CAVE
CREEK – The current validity of a special use permit for
a condominium resort was called into question before town
council last week.
Cave
Creek Resort & Casitas, a 252‑unit development
planned for the northwest quadrant of Cave Creek and School
House roads, was granted a special use permit by town
council on April 17, 2006. However, after more than a
year, no visible work has been done on the site and, according
to town code, an SUP expires after one year if no further
action has taken place.
Cave
Creek resident Herb Natker raised the issue at the June
18 council meeting by asking what was going on with the
project and requesting that the situation be rectified.
Prior
to the meeting, Planning Administrator Ian Cordwell told
The Desert Advocate that applicants Bob Kite and Larry
Lazelle applied for building permits in August 2006 amidst
a rush of 150 other permit applications and, due to a
delay in processing applications, the developer has until
Aug. 24 for permits to be issued.
Anna
Marsolo disagrees. The local activist cited town code
regarding SUP time limits and said a delay in processing
permits doesn’t matter–the SUP must come before town council
again.
“If
the special use permit has expired, I’m not aware of it,”
Lazelle said in a phone interview on Friday. “We’re working
closely with the town on the permit process. There’s no
problems that I know of.
In
fact, we just chose our general contractor. It’s business
as usual for us.”
He
stated further that the SUP is irrelevant now because
the project has been officially platted and construction
is slated to begin sometime in the fall.
Lazelle
also related potential buyers have reserved 25 of the
casitas to be built on the site, adding that official
sales will begin as soon as all of the paperwork from
the state (of Arizona) is approved.
Marsolo
says she has asked for copies of project permits but has
received nothing from the town.
“Town
staff has always, in nine years, been prompt and courteous
in releasing files to me of public record,” Marsolo said.
“For some reason there is feet‑dragging on showing
us processed, completed permits for the casitas. If none
are available, it only confirms what we know, and that
is the SUP has expired and is no longer valid. Citizens
will get another chance to demand that council not approve
a new SUP.”
Councilwoman
Grace Meeth requested the matter be added to a future
meeting agenda.
Bob
Kite could not be reached for comment.
