After three months of work, the committee developing the Sonoita Area Business Plan has completed a draft plan which includes design criteria and use restrictions for the commercial area of Sonoita. Jesse Drake, Santa Cruz County Community Development Director, has the responsibility of ensuring that all the business owners within the designated area (which is all the commercially zoned property in Sonoita), along with those property owners adjacent to the designated area, receive a copy of the plan for comment. Others receiving copies will be Pima and Cochise County officials and departments and boards within Santa Cruz County.
The Plan “provides specific goals and design criteria to be followed in the construction of new buildings and exterior remodeling of existing structures located within the Sonoita Business Area Plan boundaries… to help preserve property values and maintain and enhance the rural environment and scenic corridors.”
The plan sets standards for, and restrictions on, building style, height, exterior materials, color, roof type, porches and overhangs, proportions, windows, doors, parking areas, external lighting and landscaping, including a list of acceptable trees that can be planted, signage, fences and walls. Chain link fences would be prohibited.
“Businesses in operation or with active building permits, located within the Sonoita Business Area Plan, are grandfathered ‘as is,’ although modifications in conformance with the design guidelines in this plan is encouraged,” the plan states. “However, when a building becomes vacant for one (1) year or more, it will be subject to the conditions set forth in this Plan.”
A public meeting to discuss the plan is set for June 2, 4-7 p.m., at Pioneer Hall, Sonoita Fairgrounds. Attendees will see the complete draft plan and learn from the committee members about the rationale for the criteria included in the plan. Community members are encouraged to leave comments that will be reviewed as the draft plan continues to be refined.
The whole purpose of the plan is to prevent further ‘big box’ stores from constructing buildings in Sonoita. “We want to preserve the ranching and southwestern style heritage that the current business area reflects” according to Susan Scott who chaired the committee. “While we can’t specifically prevent certain businesses from coming to our community, we can make sure that the new structures fit our character.”
The final step to implementing the plan will be to present it to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors for approval. Once approved it will become a tool that the county will use in meeting with prospective commercial builders.