Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Date: February 4, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM Location: La Villita Community Center 71 W. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita, Arizona 85629 Members Present: Commissioner Aaron Escamilla, Commissioner Kevin Rau, Vice Chair Daniel Millet, Chair Mark Ferguson, Commissioner Lori Brown _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Ferguson at 6:15 PM. 2. Pledge of Allegiance The Commission and the attending audience led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Roll Call Roll Call was called and a quorum was confirmed. Commissioner Rau was absent. 4. Public Hearing, Discussion and Possible Action 4.a Sahuarita General Plan Public Hearing Consultant Matthew Klyszeiko from Michael Baker International (MBI) said this was the second required Planning & Zoning Commission public hearing and the commission would be asked to recommend sending the General Plan update to Council. He described the two year process that began in January 2024 and explained the General Plan is a high level policy document, not zoning, and must ultimately go to voters for ratification. Mr. Klyszeiko summarized outreach including three community workshops, online materials, three surveys with 780 plus responses, study sessions, youth outreach, event pop ups, and the 60 day review from October 1 to November 30 with 37 public comments and 8 agency comments. Key themes included balancing growth with a small town feel, improving land use compatibility, expanding dining shopping and jobs, and addressing water conservation and 1 reuse. He highlighted adding an implementation action matrix to show how the plan will be carried out. Mr. Klyszeiko said the update streamlines the prior plan’s 57 goals and 208 policies, keeps land use changes mostly minor inside town limits, and recognizes regional items like I 11 and the Sonoran Corridor without endorsing them. He also recapped three issues raised Monday: Copper World and the Sonoran Corridor were discussed as items the Town monitors but does not directly control through the plan, and a request from the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection to use Pima County’s Conservation Lands System. He presented two options: add a flexible new policy to consider the county system during post annexation entitlement reviews, or make no change because similar environmental policies already exist and the county system fits better at the zoning level. Next steps are the February 9 Council work session and the February 23 Council hearing, with the goal of placing the plan on the August 2026 ballot. He emphasized any changes must be stated clearly and exactly in the commission’s motion so the language can be carried forward to Council. Discussion focused on whether the plan sufficiently links economic development with water, air quality, and resource conservation. While Mr. Klyszeiko cited existing conservation policies, commissioner Vice Chair Millet expressed concern that sustainability principles were not clearly tied to future business growth. Mr. Klyszeiko noted that if the Commission wanted stronger linkage, exact policy language would need to be drafted after public comment and approved before forwarding the plan to Council. Chair Ferguson opened the public hearing and one individual spoke: 1. Keith Denny urged the Town to strengthen the General Plan’s policy language regarding the Sonoran Corridor. He argued that while the plan acknowledges potential impacts such as water contamination, air quality degradation, environmental harm, and loss of scenic and wildlife resources, it also characterizes the corridor as a “transformative opportunity.” He recommended revising the language to clearly state opposition to the Sonoran Corridor, emphasizing protection of water resources, air quality, environmental assets, and the Town’s small-town character, noting that such statements would be aspirational policy guidance rather than regulatory zoning controls. Chair Ferguson closed the public hearing. Vice Chair Millet supported adding policy language that clearly balances economic development and transportation corridor benefits with community protections. While acknowledging that corridors can support economic growth, the commissioner emphasized that Town policies still shape outcomes through planning, permitting, and zoning, even without direct control over water or air quality. The concern raised was that large-scale development could outpace 2  community resources and quality-of-life protections. The commissioner recommended clarifying in the General Plan that economic growth should be guided by policies that balance business development with sustainability, infrastructure capacity, water resources, air quality, and resident quality of life. The Commission discussed adding clearer policy language to the General Plan to better balance economic development with protection of water resources and air quality. Commissioners emphasized that while the Town does not directly control utilities or activities outside its planning area, its policies guide development decisions, zoning, and permitting within Town limits and should reflect community concerns about sustainability and quality of life. Two policy amendments were agreed upon: Land Use Policy 3.5 - Promote development that respects local water resources and air quality by encouraging growth balanced with resource conservation and air quality management. Environmental Policy 1.8 - For unincorporated land within the Town’s planning area, consider the Pima County Conservation Lands System map and guidelines during post-annexation entitlement review processes. Commissioners confirmed that the language was appropriate for a general plan policy and consistent with its aspirational and guiding role. Following public comment and discussion, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the General Plan to the Town Council with the two policy amendments noted above. 5. Community Development Director's Report Nathan Barrett, Community Development Deputy Director, provided the report. 6. Future Agenda Items Nathan Barrett, Community Development Deputy Director, provided future agenda items. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 PM. 3