CASA GRANDE, AZ – The Casa Grande City Council has approved a zoning change that could allow expanded medical waste operations, including the possible future addition of an incinerator, at 3017 N. Rockwell Avenue. The council voted to change the zoning from Garden and Light Industrial (I-1) to General Industrial (I-2).
The facility’s owner, Victor DiVello, requested the zoning change to accommodate potential future growth at the site he recently purchased after renting it for nine years. According to the staff report, while the facility currently handles medical waste through consolidation and packaging, future plans could include adding an industrial autoclave or incinerator for disposal. Any such expansion would require constructing a new building on the property.
The possibility of more intensive waste operations at the site prompted questions from council members about potential environmental and health impacts. When Council Member Robert Huddleston asked about environmental oversight, Senior Planner James Gagliardi explained that the facility would need Arizona Department of Environmental Quality approval. Council Member Matt Herman emphasized that any future autoclave or incinerator installation would require returning to the city for separate approval through the conditional use permit process.
For any expansion involving waste processing equipment, the facility would need:
- An amendment to their site plan
- A conditional use permit for any operations that might create emissions
- Building permits
- Environmental regulatory approval
The facility is located in the Airport Industrial Park, which is specifically designated for industrial uses that might not fit well in other parts of the city. The property has industrial businesses on three sides, including water damage restoration, construction, and farm equipment suppliers, with State Land Board property to the south. This southern property is zoned as Urban Ranch, which serves as a holding classification for agricultural uses and very low-density residential development.
During the earlier Planning Commission meeting, DiVello mentioned having two facilities, one in Eloy and another in Wellton, and expressed interest in potentially relocating the Eloy facility to this Casa Grande location, though such a move would require additional planning and approvals. While the Planning Commission recommended approval with a 6-1 vote no members of the public spoke during either the commission or council hearings on the rezoning.
The rezoning will take effect on February 20, 2025. Any plans involving waste processing equipment would require additional public hearings and environmental impact reviews before approval.
