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Elfrida health center's gardening plan approved
By Shar Porier/Wick Communications
BISBEE - Older gardeners in Elfrida can get their garden gloves on - the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted last Wednesday afternoon to approve a special-use permit to expand the community garden.
Chiricahua Community Health Center started the three-acre garden a few years ago with a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to encourage senior citizens to be active, socialize and improve their all-around health.
The experiment worked and now the community and the center are planning to expand it, add two greenhouses, add rest rooms that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and create a new entrance, said Susana Montana, planning and zoning manager.
At the time the garden was planned, the center set up the garden and accessory structures without permits. Now it's in compliance.
Montana said the county has no zoning category for a community garden. There is a category for nurseries, but that would not apply in this case.
Richard Sampson of Chiricahua Community Health Center told the commissioners that all proceeds from the sale of produce will be tilled back into a fund for gardening supplies.
Other action
Commission members unanimously approved the rezoning of a 1.75-acre plot from R-9 (single-family dwelling on a 9,000-square-foot parcel) to NB (neighborhood business) to legitimize a hay sales operation. Richard Ramirez and Ramon Guerrero applied for the change after zoning staff in May recorded a violation for operating a feed store without a permit and again in July for mobile home placement, construction of a small chapel and operating a commercial horse boarding operation and hay sales. Montana noted there was some confusion over when the facilities had been constructed.
The commission welcomed Gary Brauchla, the newest member of the commission, and warned him that most meetings normally last more than an hour.
Commissioners tabled a request for a special use permit to legitimize the existing business Yaqui Electric on Madera Drive in Hereford.
There will be no Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in October. The next scheduled meeting is Nov. 18.
Chiricahua Community Health Center started the three-acre garden a few years ago with a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to encourage senior citizens to be active, socialize and improve their all-around health.
The experiment worked and now the community and the center are planning to expand it, add two greenhouses, add rest rooms that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and create a new entrance, said Susana Montana, planning and zoning manager.
At the time the garden was planned, the center set up the garden and accessory structures without permits. Now it's in compliance.
Montana said the county has no zoning category for a community garden. There is a category for nurseries, but that would not apply in this case.
Richard Sampson of Chiricahua Community Health Center told the commissioners that all proceeds from the sale of produce will be tilled back into a fund for gardening supplies.
Other action
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