BELLA LA PAZ PRE-DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

You may have noticed a lot of information on La Paz County and the Master Planned Community being created at Bella Laz. Its true I am a bit exicted to see this project take shape. So let me share just a little more about the pre-development activities which have been completed, or are in the process of completion, at the Bella La Paz.

THE PROJECT MASTER PLAN

THE AMENDMENT OF THE LA PAZ COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. The county’s Comprehensive Plan was amended during December, 2006. As a result, the Bella La Paz property was designated as RURAL COMMUNITY. This means that Bella La Paz can be rezoned with residential densities of up to 5 dwelling units per acre. There is very little RURAL COMMUNITY property in La Paz County and the County does not seem to be inclined to create more of it.

HIGH DENSITY ZONING. The County Board of Supervisors has approved the rezoning of the first phase of Bella La Paz, known as Intaglio, at a density of 4 dwelling units per acre. They would have approved 5 units per acre, but the plans for Intaglio did not require that higher density.

THE LOTTING PLAN FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT. The lotting plan for the Intaglio phase has been completed and a preliminary plat for that phase is now being prepared. Analysis is now underway which will lead to the design of the Intaglio clubhouse and other recreational facilities.

REZONING OF A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TO ALLOW 5 ACRE LOTS.

280 acres of the property have been zoned to allow for 5 acre lots. It will be logical to rezone this area to a density of 5 dwelling units per acre in the future. In the meantime, however, the 5 acre lot density provides an alternate exit strategy.

TESTING OF THE MARKET FOR HOUSING. During January, 2008, a model home was set up by the Bella La Paz owner in Quartzsite, La Paz County, Arizona. It was located near the site of the gigantic Quartzsite RV Show, the Quartzsite Gem and Mineral Show, and the other big events which occur in Quartzsite each winter. The home was visited by thousands of RVers and others who are considering La Paz County as the location of their winter home or their permanent retirement residence. The reaction by these potential Bella La Paz residents was very positive and hundreds have said that the project fits their needs.

WATER ADEQUACY. The process of establishing water adequacy for Bella La Paz has been under way for approximately one year and has resulted in the collection of very positive data regarding the water supply available to Bella La Paz. The data and a complex hydrologic analysis were recently presented to officials at the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). As a result of their very positive reaction, a submittal for water adequacy is now under way.

The studies and tests which have been necessary to get to this point are as follows:

A study entitled “An evaluation of groundwater conditions”.A video of the entire depth of two wells on the property. A pump test which was performed on one of the wells, while using the other well as an observation well, in order to measure the water level decline during the test. The “pumping well” was pumped at a rate of approximately 1,200 gallons per minute for a period of 24 hours. This produced am amount of water almost equal to two times the amount needed to serve the entire Bella La Paz community each day when completely built out with approximately 4,600 dwelling units. The water level recovery rate was very favorable and led to a very positive result in the hydrologic study which followed.

A study entitled “Hydrologic Report”, which analyzed all of the data collected up to that point. This report is the most important item to be included in the submittal for an adequate water supply determination.The very best water experts in the State of Arizona have been performing the tests and analysis regarding this project.

 

WATER DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATION. The process is underway to create a Domestic Water Improvement District (DWID). This will be the entity which produces, treats and delivers water to the Bella La Paz residents.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT. Work is under way on approvals which are required by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in order to obtain the approval to construct and operate a wastewater treatment facility (WWTP) for the community. These include a 208 Consistency Review and an Aquifer Protection Permit and a wastewater discharge (disposal) permit. The subsoil conditions at Bella La Paz are of the type that will work well for the disposal of wastewater. The wastewater treatment plant will also be operated by the DWID.

A GEOTECHNOLOGY REPORT. This report concerns the subsoil conditions and reports the results of tests of the percolation rates which are required for wastewater disposal, the sizing of building foundations, the construction of roads, etc. The percolation rates are very satisfactory and the soils are very adequate for buildings of the type which will be constructed within Bella La Paz.

A 404 ANALYSIS. This study involves a detailed observation of all drainage channels on the property in order to determine if any of them need to be left in their current condition as the result of rules established by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The study showed that only about 800 feet of one small wash must be left undisturbed. This wash is located near Arizona State Highway 72 in the first phase of development known as Intaglio. It does not interfere with the orderly development of Intaglio.

FLOOD PLAIN ANALYSIS. The US Government flood plain maps have been reviewed by a civil engineer who reports that the property is not in any flood plain.

PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS. This report does not indicate any environmental concerns.

TRAFFIC STUDY. This is a study which is required by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) whenever a property is developed along a State Highway.

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY. This aerial photography has been performed so as to collect the data required in order to produce topographic maps of the property. These maps are required in order to establish the drainage system for the property as well as the streets and utility lines.

The activities outlined above have resulted in an extensive due diligence regarding the Bella La Paz property and have paved the way for the development of the community on a very timely basis.