ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Mon., Nov. 13, 2006
Vote blocks 5,000-home project
The next steps for Diamond Ventures in Cochise County will be slow.
Cochise County voters strongly rejected the developer's plans for a nearly-5,000-home project west of Benson, with 22,260 voters against the measure and 10,776 in favor. The vote reversed a unanimous decision in April 2005 by the Cochise County Board of Supervisors to rezone the 1,983-acre Smith Ranch property from one house per four acres.
Although no date has been set, Diamond Ventures last week invited opponents of the project to meet and talk about what comes next, said Julia Robinson, chairwoman of Voters for Rural Values, which led a petition drive against the measure.
"We've been thinking about it a lot, but we've been so busy with the campaign, it's been difficult to give it too much thought," Robinson said. "They (Diamond Ventures) invited us. I think each one of us would like to hear what the other one has in mind."
However, Robinson said she felt Cochise County residents made a statement with their votes Tuesday. Although Benson already is somewhat of a bedroom community for Tucson, most residents want to preserve the area's rural feel, Robinson said.
Supporters argued that a master-planned community would help preserve open space and conserve water. Opponents said rejecting the proposition would preserve the area's rural lifestyle, conserve water and help prevent traffic congestion. Opponents of the measure will also meet on Tuesday with county planning officials to talk about the vote and the development proposal.