Keep Chino Rural means NO on Proposition 410

The once quiet small town known as Chino Valley is currently buried in controversy over a proposed airfield/industrial park project initiated by the Perkins Ranch.

The History

It began with a project proposed by Perkins Ranch to Development Services in late 2025.  As a town, we were formally introduced to the project on January 6, 2026.  The process began with the Perkins family submitting a request to rezone approximately 390 acres for a private airfield and outlining a four-phase development plan.

During the public hearing on January 6, 2026, town staff and the applicant presented Phase 1 details, including a 5,000-foot runway for visual flight operations, training aircraft like Cessna 172s and Diamond DA42NGs, and operating hours from 05:30–23:30.

The Chino Valley Planning Commission received strong opposition from residents, the Garchin Buddhist Institute, and conservation groups citing noise, safety, and wildlife concerns, but regardless the staff recommended forwarding the zone change and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to the town council on February 3, 2026.

Following the planning commission’s recommendation, on February 23 the Chino Valley Town Council reviewed the project over two days of public comment and discussions.  Residents from Chino Valley and other Yavapai County communities attended the Feb 23rd meeting and asked the council to vote no, speaking from firsthand experience about noise and proximity to homes. There were 90 speakers, with opponents significantly outnumbering supporters..

On February 24, 2026, the council approved the rezoning and the airfield project, with Vice Mayor Eric Granillo highlighting potential tax and revenue benefits despite acknowledging noise disruptions. The council voted 5-2 to allow the project to move forward, with Vice Mayor Granillo and Councilman Schacherer voting no.

The approval authorized Phase 1, which includes the airstrip, taxiway, apron, tie-downs, a fire station, and office space, while subsequent phases require separate development agreements and further council review.

In a letter dated February 20, 2026, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated that she had concerns. In summary, if Proposition 410 passes, and the town’s citizens disagree with the Town Council’s approval of future phases of the project a referendum on the Council’s vote may not be available to challenge their decisions.

To my knowledge, this letter was not made public by the Town Council but was subsequently found while researching the process.

Despite strong protest from citizens and the warning from the Attorney General,  the Town Council voted 5-2 to rezone 390 acres of the Perkins Ranch on the east side of town to permit construction of an airstrip/industrial park. One councilman resigned in protest.

Concerned citizens quickly formed the Keep Chino Rural  PAC and organized almost 100 volunteers who quickly collected 1100 valid signatures which forced a vote by all Chino Valley citizens. As a result, Proposition 410 is on the November ballot.

The project and why we are against it

We believe the airfield/industrial park is a bad idea for Chino Valley: it disturbs the peace and quiet, compromises our rural character, adds insignificant revenue to the town, and will create urban sprawl.

Phase 1

Phase 1 will construct a paved runway so Embry-Riddle students can practice landing and takeoff, up to 80,000 operations per year between 5:30 AM – 11 PM. The flight paths are close to our homes, along with neighbors in parts of western Prescott Valley, county residents and the Garchen Buddhist Institute. These flights will release about 500 lb/yr of lead in the area around the airfield. The airfield must be fenced, which may harm our pronghorn herd by reducing their movement corridor by half.

Phases 2-4

Phases 2-4 will construct an industrial park 6 miles east of Hwy 89. Supporters have released projections of revenue to the town. The PAC’s accountant estimated that this would be less than 1% of the 2027 annual town budget over 8 years and operations revenue of less than 0.1% over 20 years.

The industrial park will require paving of approximately 6 miles of Perkinsville Rd, at an estimated $15 million expense to the town that the Council did not consider.  Finally we believe that the industrial park will fail, just as the Chino Valley Business Park (aka Old Home Manor) has failed. It failed due to poor location, inadequate roads, distance from I-17, and competition from surrounding towns.  We believe the new industrial park will also fail.

The Campaign – The Opposition

Proponents of Proposition 410 make several claims on signs along Hwy 89 that deserve a closer look.

They allege that the airfield/industrial park will “Keep Chino Valley Rural.” An industrial park is incompatible with rural character and can lead to urban sprawl.They allege that it preserves ranching. Even if the industrial park is built, the ranch retains the ability to develop and actually encourages homebuilding due to available infrastructure brought on by the airfield/industrial park’s existence. Also, it is not a public responsibility to protect private business.

They allege that it preserves wildlife and pronghorn. How can reducing habitat preserve the pronghorn?

They are using the name of our PAC – Keep Chino Rural – on their campaign material which confuses voters and is unethical. They have also used the .com variant of our website’s name, keepchinorural.org, to redirect visitors to their campaign website. This creates unnecessary confusion for voters.

The Campaign – Keep Chino Rural – No on Proposition 410

Contrary to the opposition, we are trying to run a clean campaign. We are a grassroots group of people on the PAC’s steering committee. We believe in no name calling, no stealing their advertising and sticking to the facts.

Chino Valley folks are upset that our rural character will be compromised, and the airfield/industrial park is contrary to very clear statements in the 2040 General plan.

We care about our neighbors and the Garchen Buddhist Institute to the east who will be greatly impacted by this project and cannot vote on the Proposition.  Because of their proximity to Chino Valley they contribute to the town’s revenue and pay taxes for Chino Valley schools.

KeepChinoRural-PAC urges Chino voters to remember that Keep Chino Rural means NO on Proposition 410. Our website keepchinorural.org has more info.

Be sure to VOTE in November!