Soriano made the offer Nov. 1 at the public hearing to consider rezoning 2,200 acres for development of a retirement community to be build on land adjacent to a decades old radioactive/toxic waste landfill.  The Pinal County board of supervisors approved the rezoning request. 

       Local residents opposed to putting 12,000 people and three golf courses next to a radioactive/toxic waste landfill, are spearheading referendum to invalidate the zoning.

       Soriano was not specific regarding the amount when making the offer to the Pinal county supervisors, but  told The Arizona Daily Star, that Robson Communities would donate $5.5 million to Pinal County if a referendum to rescind the re-zoning does not appear on the ballot. Otherwise the money would be spent to fight the measure.

       On Nov. 6, Dr. John Huntington, an Oracle resident, called Lionel D. Ruiz, chairman of the Pinal county board of supervisors.  During the call, Ruiz said that when first approached by Robson Communities Inc. regarding the development of SaddleBrooke Ranch, Ruiz had told Robson officials that the county needed money to help with playground equipment and other items.  Ruiz told Huntington that Robson Communities Inc.then agreed to donate $1000 a house up to 5,500 houses, for a total of $5,500,000.