News
Supervisors to decide on Sunsites rezoning Monday
By Ainslee S. Wittig\Arizona Range News
Cochise County Supervisors will vote Monday, March 19, whether to allow the rezoning (RU-4 to MR-1) of 307 acres between Treasure and Lansing roads in Sunsites for an 800-home development. The meeting will be held at the Sunsites Community Center, 1216 Treasure Rd., on Monday (NOT Tuesday as reported last week), at 5 p.m.
The rezoning would change what is now only a single-family residence on each four acres to allow multi-household residences on 3,600 square-foot lots.
Proponents of the proposed plan by Shadow Mountain Development Group say it would bring in what some feel are needed services and stores, as well as improvements to infrastructure of the community, including a new wastewater treatment plant.
Opponents of the plan say the rezoning would set a precedent which would continue to allow more development without means to stop it. Water usage would increase, adding to subsidence of the water table. And noise, housing congestion and traffic and would contribute to losing the area's rural charm.
Still other issues opponents have brought up include higher taxes and the possibility that the new wastewater treatment plant would mean more new homes than the currently planned 800.
The Board of Supervisors may settle the matter, at least for now, Monday night.
The original Shadow Mountain plan (then 1,417 units) earned a tie-vote from the Planning and Zoning Commission last October, followed by rejection when Supervisor Paul Newman voted against the rezoning. Although supervisors Pat Call and Richard Searle voted for rezoning, the board had to unanimously approve the rezoning since more than 20 percent of the community had voiced opposition to the county.
In December, Shadow Mountain Development Group met with residents to work out a plan more appealing to the residents. However, in February, when the revised plan was brought back to the Planning and Zoning Commission, a 4-3 vote rejecting the rezoning sends the plan to the Board of Supervisors Monday with a recommendation to deny the rezoning.
The rezoning would change what is now only a single-family residence on each four acres to allow multi-household residences on 3,600 square-foot lots.
Proponents of the proposed plan by Shadow Mountain Development Group say it would bring in what some feel are needed services and stores, as well as improvements to infrastructure of the community, including a new wastewater treatment plant.
Opponents of the plan say the rezoning would set a precedent which would continue to allow more development without means to stop it. Water usage would increase, adding to subsidence of the water table. And noise, housing congestion and traffic and would contribute to losing the area's rural charm.
Still other issues opponents have brought up include higher taxes and the possibility that the new wastewater treatment plant would mean more new homes than the currently planned 800.
The Board of Supervisors may settle the matter, at least for now, Monday night.
The original Shadow Mountain plan (then 1,417 units) earned a tie-vote from the Planning and Zoning Commission last October, followed by rejection when Supervisor Paul Newman voted against the rezoning. Although supervisors Pat Call and Richard Searle voted for rezoning, the board had to unanimously approve the rezoning since more than 20 percent of the community had voiced opposition to the county.
In December, Shadow Mountain Development Group met with residents to work out a plan more appealing to the residents. However, in February, when the revised plan was brought back to the Planning and Zoning Commission, a 4-3 vote rejecting the rezoning sends the plan to the Board of Supervisors Monday with a recommendation to deny the rezoning.
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