P&Z approves permit for contractor’s office move
Applicants asked for zero setbacks
The Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit that will allow a contractor’s office and workspace within 600 feet of a residential zoning district in the Light Industrial/Infill Overlay District.
Steve Pino, on behalf of Border Properties and Investments, made the request on Monday. He told the commissioners that his intention is to move the family-owned business, Sunnyside Construction, to the property located at 290 W. 10th St. Pino asked for two exceptions to the setback requirements. He received permission to eliminate the required 20-foot setback on 3rd Avenue and the 10-foot setback on 10th Street. Eliminating the setbacks grants legal nonconforming status to the current shade structure, walls and office building on the property.
Staff recommended approval of the request, and the commission unanimously approved the request. The commission gives final approval in the case of conditional use permits.
Over the years, the 14,000-square-foot lot has been used for the storage of personal items and at one point was Bob’s Pump Exchange. The property is almost completely covered by an 11,000-square-foot metal shade structure, with a 528-square-foot office under the structure.
The majority of the space under the shade is paved with concrete and would be used for warehousing and the required parking. This property can accommodate paved parking spaces and paved access.
Principal Planner Bob Blevins said in a staff report that no additional structures or buildings have been proposed. “The proposed use and exceptions should not have any detrimental effect upon neighboring properties since the structures exist and no expansion of their footprint is proposed,” Blevins said.
Pino will meet all other city development standards, including landscaping the setbacks and parkways along South 3rd Avenue and West 10th Street.
The request received three letters of support from current neighbors of the business, which is currently located at 4775 E. 30th Place, Suite A, noting that “Steve and his employees have been respectful and courteous,” “his landscaping and care for his property has been immaculate” and “they will be missed.”
One resident wrote a letter expressing opposition “because of the undefined meaning of workspace and the activities that will be carried out there which would seemingly require (zero) setbacks.” The letter writer feared that the zero setbacks would “negatively impact the neighborhood’s appearance, essentially making it less attractive to families and depreciating its residential value.”
The letter writer also expressed concern with increased traffic. However, the neighbor added, “in the interest of fairness, we are interested in reviewing and considering Mr. Pino’s and Border Properties Investments’ proposal.”
Pino explained that the city had already once approved the permit but the project was delayed due to problems with the title to the property and an encroachment situation that has been resolved.
Over the years, the 14,000-squarefoot lot has been used for the storage of personal items and at one point was Bob’s Pump Exchange.