The Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 9-0 on Oct. 23 to recommend approval of SU240025, a special-use permit for a Dynamite Water hauling truck depot on 2.4 acres at the southeast corner of 170th Street in the Rio Verde Foothills.

County planning staff recommended approval, subject to conditions A through L in paragraph 15 of the staff report. The staff presentation noted the site’s location on Rio Verde Drive, existing reliance on hauled water in the large-lot community, and that the proposed facility would centralize Dynamite Water’s regional trucks into one location.

The applicant’s attorney, Carolyn Oberholtzer of the law firm Bergen Frank Smalley & Oberholtzer, said property owner Damon Bruns, a retired Phoenix firefighter who owns Dynamite Water, had met with neighbors and limited the site to four trucks. Oberholtzer said the company projected about 16 vehicle trips per day and that truck storage would be inside the building. She added Dynamite Water has contracts with the U.S. Forest Service and assists with wildfire response.

A member of the public, Steve Johns of 11424 N. 701st Street, asked whether any improvements were planned for the road immediately east of the property. Oberholtzer and staff responded that there are no county-dedicated physical roads immediately east, that the county is reserving right-of-way on the west side of the property and that site access will be paved; ingress will be from the west and egress from the east.

Commissioner Finter moved to recommend approval with the stated amendments; Commissioner Layton seconded. The roll-call vote was unanimous: Finter, Hernandez, Lawrence, Layton, Chairman Lindblom, Vice Chair Milhavian, Rockwallick, Toma and Whitney voted yes, producing a 9-0 recommendation for approval.

The staff report noted 10 letters of opposition chiefly citing dust and traffic concerns; staff said the Rio Verde Drive location is the most suitable arterial site for the operation. The report also noted that, before the depot, trucks were stored either at distant industrial facilities or at private residences within the foothills, which can raise zoning issues.

The commission’s recommendation to approve carries the listed conditions; the record does not indicate any amendments to those conditions beyond a handout modifying the language of condition L (a setback referenced in staff materials).