ALERT From Sandee McCullen August 20, 2007 ALERT........... Read the original alert here for complete background. Florence Junction Landfill Update……. A little background: Just a couple of weeks ago we (the public) found out about a proposed landfill to be located on the private lands just inside the BLM lands south of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. No one knew anything about the supporting data nor had the applicants met with the Middle Gila Conservation Partnership (the group doing the route inventory, evaluations and planning for motorized trails. This group has been meeting for just over 7 years). The Pinal County Open Space planning as well as the Trails Planning have never been contacted either. I was contacted about this and asked for the MGCP's Vision Statement for this area along with the Goals and Objectives that were developed for this area to be maintained as a multi-use recreation area. An article was written for the Florence paper that simply contained facts or questions regarding the need; the timing; or how does it fit with the already planned uses of the Florence Junction area. There was nothing negative nor banning of the landfill site……… just facts or questions. This article truly set the applicants on the warpath. As a result of this article the applicants did host a couple of public meetings…… one in Superior and one in Florence in the same night. A number of OHV recreationists attended the meeting in Florence (we didn't even know of the Superior meeting). There were many questions asked………….. as well as many different answers given. There were a few from the OHV community that supported the plan with no questions asked. They felt the fact that the applicants offered a new staging area and were planning on paving Cottonwood Canyon was good enough for them. The fact regarding keeping tile roofs and golf courses away as well as allegedly guaranteeing access were thought to be substantive reasons to support this landfill. They were good thoughts and maybe founded but there were no guarantees to OHV on anything. I was then brought into the picture and met several times with the applicants. It was made very clear we needed the offers in writing. They basically refused. They did however, make firm fact they felt the Zoning & Planning Commission would support them at the upcoming rezoning meeting the next week. (last Thursday). I had already contacted the Board of Supervisors and they all seemed to be 100% behind this plan and indicated they would support it as presented. When we asked for a couple of months to sit at the table and discuss some of the issues we were told an absolute "NO WAY". This was a debatable issue but the OHV Coalition wrote a letter requesting the "rezoning" of this property be held off until the Pinal County Comprehensive Planning is complete. (Approx. 18 mths - 2 yrs). Applicants were NOT happy about this and at that time they "pulled the staging area out of the offer/plans". (Result of nothing in writing) At this time both the Az OHV Coalition and the ASA4WDC felt if this was a done deal regarding rezoning, we had best at least try, to attach stipulations requiring a number of the issues be a part of the zoning itself. Well…............. I must say I'm impressed with the Pinal County Planning group. They have been working diligently for the past 4-5 years on developing a sound plan for the future of Pinal County. They CONTINUED to do this on Thursday. The Planning & Zoning Commissioners voted to 'POSTPONE THE DECISION FOR 3 MONTHS REQUIRING MORE DATA INVOLVING THE NEED AS WELL AS THE STATUS OF THE EXISTING SURROUNDING LANDFILLS." "WATER issues as well as HAZMAT issues were also asked for". The applicants vehemently pushed for a "denial" vote in lieu of a postponement. WHY, you ask? If P&Z had denied the application they could have simply overstepped P&Z and taken it to the Board of Supervisors where they believe they are unanimously supported. So, where does OHV sit in this? We MUST continuing meeting with the applicants with plans for a satisfactory staging area (they are offering only 2 acres); continue with the safety issues of concern; and the planning for the 'protected' area. The anti-access groups want this area (adjacent to the landfill itself) as a psuedo wilderness!!............ We need to show how we can "protect" the saguaros and have a trail system or play area at the same time. Continued meeting with the users of this area was one of the stipulations that they agreed to so we'll soon see whether they hold up their end of the bargain. Goes back to P&Z in November so between now and then I will be having meetings to review plans and/or issues that will benefit OHV but still uphold the goals and objectives already planned for the area. Anyone interested in joining, please let me know. Sandee Email Sandee here © 2003-2007 AZOHVC. All Rights Reserved. (Server B)