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A tree and plant nursery can continue to operate in a residential zone, the Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission decided recently.
John Reddell had sought the renewal of a conditional use permit to allow continued operation of the Desert Horizon Nursery. It is on 4.96 acres on lot 60 of the Ellsworth Suburban Mini Farms subdivision, north of the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Ryan roads.
Because of the site’s residential zoning, a conditional use permit is required for the nursery’s retail operation.
“Specifically, this request is to renew and extend the previous conditional use permit allowing the nursery and its associated retail elements on an R-143 lot,” Planner I Steven Ester said to the commission at a recent meeting.
The conditional use permit is tied to the existing site plan and uses, Mr. Ester said.
“(W)hat you’re seeing is essentially what the approval is binding it to. Any additional expansion or changes of use on-site would require a brand new site plan and CUP submittal through the Town Council’s approval. But, because this one is really just functioning as a way to continue what the business is doing now, that’s why this site plan is tied to this request,” he said.
Letters were received from two Queen Creek residents in favor of the conditional use permit renewal.
“I would like to see this business thrive for many years to come on that property,” wrote Stacy Rasmussen.
“I am very much in favor of the nursery continuing business. The alternative would probably be a strip mall or fast-food restaurant; we have enough of those businesses already,” wrote Charles Cain, who said he lives within walking distance of the nursery.
The planning commission on July 8 voted unanimously in a WebEx online meeting to approve the renewal of the conditional use permit.
Third permit renewal
Desert Horizon Nursery had made two similar permit-renewal requests in the past, with the initial approval of its CUP and site plan on Nov. 5, 2003 by the Town Council, according to town records.
Within the original conditions of approval, it was stipulated that the CUP could be renewed after five years of operation if the applicant/owner chose to continue the use. A second CUP was approved on April 1, 2009, by the Town Council, and granted an additional 10 years of time to the nursery’s operation.
“This current request will renew and extend the conditional use permit without another time limit attached. A site plan has been provided to reiterate the current site design and use occurring,” Interim Planning Administrator Erik Swanson and Mr. Ester said in a memo to the planning commission.
Although the latest application would remove any subsequent time limit, the granting of the CUP would still be tied to the site’s current size and operations, according to town records.
Due to the successful ongoing operation of the nursery without impact to the surrounding community, staff is supportive of removing the time condition.
“While future parking lot improvements are planned, the nursery will continue to be held to its existing size and operations if this request is approved. The majority of the site is used for growing plants and trees, with a small restroom and cashier area located towards the front --- east --- side of the parcel. Several adjacent parcels to the west are also used for the growing aspect of the nursery and owned by the Stevenson family,” Mr. Swanson and Mr. Ester said in the memo.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia, Inc.. USA, since 1987.
Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
He also is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows
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