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DATE: June 7, 2024 TO: Board of Supervisors From: Joel Landis, Planner SUBJECT: Z2023062 – Sonoran Equine Agenda Item: #5 Since the publishing of the BOS report for Sonoran Equine, staff received an additional e-mail in opposition. The documentation references concerns with site drainage impacting neighboring lots and the agricultural exemption process. The updated opposition figures are as follows: Letters/E-mails 1 Total Figures 6 Staff notes Super-Majority vote has not been triggered with the zoning case. Attachments: Excerpted emails (3 pages) From: BILL BIRCH <billbirch1@comcast.net> Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 4:22 PM To: Garth Kamp (BOS) <Garth.Kamp@maricopa.gov>; Michele Pribyl (BOS) <michele.pribyl@maricopa.gov> Subject: Fwd: Sonoran Equine, further info of opposition Dear Mr. Kemp and Ms Prebyl, Below is a letter I sent in concern or opposition to he Sonoran Equine, an Equine business facility being built on the corner of 144th and Rio Verde Road. I live next door and a recipient of the Sonoran Equine's build-out. Some of the concerns are outlined in the letter I recently sent to the planning departments below. Joel Landis of Maricopa County Planning wrote that I should forward my letter to you both and Mr. Thomas Galvin. Please forward to Mr Galvin as I do not have his email? I am at your disposal should you wish further information or research. Kindest Regards, William Birch 14515 E Desert Vista Trail Scottsdale, AZ 85262 503-789-2220 billbirch1@comcast.net From: BILL BIRCH <billbirch1@comcast.net> Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 8:57 AM To: Joel Landis (PND) <Joel.Landis@maricopa.gov>; Anh Harambasic (PND) <anh.harambasic@maricopa.gov>; George Everland <george@everettalangroup.com>; Michael Norris (FCD) <Michael.Norris@Maricopa.Gov> Subject: Sonoran Equine, further info of opposition Dear Maricopa County Board of Directors, We are faced with a real problem, a conundrum. Lobbyist convincing legislature to allow Equine operations the Agriculture Exemptions meant for crop growing has obvious issues. The Sonoran Equine, given cart blanch AGG zoning to do as they please without constraints, has allowed the creation of a flood plane from a sloped once stable 12 acre lot, safety, flood and planning departments are not involved. Left unchecked, there is now an estimated 50% more wash pressure on what is an existing ADOT study of flooding and silt deposition on 146th and Rio Verde Road, causing potential carcinogen, silt, erosion and flood water buildup/damaging the surrounding properties as well the 146th and Rio Verde Road issue. Thru the AGG exempt caveat, the county has allowed the potential of +2X water pressure on an already problematic area, an existing safety issue ADOT themselves are at a seemingly loss to address. A funneled and sloped multi acreage heavily compacted drainage basin was built as an Equine site with the ability to dump +2X the existing water, plus potential carcinogens, into existing wash ways; mind you a residential area. The clear and open potential for damage to neighboring properties and the counties own under study roadway, rather mind boggling, reckless and liable. All we need is a good rain period for this to ferret real and unmitigated damage and obvious safety issues to the roadway… Giving open and unrestricted AGG use permits to horse properties intended for Agriculture usages is a bad idea. These permits were constituted for grading and plant growing operations. In residential areas omitting comprehensive drainage and planning department compliance's is not only a bad idea, it throws down the exact bylaws of the county is meant to enforce; flood control, preservation of the desert environment, protection of the residences and safety of their taxpaying public. Use studies, originally meant to secure the entire area, are needed and now vacated. In this case, care and upkeep of the operation and the addition of robust and strategically placed catch basins should mitigate the issues. What happens if legislation remains in place from the lobbying Equine groups and in the above outlined results in a fatality, health and/or major nuisance issues? William H Birch 14515 E Desert Vista Trail Scottsdale, AZ 85262 503-789-2220 AZ house Lot # 219-39-187L