings allowed neighbors of a 10-month-old Raytheon testing site to learn what the company is doing, and discuss issues of concern as the company must now apply for rezoning of the small plot of land.
Dale Bennett, who lives in the 8000 block of N. Fort Grant Road, leased a portion (less than five acres) of his 160-acre land to Raytheon Missiles to use as a testing facility.
John Liebsch, Raytheon's deputy director of the Bike Shop group in Tucson, said "the testing is not considered high security or top secret and there are not chemicals, explosives or hazardous materials being used."
The company has been using the land about 12 miles north of Willcox on and off since April or May 2005.
"We are verifying the functionality of certain military-type hardware to be sure that it performs the way the customer hopes it will."
Linda Cleveland, who attended the first meeting last Monday night, said Liebsch and Nassim Slim, the Bike Group's principal systems engineer, "answered a lot of questions regarding noise issues, zoning issues and about the road, and it came to a pretty good ending" after about three hours.
"Most of us agreed that a special use permit would be better than rezoning to heavy or light industry," she said. "We just don't know if they'll be able to do the special use permit."
The land, which is currently zoned residential (RU4), must be rezoned as heavy or light industry in order to be used for research and development purposes, said Richard Searle, Cochise County District 3 supervisor, who attended Thursday's meeting.
"That's the rules, and whether they make sense or not, that's a different question. That's why the county is currently rewriting the entire code. But that could take another six months before the (county planning and zoning) code is approved."
Liebsch said "Raytheon is not trying to and does not want to rezone the area," but if that is the only option, they will comply.
Shim Bennett, landowner with brother Dale, said he and Raytheon want to be in compliance with the county.
"Unless the county modifies or decides not to modify those rules, we must continue with the process to comply with the county's regulations as they stand," Shim Bennett said Thursday.
Dave Walters, a county planning and zoning commission member who lives outside of Willcox, said the rezoning to heavy or light industry could be restricted to only research and development.
"We'd rather address the issue under the special use permit, but by law, we have to rezone at this point," Walters said.
Searle said he will do what he can to convince the planning and zoning department that the special use permit would be the better choice and is "what the people want."
Neighbor Danny Dillman said the three main issues neighbors have brought up are "1) the zoning, which most neighbors would rather as a special use permit than rezoning to heavy or light industry; 2) the road, where the traffic makes it worse. But the vehicles using it could slow down and Raytheon could water it, and that would help; and 3) everyone just wants to know what's going on."
Liebsch told everyone in attendance that he is not trying to hide anything Raytheon is doing there, and he discussed in detail the projects he has done there and reiterated that there is "no chemicals, explosives or fuels used and no residue or waste left. It is environmentally friendly testing."
Liebsch said that using a 21-foot diameter by 21-foot deep grain silo filled with water, they tested a rubber closure that goes over a missile hatch on a submarine by breaking through it with an air gun to make sure it did not break apart. And currently, they are testing a fuse, ordinarily be attached to a missile, sent barreling into a cement wall to be sure that it will survive the impact.
Neighbor Jacque van der Lelij said, "That's why I'm here. I had no idea what they're doing. Otherwise, I'm OK with it."
Some neighbors asked about loud noises at various times and planes flying overhead without lights.
However, Liebsch said, "We have to abide by OSHA's strict regulations. We must have a procedure plan for all the tests we do, and they have to approve it. OSHA does not even require us to wear earphones (to protect from noise), although if you were standing right next to the air gun, you might get a shock."
Searle said that the planes are from Fort Huachuca, which has permission to use the air space for night training, and they fly over without lights.
Raytheon and the Bennetts have started the process to submit a rezoning request from residential (RU4) to heavy industry by Friday, Feb. 24, he said.
"The rezoning requires a public hearing and the request will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission (within about 45 days of submitting the request). It will then go before the county Board of Supervisors about three weeks later," Apel said.
"They will be allowed to finish the current testing," which they said will take about a month, Apel said. "For other similar projects, they must be rezoned to heavy industry and a permit received for research and testing."
Liebsch said, "We don't want to delay our work by having to find a new place. The cost in other places is also higher. We want to contribute to the local economy, for which we've already contributed more than a quarter of a million dollars.
"I wouldn't want anything to preclude us from using this area," he said.
Searle said, "It's safe to say that the county wants Raytheon here too. We just must stay in the county's parameters."
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