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BISBEE — Cochise County may end up with a new provision dealing with water adequacy in the county’s subdivision regulations.
One of the topics of discussion for the Planning and Zoning Commission during Wednesday’s meeting is the new water bills passed by the Arizona Legislature. Senate Bill 1575 requires that subdivisions receive a determination of water adequacy for at least 100 years from the Arizona Department of Water Resources before the plan can be approved by the county Board of Supervisors. This water supply must be continuously, legally and physically available.
In addition, the developers must have the financial capabilities to construct water delivery systems, as well as construct facilities to treat and store water. Developers can choose to haul water in to a subdivision if water adequacy cannot be met. All this information must be provided to the ADWR prior to obtaining approval of the subdivision from the county.
In addition, House Bill 2692, which works in conjunction with SB 1575, offers funding opportunities for water projects if the county supervisors unanimously approve the water adequacy amendment.
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If the commission members vote to recommend the measure to the Board of Supervisors, a public hearing is scheduled for the supervisors’ March 18 meeting.
The planning and zoning commission also will discuss the proposed Whetstone Community Plan. This plan will be used to evaluate the appropriateness of rezoning and special-use permit applications within the boundaries of the specified area. The plan had been offered last year, but met with some resistance of residents included in the plan’s boundaries that covered 100-square miles, that did not want to be a part of it. So, the boundaries have been re-drawn and scaled down.
The new plan sets a 10-square-mile core boundary covering around 6,000 acres. It is bounded by Lobo Lane to the north, Buffalo Drive to the south, Highway 82 at milepost 48 to the west and Highway 82 at milepost 54 to the east.
The plan defines nine land-use policies, of which eight are new designations. These new designations include: neighborhood redevelopment, low-density residential, medium-density residential, business/high-density residential, business/high density residential and public facilities, light commercial, heavy commercial and light industrial. There also are components for water conservation to create a consistent policy for reduction of water use and wildlife corridors to mitigate the impact of development on wildlife habitat and migration.
The residents and staff have held a total of 11 meetings to come up with the plan that is being presented.
Planning staff is recommending approval of the Whetstone plan and forwarding it to the Board of Supervisors.
The tentative plat for Quail Run Subdivision which consists of 51 lots on 80.53 acres on Fort Grant Road near Willcox will be reviewed by the commission members. The development is required to build all homes three feet above the 100-year flood plain and place the homes in such a manner as not to hinder the flow of flood or rain water.
Developers must also provide a water adequacy report. ADWR says in a letter dated Sept. 11, 2007, to the Arizona Department of Real Estate: “No information has been provided to the department that indicates the applicant has satisfied the adequate water requirement ... Therefore, ADWR finds the water supply to be inadequate to meet the subdivision’s projected needs.”
The Willcox Unified School District has voiced concerns about meeting the needs of an influx of new students upon build out and is requesting a $1,200 fee be placed on every home to offset costs of expanding school services. This fee would go directly to the school system.
Planning staff has recommended approval of the tentative plat.
The tentative plat of Morning Star Airpark Subdivision will also be reviewed for recommendation to the board of supervisors. This conservation subdivision consists of 142 lots ranging in size from 1.29 to 1.45 acres on 483.78 acres off Highway 191 at Birch Road north of Sunsites. It is being planned as a gated community and water will be served through one well on-site. Planning staff is recommending approval.
The Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the supervisors’ meeting room on Melody Lane in Bisbee.
Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
Pauly wrote on Feb 12, 2008 8:59 AM: