Development coming to Martinez Lake

The Martinez Lake area's reputation as a small retirement and vacation community could be changing, and the county wants to be ready for the growth expected to come to the lakefront.

Some shifts in residential activity have already been observed. More change is expected to be driven by a land auction of 150 acres by the Arizona Land Department and a major development project.

As part of the planning process to deal with this anticipated growth and changing demographics, county officials want to hear from area residents - their questions, concerns and suggestions in dealing with the projected development of the far northwestern portion of Yuma County centered on Martinez Lake.

A community meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Martinez Lake Fire Station, 10845 E. Martinez Lake Road. All area residents, both full time and part time, are invited to attend and share their thoughts. And county planners hope several will volunteer to serve on a citizens advisory committee.

All this input will help county planners update the 2010 Yuma County Comprehensive Plan, said Anne Eichberger, long-planning manager for the Yuma County Department of Development Services.

A similar process was undertaken for the Dome Valley Planning Area and the Foothills Planning Area and it worked well, she said. Other areas remaining to go through the process include Dateland, south mesa, Yuma Valley and possibly North Gila.

"The idea is to create a long-range planning function that is a living, breathing process," Eichberger said. "It brings people together and allows for conversation. Sometimes they bring up issues."

Added Andrew Fangman, long-range planner: "We can tailor the plan to what people there want to do."

It also provides a network of interested residents to share developing information with, he said. "It gives us a list of people who are aware of the planning process and will speak up."

A study of the area indicates a trend in the development patterns away from the current predominantly manufacturing housing toward site-built family housing, Fangman said. While 31 housing units were constructed between January 2000 and August of 2007, there have been no placement permits issued for manufactured homes since 2003.

Two other factors are expected to have a major impact on the area, he said.

One was the rezoning in 2005 of nearly 44 acres near the end of Martinez Lake Road. According to the study, the rezoning allows for the redevelopment of Martinez Lake Resort to replace a 146-space recreational vehicle park.

The first phase would include 140 single-family residential lots, 48 condominium units and a 10-unit apartment building. Future phases would include a hotel, 104 single-family residential lots and 222 condominium units.

The study also noted that the state land department is planning on auctioning off the lease on 150.5 acres in 2008, including a large portion of vacant land north of Martinez Lake Road.

How this vacant land is developed will have a major impact on the planning area, Fangman said.

The study of demographics and development trends in the Martinez Lake Planning Area may be found on the Web at www.co.yuma.az.us/dds/PDF/PZ_MrtnzLkBckgrndStdy.

For more information, call Fangman at 817-5178.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.