SAFFORD — A large parcel of land in Graham County, across the street from a new park under development in the City of Safford, was zoned this week for multi-family housing development.
The Graham County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the rezoning of 250 acres of land on the south side of Discovery Park Boulevard at 8th Avenue from general land use (A) to multi-family residential (R-M).
“The property is excellent development property. It’s not farm land and it doesn’t take away from Ag,” said Supervisor John Howard. “We’re in dire need of housing and it just opens up a lot of opportunity.”
The owners of the property, Tri County Materials, represented by George Vlassis, said they do not yet have a masterplan for the land, other than its unlikely the entire 250 acres would be used for multi-family housing.
“That’s lots and lots of people,” Vlassis said.
Despite being adjacent to the City of Safford and having access to Safford utilities, Graham County Planning and Zoning Director Steve McGaughey said the owners have no plans to annex into the city.
“It’s been said multiple times that he should be annexed and do this inside the City of Safford because he’s up against them, but he has no intention of working with them. He said, ‘If they want it after we build it, that’s fine,’ ” McGaughey said.
