The projects listed below represent just some of the many cases in which the Firm was successful in obtaining the entitlements needed for development approval. Examples of significant projects include:
Manufacturing, Industrial, and Mining
Goodrich-North Phoenix UPCO Facility This may be one of the most emotionally-charged and complex land use cases in the history of Phoenix.
Goodrich Universal Propulsion Systems (UPCO) uses materials classified as explosives in its production of military jet emergency ejection seats and in equipment it produces for the Space Shuttle program. The facility had been established in the 1970’s on 160 acres of leased State Trust land in the unincorporated area of the County. In order to expand this legal, non-conforming use to meet new production contracts, UPCO needed approval of a General Plan Amendment, rezoning and a waiver for use of explosives. The Firm launched a major community outreach effort to address numerous concerns including water and air quality, noise and general public safety issues. The City Council unanimously approved the requested entitlements.
Goodrich – South Facility, Interiors Division Goodrich is one of two manufacturers world-wide of commercial airline evacuation slides and had been producing slides at its South Phoenix location for many years.
Slides for the larger airplanes contain a propellant which is classified as an explosive material by the Department of Defense and the City of Phoenix requires an explosives waiver to use these materials within the City limits. With a new contract to produce more slides for the Airbus 380, Goodrich needed to expand its operations and obtain an explosives waiver from the City. Through a concerted and well-managed community relations effort, Lazarus and Associates was successful in gaining support from the surrounding neighborhood, and the City Council eventually approved the waiver.
Cemex - Seligman Crossing Mine, Yavapai County Yavapai County ordinances allow for a waiver from land use and zoning requirements for mining projects that qualify under the law.
On behalf of CEMEX, the Firm obtained the necessary Yavapai County Mining Use Exemption for a CEMEX’s proposed limestone mine and cement plant project. This case required continued negotiations with the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Ordinance, as well as the State Land Department, in order to secure the exemption.
Cemex -City of Mesa Represented the company in proactive measures to protect its mining activities from potential encroachment by proposed General Plan Amendment and rezoning for adjacent residential development.
Negotiated with developer’s counsel in appropriate uses, buffering and sound amelerioration and air quality improvement measures to avoid conflicts between mining operations and future residents.
Madison Granite Lazarus & Associates, P.C. has successfully completed a re-alignment of an access across a major Phoenix arterial street, North Valley Parkway, through cross access easements and the sale of properties.
This access, along with the necessary infrastructure (hydrology, soil and construction considerations), allowed mining trucks to safely access a large mining site without interfering with major commuter traffic adjacent to a City corridor development.
