Commission recommends upzoning 102‑acre parcel near Highway 80 to general business with landscape buffer condition

The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors rezone roughly 102 acres at the northwest corner of State Route 80 and U.S. 191 from R36 to General Business (docket RZ25-17).

Staff presented the application on behalf of Snell & Wilmer and property owner Freeport McMoran, noting the parcel’s comprehensive-plan designation as a developing area and that general-business zoning already exists on adjoining Freeport-owned parcels to the east. Staff said no future user or concept plan has been submitted and described a significant on-site physical feature that could constrain development.

Attorney Mike Marowitz (Snell & Wilmer) said Freeport owns adjacent parcels and seeks consistent zoning for long-term planning tied to the future port of entry; he said there are no current development plans. Marowitz also noted a support letter from the City of Douglas in the commission packet that calls the rezoning consistent with responsible land-use planning.

A nearby resident raised questions about potential pollution and hazards; Marowitz responded that there are no immediate development plans and that the rezoning is a long-range planning action aligned with anticipated infrastructure improvements, including water and sewer lines.

Staff recommended approval with a special condition requiring a 20-foot landscape buffer along the rear property lines adjacent to the Calumet Addition at the time of development. The commission voted unanimously to forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.