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BISBEE — In addition to a work session on wind farms, the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss five other dockets concerning a special-use permit, rezonings and amendments to the the county subdivision regulations during the monthly meeting to be held Wednesday.
Two amendments to the subdivision regulations are being proposed that deal with reviews of subdivision improvement plans, which are engineered design plans for all road and drainage improvements within a development, Planning Manager Susana Montana said.
“Currently, improvement plans are reviewed by the county highway and floodplain department staff or are transmitted by staff to a county-retained engineering consultant who reviews them for compliance,” Montana explained. “The county has contracted with the Willdan Group to perform this engineering consulting on subdivision tentative plats, improvement plans and final plats in order to provide additional assistance when the workload exceeds the ability of county staff to review applications on a timely basis.
Review of drainage reports, road improvement plans and transportation analysis reports need civil engineering skills that are from time to time absent due to staff turnover.”
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That outside help comes at a cost, so those fees for review of subdivision drainage reports will be reviewed by the commission. The proposed fee hike would go from $125 per page to $350 per page for the first review and then if there are subsequent changes, another $200 fee would be required.
“The current fee structure for subdivision tentative plats, final plats and improvement reviews does not cover the actual cost of the county consulting engineer,” Montana added. “At present, the planning and zoning department is fully staffed, and so the reviews can be reviewed by staff. However, at times, the workload of the highway and floodplain department staff is so great that the review of drainage reports must be sent to the consulting engineer.”
The commissioners will also discuss allowing the developers to opt out of county review and select a certified engineer of their choice. Builders must meet all the county criteria for construction, and the county can still issue a stop work order if a problem is discovered during an inspection.
A special-use permit request for an existing childcare center run in the home of Cenia Roman on Palm Avenue in Pirtleville is also on the agenda. Granting the permit will legalize her 18-year business venture. Staff has recommended approval of the permit.
Country Estates Baptist Church is seeking a rezoning of a four-acre parcel from TR-36 (transitional residential with a minimum lot size of 36,000 square feet) to GB (general business) to add a sanctuary and allow for other signage options. Planner Keith Dennis said the church wanted to obtain a building permit for an on-site advertising sign, something that is not permitted within the TR-36 zoning code. Though church officials were advised to seek a variance for the sign, planning staff later determined the best thing to do was to rezone the property along Highway 92 south of Ramsey Road. Staff has recommended conditional approval of the rezoning.
The second request concerns rezoning a 5.92-acre portion of a 14.8-acre parcel on Whispering Pines Lane and U.S. 191 in Elfrida from TR-18 (residential with a minimum lot size of 18,000 square feet) to GB. The applicants, Robert and Anna Marie Burk, want to build an automobile repair shop on the acreage. Staff is recommending conditional approval.
Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
thankful owner wrote on May 12, 2008 6:53 PM: