Yuma BOS meeting on Wednesday will decide multiple property use questions

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday this week, as a result of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday. The upcoming meeting will bring to discussion six cases from the Yuma County Planning and Zoning Commission.

Two of the cases would allow residential development of land west of Highway 195 and several miles south of the Foothills by rezoning them. By changing their designation from rural to suburban, these plots of land on County 13 ½ Street (one over 2 acres and the other over 10) would be able to grow and include construction of new houses.

Another case is a minor amendment that would allow for the rezoning of land slightly west of Highway 95 and several miles north of the Foothills, near

Blaisdell. The land, located at the southeast corner of Avenue 12E and County 8th Street, would be redesignated from rural to industrial. A large section of land already exists with an industrial designation just north of it.

The Yuma County Planning and Zoning Commission is also proposing a text amendment that would add the term “suburban homestead” to several sections that would limit its construction. A suburban homestead refers to added housing like guest houses.

The issue comes up because the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma have voiced concerns that “accessory dwelling units” like guest houses are creating and leading to encroachment on the base. The text amendment is meant to stop their construction and limit population growth around the base.

Another case looks at whether a landowner in the Foothills can use his RV as a residence, a tire repair shop and tire storage. The case has generated comments in support and opposition of the request including comments from MCAS Yuma and a petition with 38 signatures asking to keep “a number of people employed.”

The last case will ask the board to determine whether a property in Somerton has met the proper requirements to remain designated as suburban. Staff reports by the Planning and Zoning Commission say the land owner hasn’t met the requirements within the given development schedule and should be reverted to a rural designation.

The rest of the agenda includes requests for approval of various projects and programs throughout the county. The Yuma County Engineering Department is requesting the green light for three projects, two of which would lead to bids for road improvement projects in Somerton.

The Yuma County Public Health Services Department has received a total of $15,000 in awards from the Arizona Companion Animal Spay and Neuter Committee, a state program. The YCPHSD will be asking the board to increase their budget authority and accept the awards.

The board of supervisors welcomes the public to speak and opens the meeting up in the first few minutes for public comment. Although they can’t discuss or decide anything brought up by the public, they can direct staff to review anything for further discussion.

The meeting will be on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors auditorium at 198 S. Main St.