A CEMEX USA WORKER OPERATES A FRONTLOADER WHILE BEGINNING THE PROCESS
in April of removing the burned rubble which once was the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground at the West Wetlands Park. The popular Yuma playground was destroyed by fire on the evening of Dec. 28, 2014. The Yuma City Council on Wednesday is scheduled to award the contract to rebuild the park to Yuma Valley Contractors. For other items on the council’s agenda – including more discussion about a controversial apartment proposal near Arizona Western College
The Yuma City Council will take on a number of high-profile items at this week’s meetings, including a controversial apartment proposal near Arizona Western College, the transfer of operations at a golf-course restaurant to a prominent local chef and awarding the contract to replace the “Castle Park” playground.
The vote on a general plan amendment sought by Saguaro Desert Land, LLC, was carried over from the July 14 meeting after councilmembers asked for more input from nearby agricultural interests who had submitted comments critical of building an apartment complex at 24th Street and Avenue 9E.
City Administrator Greg Wilkinson confirmed last week that JV Farms, which is leasing the farmland just north of the Saguaro land, and owner Bud Grout have withdrawn their opposition to the amendment allowing medium-density housing, which would allow up to 90 units to be built on seven acres fronting on 24th Street.
A call to JV Farms CEO Vic Smith was not returned Friday. Grout said he is staying neutral in the matter, reversing his objection after representatives of the ag company told him a reduction in the number of units from an earlier version of the plan made it more acceptable to them. Saguaro originally sought a high-density classification, which would have allowed up to 125 units.
“JV Farms has decided that with this scaled-down density, that it doesn’t have that much of an effect on their operation. It’ll be more than the units it’s zoned for now, but I think they feel it’s a reasonable compromise,” Grout said.
John Weil, an attorney representing Saguaro partners and brothers Brian and Michael Hall, has said the actual number of units will be lower than 90, and there is a possibility they will be condos, though most of the discussion has been about it being a rental property.
Donna White, leader of a political action committee formed to collect referendum signatures if the council does approve the amendment, said she hadn’t been able to reach JV Farms representatives and didn’t know what prompted the change, though she doubted it had to do with the changed density.
“I’m very disappointed, I don’t know what was said, I don’t know how much was promised or what was promised, but we always thought we were moving toward the referendum, and that hasn’t changed.”
In other news, Alex Trujillo, the chef behind the “Date Night” dinner in a date palm orchard which made it onto an online ranking of the most unique dining experiences in the world, is to be assigned the restaurant concession contract for The Hills restaurant at the city-owned Desert Hills Golf Course, 1245 W. Desert Hills Drive.
Chef Alex Group LLC would be assigned the contract previously held by Frank Maisano and Frank’s Family Dining, which signed the concessionaire deal with the city in October and left the premises about six months later.
Trujillo said on Friday he can’t discuss the menu or pricing until he’s officially assigned the contract and his plan is approved by the city, but he expects some items popular with customers of his Catering by Design business.
He said he approached Maisano’s attorney to find out what the situation with the Hills was, and thinks it will be a good fit with his current activities. “It’s definitely something we have experience in doing, and we have a catering business, and so there’s not just a restaurant there but an events space, so that’s a niche for us,” he said.
This will be Yuma native Trujillo’s first standalone restaurant in the area, but he has 20 years of experience in the business, including restaurant management. He said he is considering keeping current employees of the restaurant, which is being run by the city on an interim basis.
Maisano referred inquiries to his attorney, who didn’t return a call seeking comment.
Wednesday’s regular meeting begins 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 1 City Plaza. The agenda also includes:
• A $1.07 million contract with Yuma Valley Contractors to rebuild the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground at West Wetlands Park after it was destroyed by arson Dec. 28. Yuma Valley is the recommended builder as the only other bidder, Pilkington Construction of Yuma, bid $1.12 million.
• Approval of the preliminary and final plat for the Pecan Gardens Estates subdivision at the southwest corner of 21st Avenue and 7th Street. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the 14-lot map in July.
• Adoption of ordinances to annex property at the southeast corner of 38th Place and Avenue 10E and rezone 5 acres at 3049 S. Avenue B from Agriculture/ General Commercial/Aesthetic Overlay to General Commercial/ Aesthetic Overlay.
• Introduction of an ordinance to rezone 49 acres at the northwest corner of 8th Street and Pacific Avenue, with a public overlay on the existing General Commercial/Aesthetic Overlay. This is the site of the city’s planned Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex, which is to have six softball fields. A final vote could come Aug. 19.
• Introduction of an ordinance to rezone 7.44 acres at 1651 S. 4th Ave. from General Commercial to Limited Commercial. A final vote could come Aug. 19.
• Some of Wednesday’s agenda items will be discussed at the council’s work session 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers, and there will be a presentation about local economic indicators and projects, along with another on city infill incentives and a twoyear vacant buildings policy.