ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Thurs., Oct. 26, 2006
Cochise to vote on planned community
Voters will affirm or deny rezoning of Smith Ranch
By Richard Ducote
Future development of Smith Ranch, on the western flank of Benson and a potential "bedroom community" for Tucson commuters, rests with Cochise County voters Nov. 7.
In April 2005, Tucson developer Diamond Ventures won unanimous Cochise County Board of Supervisors approval to rezone the 1,983-acre property from one house on four acres to allow a master planned community of nearly 5,000 housing units on the property.
Opponents quickly mounted a petition campaign to put the issue before voters. More than 3,600 signatures were gathered in a month, and Diamond was unsuccessful in court trying to keep the matter off the countywide ballot.
"The whole state is watching this issue," said Christine Rhodes, Cochise County recorder. "If Smith Ranch rezoning is denied through a ballot measure," she said, similar opposition to rezonings could pop up elsewhere.
Diamond and supporters of the plan say master planning a large piece of land is a better way to conserve water and preserve open space as population pressures move to rural counties.
Popular opposition to such development puzzles some people in the development business.
"If you talk to people in the Sierra Vista area — politicians and residents alike — what upsets them the most is wildcat development," said Roger Yohem, vice president for the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association. "Then, when a well-thought-out, well-designed community plan comes along, opposition springs up."
Not all the popular sentiment is against the Smith Ranch plan, according to Priscilla Storm, one of the project managers for Diamond.
"I think the primary benefit of the master plan is that it is phased to allow homes to come on line gradually as the market and infrastructure can absorb growth."
Storm said voters who really study the plan would likely support it.
Full story: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/152920