Residents prevail as Mohave County denies Yucca truck-stop rezoning after safety, water and traffic concerns

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 5 denied a request to amend the general plan and rezone a Yucca-area parcel to allow commercial development including a large truck stop, after extensive public comment raised safety and infrastructure concerns.

Residents, business owners and local engineers packed the public hearing to oppose the proposal, calling the current frontage roads and overpasses narrow and unsafe for the anticipated additional truck traffic. "There is too much truck traffic and too much car traffic in this whole area," Supervisor Gould warned in debate, adding he could not support a decision that "hinges on what some other government agency" such as ADOT may or may not do. Several residents described frequent damage to bridge railings, near-miss incidents and recurring utility pole strikes.

The applicant, Jeff Winter of Ascencia, told the board the parcel sits between Interstate 40 and the proving grounds and that a traffic study and ADOT review would be required. "We are proposing a developed site. We have designated entries, designated exits separating traffic," he said, noting a planned ADOT-ordered traffic study and design details would follow.

Despite assurances from the applicant, board members said the local road geometry and current traffic patterns create unacceptable risk. After deliberation the board moved to deny the rezoning and plan amendment; the motion carried on a voice vote.

What this means: The county will not change the general plan or zoning for the parcel, and any future proposal would have to address the safety and infrastructure issues identified by residents and the board. The planning and zoning commission had recommended approval with a condition requiring a third-party traffic impact analysis acceptable to ADOT and county public works; supervisors expressed skepticism relying on ADOT enforcement alone.