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Council to reconsider general development plan amendment
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The City Council will be reconsidering an amendment to the General Development Plan (GDP) on March 22, an approved measure voided in January after City Attorney Michael Mas-see took responsibility for an oversight in the application of state laws.
In November, the Council passed the measure that would pave the way for property owners west of State Route 90 to rezone up to 148 acres of land from low density residential to high density residential and commercial.
The amendment is required before the land can be rezoned or annexed into city limits.
In the original vote, the council was divided, passing the measure 4-3.
In December, Benson resident Tom Fitzgerald collected enough signatures to require a special election for voters to accept or reject the council approval. But the election was deemed unnecessary when Massee came forward in January with a state law that he had overlooked.
Any amendment to the general development plan has to be approved with a super majority of the council. The November approval was voided because it did not receive the required five votes.
Council now wants to reconsider the measure and hopes to get enough votes to make the amendment legal.
A public hearing will be held Monday, March 22, at 7 p.m. where the agenda states, "The mayor and Council will receive comments from the public regarding a proposed major amendment to the general development plan that would change the land use designation on up to 148 acres in the vicinity of Interstate 10, west of State Route 90."
During the last three months, it has been unclear why the GDP amendment is needed.
Prior to the original vote, council members said Jerry DeGrazia of the 850-home San Pedro Partners development needed the amendment to move forward with annexation plans.
Several years ago, the developer received unanimous approval from the City Council to amend the GDP and annex 305 acres into city limits.
The recent GDP proposal is 148 acres of land owned by four different property owners, including 60 acres owned by the Harlan Land Trust and just over 40 acres owned by DeGrazia.
But DeGrazia has said defeat of this proposal would have no impact on the number of homes he is allowed to build.
Mayor Mark Fenn and City Manager Glenn Nichols say the amendment is needed to make the land "contiguous."
Nichols said the council will reconsider the measure March 22 with a vote expected to take place some time in April.
The City Council will be reconsidering an amendment to the General Development Plan (GDP) on March 22, an approved measure voided in January after City Attorney Michael Mas-see took responsibility for an oversight in the application of state laws.
In November, the Council passed the measure that would pave the way for property owners west of State Route 90 to rezone up to 148 acres of land from low density residential to high density residential and commercial.
The amendment is required before the land can be rezoned or annexed into city limits.
In the original vote, the council was divided, passing the measure 4-3.
In December, Benson resident Tom Fitzgerald collected enough signatures to require a special election for voters to accept or reject the council approval. But the election was deemed unnecessary when Massee came forward in January with a state law that he had overlooked.
Any amendment to the general development plan has to be approved with a super majority of the council. The November approval was voided because it did not receive the required five votes.
Council now wants to reconsider the measure and hopes to get enough votes to make the amendment legal.
A public hearing will be held Monday, March 22, at 7 p.m. where the agenda states, "The mayor and Council will receive comments from the public regarding a proposed major amendment to the general development plan that would change the land use designation on up to 148 acres in the vicinity of Interstate 10, west of State Route 90."
During the last three months, it has been unclear why the GDP amendment is needed.
Prior to the original vote, council members said Jerry DeGrazia of the 850-home San Pedro Partners development needed the amendment to move forward with annexation plans.
Several years ago, the developer received unanimous approval from the City Council to amend the GDP and annex 305 acres into city limits.
The recent GDP proposal is 148 acres of land owned by four different property owners, including 60 acres owned by the Harlan Land Trust and just over 40 acres owned by DeGrazia.
But DeGrazia has said defeat of this proposal would have no impact on the number of homes he is allowed to build.
Mayor Mark Fenn and City Manager Glenn Nichols say the amendment is needed to make the land "contiguous."
Nichols said the council will reconsider the measure March 22 with a vote expected to take place some time in April.
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Tommy T wrote on Mar 10, 2010 5:11 PM: