April 20, 2006

FLORENCE - The stalled 772-lot Maricopa Opus planned area development southwest of the Ak-Chin Indian Community was given a green light Wednesday by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.

The project, which is slated to occupy a 226-acre parcel in the Thunderbird Farms area, an area consisting mostly of 3-acre mini-farms, is bordered on the north by Val Vista Road, on the south by Teel Road and on the east and west by Ralston and Thunderbird roads.

The case had been continued from the March 29 meeting. At that time, despite approval recommendations from the Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission and several meetings with area neighbors that brought forth extensive concessions from the developer, members of the Save Our Valley Association, a local activist group, appeared with a few minor objections. Rather than taking a lot of the board's time by conducting what would have amounted to a new hearing, Supervisor David Snider moved to continue the case to allow SOVA to meet with Jordan Rose of the Rose Law Group, representing the developer, to hash out any remaining objections to the project.

Snider announced that results of the meetings had been forwarded to the board in writing from both parties and based on the details of those meetings, he moved that the supervisors approve the zoning commission's favorable recommendation, but adding a 39th stipulation. That would provide for public access to the amenities and common areas of the Maricopa Opus project. The vote to approve was unanimous.

A zone change and PAD overlay district requested by Rose Law Group to develop the 4,223-lot Dugan Fields on a 1,231-acre parcel southwest of Stanfield was continued to May 24 at the request of the applicant. The reason given was that Arizona Water Company had filed a request for an overlapping-service area with Global Water, and the developer wanted to confer with the two utility companies regarding service to the community.

A zone change and PAD overlay district for CMX LLC to develop the 2,522-lot Trilogy at Johnson Farms on a 791-acre parcel east of Queen Creek was continued to May 3 at the request of the developer.

The supervisors approved the following requests:

-- An amendment by Banner Hospital of the 334-acre Circle Cross Ranch (northern portion) PAD overlay district to withdraw from the PAD an 82-acre parcel east of Queen Creek.

-- A zone change and PAD overlay district by Banner Hospital to develop Banner Health Center on an 82-acre parcel east of Queen Creek.

-- A zone change by Michael Peltcs to develop the 32-lot Black Rock Estates subdivision on a 36-acre parcel east of Queen Creek.

The public hearings on renaming East Mountain View Road to East Summer View Road from North Rosewood Drive to North Desert Willow Drive in Johnson Ranch and on renaming West Mountain View Road to West Hayden Park from North Desert Hills Drive to North Sierra Street in Johnson Ranch were continued to May 24 to allow for more dialogue between public works staff and area neighbors.

A public hearing in which the board was to discuss changes to the Pinal County Sanitary Code was continued to June 28 by request of the planning staff in order to resolve remaining issues with a stakeholder's group.

Sitting as the board of the Pinal County Flood Control District, the supervisors listened to a presentation on proposed changes to the flood control code and ordinance. No action was taken.