Cochise County voters may have yanked the welcome mat out from under Diamond Ventures’ proposed Smith Ranch development west of Benson, but the city would like to roll out the red carpet.

Nurturing plans to transform largely rural Benson’s 5,000 population into a city of 50,000 by 2025, Mayor George Scott said the city is ready and willing to annex the 1,983-acre Smith Ranch site, which now is about four miles west outside the city. Unlike the county, the City of Benson is likely to give the Tucson developer the go-ahead to proceed with plans to transform the property into a 4,900-home master planned community.

Already incorporating Whetstone Ranch, another master-planned community of 10,000 to 12,000 homes, as well as other smaller subdivisions, Scott said growth is not something Benson wants to ignore.

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“Development is moving our way. We’re in the same position that Casa Grande was in, 20 to 25 years ago,” he said. “Benson is between Tucson and Sierra Vista, just like Casa Grande is between Tucson and Phoenix. People are finding affordable homes here and the 35 to 40 minute drive is not much for those who are coming from Los Angeles and Phoenix.”

The Smith Ranch project is estimated to add $1.6 billion in local income, generating between 3,306 and 4,021 new jobs and $105.8 million in additional local taxes for Benson.

Scott said there are no negotiations currently being held with Diamond Ventures, “but we’d be happy to talk with them.”

Whether the Diamond Ventures is willing to talk to Benson depends on what happens next with Cochise County.

The developer has been involved for more than a year in on-again, off-again discussions about the Smith Ranch property near the Skyline exit of Interstate 10. Although the Cochise County Board of Supervisors approved the project, neighbors have mobilized to oppose its density, which was raised from one home per three-acre lot, to allow for the 4,500 homes. Opponents also raised questions about water use, traffic and run-off.

In a county-wide election Nov. 7, more than 67 percent of voters rejected the rezoning. Ken Abrahams, executive vice president for Diamond Ventures, said the election left with “more questions than answers.”

He said Smith Ranch was designed to meet the county’s goal of encouraging master planned communities with mixed housing types, housing densities and relatively high levels of infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, public parks and schools. But the rejection, he said, is a change of direction, not just for the development but for all of Cochise County.

“Further community dialogue is required to address how future growth in Cochise County should be accommodated,” he said in a statement. “How will future growth be managed and what patterns of growth and infrastructure will be deemed most appropriate and beneficial? Over time, will very low density development, supported by relatively low levels of infrastructure, be the dominant pattern? Will this pattern of development lead Cochise County forward?”

Benson Mayor Scott said the answers are obvious. While county residents want to preserve the rural environment, he said Benson sees its future along Interstate 10 and State Route 90, which links to Sierra Vista.

“We can provide water to Smith Ranch without affecting their neighbors” and overcome much of the local resistance to the development, Scott said. “We’ve been accused of making secret deals to make this happen, which we haven’t. But, ultimately, I think all of this area will be part of Benson. It just makes sense.”

E-mail comments for publication to editor@azbiz.com. Contact Philip S. Moore by e-mail at pmoore@azbiz.com or call (520) 295-4238.