BISBEE — The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss dockets over two nights on Wednesday and Thursday.

Last month’s meeting was canceled due to the failure to give public notice. The commission normally does this by posting meeting notices and agendas on the county Web site and the bulletin board outside of the supervisors building.

To deal with all the issues from last month in addition to this month’s dockets, the commission members decided to hold two meetings.

Wednesday agenda

One of the issues to be determined by the commission will be the application for a special-use permit requested by Molly Barke, who wants to manufacture concrete items such as fountains, statues and bird baths at Paradise Fountains and Pottery, 2566 N. Calle Primero, Whetstone. The property is owned by Charles and Carson Spegal.

No additional structure will need to be built as the manufacturing supplies and paint can be housed in a small garden shed on site.

The property, however, has a history of noncompliance, according to the planning report. In February 2004, there was a violation for operating an impound yard without a permit. Then in May 2007, a violation was issued for operating a pottery manufacturing business without a permit.

In the summary, planner Michael Turisk states, “ ... Despite the small scale of the proposed activities, the site’s proximity to area residences and the fact that the Whetstone community consists largely of residential and retail uses, manufacturing is considered inappropriate and could potentially set a precedent for similar intense uses. Despite no apparent complaints about the sales activities, there is concern that the more intense nature of even a small-scale manufacturing as proposed has potential to disturb area residents especially since the site is too small to meet the setbacks required for special uses.”

The staff recommends denial of the request.

In another Whetstone matter, Meade Clyne has requested a rezoning of six acres on Sands Ranch Road and Highway 92. It will also require amending the county comprehensive plan.

Clyne is requesting the zoning be changed from RU-4 (single family residence on minimum four acres) to GB (general business) to establish a mixed-use development that may include retail and professional services with a residential component.

The request has raised opposition in the rural area where residents cite increased traffic, dust and noise as well as concerns about exactly what would be built on the acreage.

As Theresa Zapotocky says, “I moved to Whetstone to get away from the city. I don’t want the city to come to me.”

Planning staff has recommended approval even though there appears to be substantial opposition on file.

The commission will also decide whether to recommend a rezoning request made by Danny and Mary Mullins to establish retail shopping on the south side of Highway 92 in Palominas. The 2.27-acre parcel is currently zoned RU-4 (residential with a four-acre minimum lot size). The request is to change that to GB (general business). The plan is to have a 14,000-square-foot retail center with seven individual retail spaces of 2,000 square feet each.

Also on the agenda is a request for a special-use permit to allow overnight boarding of pets at Leather and Lace Pet Grooming at Highway 92 and South Riverside Street in Palominas.

Lloyd and Bonnie Trachtenberg propose to construct an additional boarding and grooming structure, several dog runs and other ancillary structures to accommodate 45 pets on the 27,000-square-foot parcel.

Staff recommends approval of the request.

Commission members will determine whether to approve a special-use permit to an overnight pet boarding facility that would house as many as 15 animals on a 27,000-square-foot lot at 10351 Riverside St. in Palominas.

Staff has recommended approval of the request.

 The commission members will also discuss the preliminary plat of King Ranch Subdivision. It is proposed as a 160-lot subdivision, owned by Kenneth Komenda, on 478 acres one mile west of Kings Ranch Road in Palominas.

Komenda has exercised the conservation subdivision option which provides a 34 percent density bonus and lot flexibility as long as 50 percent of the land is maintained as open space.

Thursday agenda

Ted Simon of Hawg Riding Fools Motorcycle Club has requested the commission approve a special use permit to legitimize the club’s current meeting facilities on Cactus Blossom Drive in Benson.

The 960-square-foot building, which is currently zoned MH-72 (Multiple household residential; minimum lot size 7,200 square feet), has been in use for the club for the past 10 years for weekly meetings and special events.

Since there have been no complaints of the club using the premises in the residential area, the planning staff has recommended the commission approve the request.

Developers of Stronghold Area Recreational Park are looking to have a special-use permit granted in 2002 modified.

The modifications are: waiver for screening around the trash bin; 2 inches of gravel in the parking area; and landscape and maintenance requirements

Turisk notes that the request for modifications came after a failed inspection just three months ago.

Staff does recommend approving the waiver for the screening around the trash bin. But as for the the other two waivers, staff has recommended denial.

Healing Hearts Animal Sanctuary also seeks waivers on a special-use permit that was granted in July by the commission.

Betty Welton, founder of Healing Hearts, is requesting the county waive the 2-inch gravel requirement for parking areas and driveways; reduce the setback to accommodate a nonresidential driveway adjacent to a residentially-zoned site; and a reduction of driveway width that is less than 24-feet wide.