Considering buying in Wittmann...but Luke restricted area? (Phoenix, Glendale: new home, schools)

[urbex]

Currently living in Glendale, but living in the city doesn't mesh well with my hobbies - I have 4x4s, other dirt toys, and I have trucks back home in Michigan that would violate city code just by parking them at the house here. Yes, I have been described as redneck, white trash, lol

I've been looking at several areas outside the city, and recently a buddy showed me a property in Wittmann that I liked from the outside, and the price was right, but upon doing some other research, I saw some references to Wittmann largely being in a Luke Air base "restricted area", which sounds like I can't build squat on any property I may purchase...which would be a deal breaker as my plans include a fairly large shop building, on the order of somewhere around 30ftx40ft, with a minimum 16 foot ceiling height, possibly bigger and there hasn't been many properties I've looked at that already have such a building on the property.

At the moment, I'm pretty well tied to the Phoenix area, due to a job with a company in north Phoenix that pays me pretty darn well, and I really enjoy working for, so it wouldn't be an easy thing to move to, say, Prescott, Payson, Globe, etc. I also know that the schools in Wittmann are...well, terrible, but that's a non issue to me as I have no kids, and have zero intentions to have kids in the future. I also grew up in a very rural area, so I'm aware of the lack of conveniences such as nearby shopping, which is also a non issue to me.

It's just that restricted building that has me concerned, and if true, is reason enough to write off Wittmann as a possible place to go.

[AZJoeD]

I do not know of any building restrictions in Wittman due to Luke AFB other than noise disclosures. Since the property is likely in the county jurisdiction why not check with the county regarding any restrictions? You can also check any past Affidavit of Disclosures for the property at the county recorders office.

[SluggoF16]

Normally "Restricted Area" is a special use airspace term. Years ago while at Luke I would fly approaches into Luke Auxiliary Field, or Luke Aux for short. Note the airspace is Alert and not Restricted. Unless the Air Force actually owns the property, there would be no access anyway, no listings, etc. It may be more of a noise thing, since the radar pattern does extend to the north. The map shows the location of Luke Aux, with the red arrow. As far as restrictions, people put up towers in retstricted areas and other low altitude special use airspace all the time, and there's little that can be done despite the obvious low-altitude navigational hazard. We just had to go around them. Map from the Skyvector site. I think your research may be for references to restricted areas for the air and not land spaces.

[urbex]

One of the specifics that I found - //www.city-data.com/forum/28205699-post4.html

Also, be aware that the majority of Wittmann falls within the Luke Air Force Base restricted area, which means that, if you're a homeowner, your property rights are severely restricted by the state of AZ. For example, you are not allowed to build any "habitable addition" to an existing home (that includes a porch, carport, or attached garage), and you are not allowed to rebuild or install a new home if your current home is damaged by 75% or more (say, if it burns to the ground). If you are planning to buy, I really recommend you discuss all of the restrictions imposed on property owners out here with the Maricopa County planning commission. Just FYI, Maricopa County cut a deal with the state of AZ to indemnify it against all lawsuits that pertain to these restrictions, so if some county worker "accidentally" gives you a permit to build, but that building project violates the restrictions, you can't look to Maricopa County for any kind of compensation or what have you.

Obviously, the most correct answer here will be "call the planning commision" :P I was hoping to be able to find out something more concrete about what exactly kind of info I'd be calling them about, rather just saying "sooo....I read on the internet that I can't build squat out there...is that true?"

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by urbex

One of the specifics that I found - //www.city-data.com/forum/28205699-post4.html



Obviously, the most correct answer here will be "call the planning commision" :P I was hoping to be able to find out something more concrete about what exactly kind of info I'd be calling them about, rather just saying "sooo....I read on the internet that I can't build squat out there...is that true?"

I would do that. However, note also that the posting in your link is two years old and is the only post ever by the poster.

[James D. Fox]

Is the only place that I can get Wittmann building restrictions for a 1000 foot manufactured home on a multi acre lot the Maricopa County Planning Commission or are there others? A recent inquiry on a 5 acre lot sent me an "As Is" addendum refusing disclosures.