Building renovation plans move ahead
Projects would refurbish sites for medical facility, homes
Developers drew praise from the Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission for giving new life to vacant buildings. On Dec. 11, the commission gave its OK to several items that will allow developers to renovate and reuse buildings that are now considered eyesores.
Jim Roundtree, on behalf of Blackhawk Broadcasting LLC, requested a conditional use permit that will allow a medical oncology treatment facility at 1385 S. Pacific Ave. The new medical facility will employ 2025 people.
The property was previously used as the KYMA television studio. The site currently has an 8,560-square-foot building, two separate parking areas, five covered-parking structures and four large satellite dishes that will be removed.
Southwest Oncology Centers would like to relocate from 1951 W. 25th St. to a new facility to better serve patients. The applicant has noticed that some customers struggle to find treatment facilities in traditional multi-unit medical complexes. It is the intent of the applicant to create a site easy to find and navigate, with ease of access to treatment, according to a staff report.
To continue serving patients between the moving and remodeling of the property, Southwest Oncology Centers would like to place a semi-mobile radiation treatment trailer along the eastern parking lot. This semi-mobile facility would be placed and connected to services until the entire facility is complete. At that point, the report said, all treatment options will be moved indoors and the trailers will be moved offsite.
The site will need general maintenance and cleanup, such as carport repair and parking lot resurfacing, before the facility can open. Additionally, a floor plan will be provided for
the Building Safety Department to determine any additional requirements, the report noted.
The sign currently on the site will be removed and replaced with a wall-mounted and monument signs.
Referring to the hours, which the staff report lists as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Roundtree said that more flexible hours would be required. Techs might come in at 7 a.m. and the facility might be open into the evening, perhaps 6 or 7 p.m.
When the city annexed the 66,825-square-foot lot in 2005, it was zoned Light Industrial District. Commissioner Tyrone Jones asked Chad Brown, the city’s assistant planner, if medical facilities were not currently allowed in that district. Brown replied that no, the intended use of this district was for industrial uses, such as “producing things,” and that’s why a medical facility requires a conditional use permit.
The commission voted 4-0 to approve the permit.
Chairman Chris Hamel was happy to see vacant buildings that seem to be an eyesore being renovated and reused. “It’s good to see that,” he noted.
The commissioners also seemed happy that another project will revitalize three vacant homes located at 633, 641 and 643 S. 5th Avenue. A California buyer wants to refurbish the homes into their “former glory.”
Ray Robeson, on behalf of Nickolas and Nadia Ramos, requested rezoning of about 14,000 square feet from the General Commercial/Bed and Breakfast Overly/Infill Overlay District to the Medium Density Residential/ Bed and Breakfast Overly/ Infill Overlay District.
Robeson noted that with the current commercial zoning, that if the homes happen to catch fire and burn down, the city wouldn’t let them rebuild them as homes.
He said quick action was needed since in the last few weeks, the homes have been vandalized and windows broken and trespassers have left behind signs of drug use. It was only a matter of time before the homes deteriorated more, he added.
In 1920, the property was developed with three singlefamily homes. When the city adopted the zoning code in the 1950s, the commercial zoning designation was applied to the eastern portion of 5th Avenue, according to a staff report.
At this time residential uses were permitted within the commercial districts. As a result, much of this street was developed with the residences.
However, an update to the zoning code several years later eliminated certain residential uses within commercial districts, resulting in the homes becoming a legal non-conforming use.
With this request, the agent wanted to rezone the parcels to reflect their use as residential dwellings. The commission voted 4-0 to recommend the rezoning request be approved.
The commission also voted 4-0 to recommend approval of a final plat for the Alta Vista Subdivision, as requested by Vega & Vega Engineering PLC, on behalf of Elisa and Doug Owens. The Owens plan to divide the property located at 1900 S. 14th Ave. into three residential lots ranging in size from 18,631 square feet to 20,385 square feet. A 17,678-square-foot tract of land will be used for access.