Residents address higher ed, density
Concerns brought before city council at citizens forum
Two citizens expressed their concerns before the Yuma City Council during a citizens forum held Tuesday.
Local businessman Jerry LoCoco spoke about the “lack of state support” for higher education, Yuma’s water rights and the state’s history of sweeping funds.
Steve Shadle discussed proposed zoning changes to properties located on the east side of Avenue B, north of 16th Street, expressing concern that they would negatively impact the surrounding area.
LoCoco pointed out that Arizona has “extracted” several millions of dollars from Yuma County and other rural areas to balance the budget. He said it’s not just the Highway User Revenue Fund that is being swept but that also schools are not receiving the funds they should.
Where the tax is collected is where the revenue should go, he noted, but that hasn’t been the case for many years.
On the other hand, LoCoco added, the state and Board of Regents, the governing body of the state’s public university system, tout higher education as the catalyst for economic development. He said Gov. Doug Ducey ascribes to that notion as he does.
“It’s how I got out of poverty,” LoCoco said, adding that higher education equals a talented workforce which equals economic development.
He pointed to a bonding plan signed by Ducey in May that calls for about $1 billion in new investments to be directed toward research and development infrastructure at Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University (all three of which have programs in Yuma County).
According to LoCoco, 88 percent of this money will be spent in Phoenix and Tucson “with zero dollars allocated to Yuma County,” which he believes sends the message that higher education is only valuable in Phoenix and Tucson.
Even 1 percent of the $1 billion investment, or $10
million, would make a big difference in Yuma County, he added.
LoCoco also expressed concern with the state has set its sights on Yuma’s water rights.
He asked the council members that when Ducey comes to Yuma on Feb. 16, they should “ask the critical questions that we need to ask.”
He added, “If it’s not us and if it’s not you, who will stand up for Yuma County, the city of Yuma, our children and the vitality of the great community? The time to act is now. It’s up to us to stand up. There’s a travesty at hand.”
He invited the council and citizens to sign the petition started by his company and available at change. org, entitled “Higher Education in Yuma.”
Mayor Doug Nicholls responded by saying that he spends about 20 hours a week on a job that’s slated for four hours a week “standing up for this community. It is being done.” However, he noted those in the private sector, like he and LoCoco, expect things to be done quickly. But he, the mayor added, has learned that things don’t happen quickly in government.
Nicholls said he too shares the frustration and the council does “the best we can but the more people engaged the better.”
Councilman Mike Shelton thanked LoCoco for his presentation, calling it “substantive” and “well organized” and noted the overriding theme seemed to be that it’s not the people of Yuma who are the problem, but rather the state politicians who are the problem.
Steve Shadle, who lives in the area, expressed objections to proposed zoning changes to properties along Avenue B near 16th Street to High Density Residential.
Shadle noted the region is already a congested area and adding more high-density housing would only aggravate the problems with traffic, schools, sewer and public safety.
The applicants have said they want to rezone the property to High Density Residential to allow for the future development of apartments. However, specific development plans have not been presented.
Shadle also pointed out that it’s not just one case but several that have been recently presented to the city. Three General Plan amendment requests for properties in the immediate area have gone to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
South Avenue B LLC requested a change to the land use designation from Medium Density Residential to High Density Residential for 5.9 acres located at 1421 S. Avenue B. The commission held the first public hearing on Jan. 22; the second hearing will be held on Feb.12.
Ghiotto Family Properties asked that two parcels totaling 4.8 acres be rezoned from Agriculture Zoning District to High Density Residential District. The commission approved this request; it’s awaiting action by the council.
In September, the council held a public hearing and approved a request to change the land use designation from Medium Density Residential to Mixed Use for 11.9 acres located at 1401 and 1411 S. Avenue B. This request was made by the city to allow an existing business to continue with the appropriate city zoning following annexation.
Shadle also pointed out Nicholls owns property next to these properties and suggested a conflict of interest. However, Nicholls said he does not stand to gain from the rezoning changes and he has no connection with the other property owners. He also noted his property has restrictions against residential use.
“It’s no crime” to be an adjacent neighbor and to “make accusations without proof, I don’t think is appropriate,” he said.
Councilwoman Karen Watts asked for the difference between medium and high density. She was told it the maximum for medium is 12 units per acre and 18 for high density.
In response to a question by Shelton on the potential for total residents in a new high density development, Shadle said if the three properties together could have 400 units.