SU240005 - Handout Memo
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DATE: June 11, 2026 TO: Planning & Zoning Commission From: Andrew Lorentzen, Planner SUBJECT: SU240005 – Cielo By Legends Agenda Item: 12 After the printing of the staff report, staff received 3 additional letters of opposition to the case. The documents reference traffic, water, noise and loss of rural lifestyle. Updated public figures: Opposition – 8 Support – 1 This represents 94% of surrounding property owners within 300’ by acreage and 62% by number. Staff notes a supermajority HAS been triggered with this SUP case. Attachments: Opposition documents (5 pages) 300’ Opposition Map (1 page) Dear Mr. Lorentzen and Members of the Board of Supervisors, I am writing in strong opposition to Case Z240005 regarding the proposed event center at 3801 W. Carver Road. This use is incompatible with Rural-43 zoning and the single-family residential character of the surrounding neighborhood. The property is bordered by large-lot homes and privately held land, and residents chose this area for its quiet, rural environment. Loud commercial events at this site have repeatedly disrupted the neighborhood and generated numerous complaints to MCSO. The area’s infrastructure cannot support commercial operations of any kind. • 38th Avenue is an unmaintained dirt road not designed for high-volume traffic. • Homes rely on private and often shared wells, many of which include covenants restricting water use to single-family residential purposes only and explicitly prohibiting commercial or agricultural use. • There is no sanitary sewer system; this and all surrounding properties depend on septic systems sized for residential use. A commercial event venue poses a serious risk of groundwater depletion and contamination due to excessive water demand and an undersized septic system. For these reasons alone, the Special Use Permit should be denied. However, the applicant’s documented history of violations makes approval even more inappropriate. Since purchasing the property in October 2020, the owner has operated an event venue illegally and without permits. County Planning and Development staff have already documented unpermitted construction, including alterations to a pre-fabricated structure and grading activities that appear to have raised site elevations and altered stormwater runoff. These changes have contributed to erosion on 38th Avenue and increased sediment deposition throughout the neighborhood. During an earlier enforcement hearing, the owner insisted that the events were merely “family gatherings,” despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The current SUP application confirms what residents have known all along: this is part of a broader commercial event-venue business with multiple locations in the Phoenix area. The applicant recently held a “neighborhood meeting,” Approximately 30–40 residents attended, and every single attendee opposed the commercial use of this property. Most concerning is the owner’s consistent pattern of ignoring county directives and continuing operations as she sees fit. Over the past four to five years, she has repeatedly disregarded enforcement actions, zoning requirements, and the judgment issued against her. There is no reason to believe she will comply with conditions of approval if this SUP is granted. I’d also like to point out that there was an event venue that was denied near the 43rd Ave and Carver area that was on a main, paved road with limited residential housing which would be more conducive for an event venue than this property and it was NOT approved. Given the zoning incompatibility, infrastructure limitations, environmental risks, and the applicant’s long record of non-compliance, I respectfully urge you to deny Case Z240005. Sincerely, Eric & Christine Baim 1 Andrew Lorentzen (PND) From: John Garretson <john.garretson@icloud.com> Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2026 6:29 PM To: Andrew Lorentzen (PND) Cc: Kay Shepard Subject: Case#su240005 regarding parcel APNB 300-09-014A Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged This Message Is From an External Sender This message came from outside your organization. Please use caution when corresponding outside the county. Att: Andrew Lorentzen , Planner c/o Maricopa Planning and Development Department I am John Garretson the manager of the Garretson South Mountain Properties LLC. We own Parcel ID number 300-09-011F which is 65 aprox. acres adjacent to the above referenced parcel which exceeds 20% of the land area surrounding case # SU240005 which requested a special use permit for a Wedding and events Venue. We are against granting such a Special Use permit. John Garretson, 480-370-3114 1 Andrew Lorentzen (PND) From: David White <davegwhite@cox.net> Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 10:04 AM To: Andrew Lorentzen (PND); Andrew Lorentzen (PND) Cc: Brandon White Subject: Protest of Special Use Permit Application SU240005 Parcel 300-09-014A, Attn: Andrew Lorentzen, Maricopa County Planning & Development Department and Supervisor Steve Gallardo Attachments: Calle Poco, Protest Opposed Wedding Venue Aerial Map.pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged June 4, 2026 Maricopa County Planning & Development Department Attn: Andrew Lorentzen RE: Protest of Special Use Permit Application S U240005 Proposed Wedding and Events Venue – Parcel No. 300-09- 014A Dear Members of the Planning & Zoning ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. Please use caution when you receive messages from new senders. Always validate the sender first. ZjQcmQRYFpfptBanner End June 4, 2026 Maricopa County Planning & Development Department Attn: Andrew Lorentzen RE: Protest of Special Use Permit Application SU240005 Proposed Wedding and Events Venue – Parcel No. 300-09-014A Dear Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission, Supervisor Steve Gallardo, Members of the Board of Supervisors, and Planning Staff: I am writing to formally protest and oppose Special Use Permit Application SU240005 for the proposed wedding and events venue on Parcel No. 300-09-014A. I am the owner of Maricopa County Parcels 300-09-075 and 300-09-076, which are located within approximately 45 feet from the proposed venue site. As one of the closest neighboring property owners, I respectfully request that this letter be included in the official record and considered by Planning Staff, the Planning & Zoning Commission, Supervisor Gallardo, and the Board of Supervisors. My opposition is based on several significant concerns regarding compatibility, safety, infrastructure, property rights, and the long-term impact this commercial use would have on our neighborhood. First and foremost, this proposal is incompatible with the existing Rural-43 zoning and the residential character of the area. This community consists of large-lot residential properties 2 adjacent to South Mountain Park and Preserve. Property owners invested here with the expectation that neighboring properties would remain residential in nature and consistent with the area's rural character. A commercial wedding and events venue is fundamentally different from the residential uses that surround it. The proposed venue would bring regular commercial activity into a quiet residential neighborhood, including large gatherings, amplified music, event traffic, vendors, rideshare vehicles, deliveries, outdoor lighting, and late-night activity. These impacts are not consistent with the peaceful residential environment that currently exists. Traffic and access present another serious concern. Access to the property requires travel along approximately one-half mile of private roadway and easements through an existing residential neighborhood. These roads were designed to serve local residents, not commercial events with dozens or potentially hundreds of guests. The roadway contains several safety challenges, including narrow sections, limited maneuvering space, flood-prone areas during storm events, a bridge crossing near the SRP Western Canal, poor nighttime visibility, lack of street lighting, and road conditions that are privately maintained rather than built to commercial standards. Introducing wedding and event traffic onto this roadway will increase risks for residents, visitors, and emergency responders. Emergency access and fire safety are also major concerns. The property is located adjacent to South Mountain Park and Preserve, an area that is particularly vulnerable to wildfire risk. Increased vehicle traffic, outdoor events, and commercial activity near the preserve create additional concerns regarding emergency response capability and fire protection. The surrounding infrastructure was never designed to support a commercial entertainment venue of this nature. As one of the nearest property owners, I am particularly concerned about the direct impacts on my property. The proposed venue would introduce noise, headlights, parking activity, outdoor lighting, and late-night events within close proximity to my land. These impacts would substantially interfere with the quiet enjoyment of my property and diminish the rural atmosphere that attracted me to this area. My family has invested in these parcels with plans to construct two luxury custom homes. One of the primary reasons for acquiring these properties was their unique setting by South Mountain Park and the scenic mountain views that define this area. The introduction of a commercial event venue would negatively affect those views, reduce privacy, alter the character of the neighborhood, and undermine the value of our investment. This area is valued for its natural beauty, dark skies, open space, and tranquility. Those qualities are increasingly rare in Maricopa County and deserve protection. A wedding and events venue hosting large gatherings, outdoor activities, amplified music, and evening 3 events is simply not compatible with the preserve environment or the surrounding residential community. I also understand that a substantial number of neighboring property owners oppose this application. See the attached protest for 65 Acres we received from John Garretson delivered to Maricopa County in opposition where over 3/4 of the neighbors contiguous to the proposed Wedding venue appear in opposition with property values far exceeding that of the proposed commercial Wedding Venue property. Based on discussions within the community, it appears that a significant majority of the adjacent property owners share concerns regarding traffic, safety, noise, property values, and the long-term impact on the neighborhood. Commercial event facilities are better suited for locations specifically planned and equipped for commercial activity, with public roads, adequate infrastructure, lighting, municipal services, and emergency access designed to accommodate large gatherings. This property and its surrounding neighborhood do not possess those characteristics. For all of these reasons, I respectfully request that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommend denial and that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors deny Special Use Permit Application SU240005. Thank you for your consideration and for including this protest letter in the official public record. Respectfully submitted, David G. White, Manager David G. White PLLC Owner, Parcels 300-09-075 and 300-09-076 davegwhite@cox.net 602-525-6622 Attached Protest Letter from John Garretson and Aerial Map: Depicting a Partial View of Properties in Opposition to the Commercial Wedding Venue by South Mountain Park: