|
|
STRATEGIC OUTCOMES |
ACTION |
|
Department: |
☒ Safe & Prosperous |
☒ Motion |
|
Community Development |
☐ Active & Appealing |
☐ Resolution |
|
|
☒ Respected & Responsible |
☐ Ordinance - Introduction |
|
Division: |
☐ Connected & Engaged |
☐ Ordinance - Adoption |
|
Community Planning |
☐ Unique & Creative |
☐ Public Hearing |
TITLE:
title
Final Plat: Desert Sands Unit 5
end
SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION:
Summary Recommendation
Approve the final plat for Desert Sands Unit 5 Subdivision. The property is located near the intersection of 45th Street and Buckthorn Drive. (Community Development/ Community Planning) (Alyssa Linville)
end
STRATEGIC OUTCOME:
This subdivision furthers the City Council’s strategic outcomes of Safe and Prosperous and Respected and Responsible, as the approval of the final plat will facilitate the development of new housing opportunities, a project that will be responsibly constructed, meeting all codes and requirements of the City.
REPORT:
The subject property was annexed into the City of Yuma on January 2, 1998, and in 2004 a General Plan Amendment was approved changing the land use designation from Suburban Density Residential to Low Density Residential. Subsequently, in 2019 it was rezoned from the Agriculture (AG) District to the Low Density Single-Family Residential (R-1-5) District. The subject property is currently undeveloped and is intended to be the fifth phase of the Desert Sands Subdivision.
Encompassing approximately 27.40 acres, the site is located south of Desert Sands Unit 2, near 45th Street and Buckthorn Drive. The proposed development includes 112 single-family residential lots, with lot sizes ranging from 5,079 to 14,841 square feet, in compliance with the R-1-5 zoning requirements. Additionally, Unit 5 will include a retention basin serving the entire Desert Sands community, enhanced with landscaping and a walking path.
Further specified in §154-05.05, the following are some of the development standards required within the Low Density Single-Family Residential (R-1-5) District:
1. The maximum density in the Low Density Single-Family Residential (R-1-5) District shall be one unit per 5,000 square feet of land (meeting the density as identified in the General Plan);
2. The maximum lot coverage in the Low Density Single-Family Residential (R- 1-5) District shall not exceed 50% of the lot area;
3. A minimum front yard setback of 20 feet;
4. A minimum side yard setback of 5 feet;
5. A minimum street side yard setback of 10 feet;
6. A minimum rear yard setback of 10 feet;
7. The side and rear yards shall have six-foot solid block walls on the property lines;
8. A maximum building height of 40 feet; and
9. A requirement for each lot to provide 2 off-street parking spaces, appropriately located.
With this development, a Municipal Improvement District (MID) has been established for the long-term maintenance of required subdivision landscaping. The MID for Desert Sands Units 4, 5, and 6 was approved on May 7, 2025, by City Council.
The Recordation of an Avigation Easement has been satisfied with the signing of the application.
Approval of the final plat for Desert Sands Unit 5 Subdivision, shall be subject to the following conditions:
1. The conditions are in addition to City codes, rules, fees and regulations that are applicable to this action.
2. The Owner’s signature on the application for this land use action shall constitute a waiver of any claims for diminution in value pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-1134.
3. The rights-of-way must be dedicated free and clear to the City, and all easements in the right-of-way must be vacated unless the easement is specifically presented to the City, and the City specifically approves its acceptance. Approval of the plat is not approval of an easement in the right-of-way.
4. Any easements on other property in the subdivision must be vacated to the extent that they would require a utility, licensed cable operator, or other licensed or franchised communications system (collectively, the "utilities") to:
a. pay to cross the easement to reach any structure on the lot;
b. prevent the utilities from providing service to any structure on a lot; or
c. effectively prevent any entity authorized to place facilities in a utility easement from using the easements or accessing potential customers crossing the easement.
5. Approval of the plat does not authorize the maintenance or installation of any facility in the rights of way, whether or not contemplated by the plat, without a license, franchise, or similar authorization issued by the City.
6. All exterior subdivision fencing shall be constructed of masonry. Access gates, whether vehicular or pedestrian, shall not be permitted along the exterior masonry fencing for the subdivision phase, including fencing along Avenue 7 ½ E (Mississippi Avenue). Such fencing can be removed during the construction of pools, in order to access utility or drainage easements, or during other residential construction; however, such masonry fencing and adjacent landscaping will need to be replaced accordingly.
7. A time frame of build-out for the subdivision shall be submitted to the Yuma School District No. 1 to enable the districts to adequately plan for future school facilities.
8. An 8 ½” X 11” paper copy of this subdivision plat, showing the location of the group mailboxes and signed as APPROVED by the local Yuma Postmaster, shall be submitted to the City within sixty (60) calendar days of the effective date of approval of the subdivision final plat and prior to the issuance of any building permit. In the event this condition is not completed within this time frame, the approval of the plat is null and void.
9. After the final plat has been approved by City Council, the applicant/developer shall have two years to record the approved plat, or the final plat approval shall be null and void.
On May 12, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend APPROVAL (6-0, with one vacancy) of the request for the proposed preliminary plat for the Desert Sands Unit 5 Subdivision, for the property located south of Desert Sands Unit 2 at 45th Street and Buckthorn Drive, subject to the conditions of approval outlined in Attachment A.
Public Comments - Excerpts from Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes:
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF
None
APPLICANT/APPLICANT’S REPRESENTATIVE
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Motion by Lorraine Arney, second by Jorge Gonzalez to APPROVE SUBD-43815-2025 as presented. Motion carried unanimously, (6-0) with one vacancy.
Planning Commission Preliminary Plat Staff Report - Attached
The City Council’s approval of this motion accepts the final plat of Desert Sands Unit 5 Subdivision as submitted, including the conditions of approval set forth.
FISCAL REQUIREMENTS:
|
CITY FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
BUDGETED: |
$ 0.00 |
|
STATE FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
AVAILABLE TO TRANSFER: |
$ 0.00 |
|
FEDERAL FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
IN CONTINGENCY: |
$ 0.00 |
|
OTHER SOURCES: |
$ 0.00 |
FUNDING ACCOUNT/FUND #/CIP: |
|
TOTAL |
$ 0.00 |
|
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
NONE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION FORM THAT ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK:
NONE
IF CITY COUNCIL ACTION INCLUDES A CONTRACT, LEASE OR AGREEMENT, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTING THE DOCUMENT FOR SIGNATURE AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL?
☐ Department
☐ City Clerk’s Office
☐ Document to be recorded
☐ Document to be codified
|
Acting City Administrator: |
Date: |
|
Jennifer Reichelt for John D. Simonton |
10/27/2025 |
|
Reviewed by City Attorney: |
Date: |
|
Richard W. Files |
10/26/2025 |