CAVE
CREEK – Construction of a new water tank in Cave Creek
could pave the way, literally,
to a new subdivision on Continental Mountain.
Terry
Zerkle, a Cave Creek resident and property owner, said
he was surprised to find out the town might be running
water lines to serve Gold Mine Estates, Continental Mountain
and its environs.
The
information came at a meeting between town staff, including
Town Manager Usama Abujbarah, and property owners surrounding
existing water tanks near Flemming Springs and Echo Canyon
roads.
Zerkle
said he was told the new 2.9 million‑gallon tank
would be paid for by a developer “farther up the hill”
in exchange for water service and would not cost the town
a penny. However, Zerkle pointed out his issue is the
matter has not come before town council and that the agreement
would violate the town’s General Plan.
“By
any reckoning,” states Zerkle in a letter to the council,
“this is a momentous policy decision having significant
implications and potential ramifications for the town’s
future, its residents, its resident water customers and
the town’s water system.”
According
to Cave Creek’s 2005 General Plan and amendments, the
town has a policy discouraging “the extension of Spur
Cross, Flemming Springs, School House, Morning Star, Cahava
Ranch, Honda Bow, Echo Canyon and Old Stage Roads, and
other roads that may have undesirable impacts on the visual
quality and rural character of the town.”
Abujabarah
said on Aug. 13 that this action is going to come before
council, that it is not a done deal and that, if approved,
it would not constitute a policy shift.
“There
is no policy shift because it’s outside the town limits,”
said Abujabarah. “So there is some misunderstanding about
this issue.”
Zerkle
disagrees, quoting the General Plan again in the “Vision”
section, wherein it states the town “shall conserve our
rich, varied, self‑sustaining natural environment.”
He goes on to say allowing the water service extension
to the north and east into unincorporated areas “runs
opposite to the Vision and virtually every major policy
expression in Cave Creek’s General Plan.”
To
clarify his statements, Zerkle said extending water lines
to Continental Mountain would facilitate development of
that area, something he feels is contrary to what the
General Plan states.
“Without
that water up there, they can’t develop the mountain,”
Zerkle told The Desert Advocate. “We have a duty to make
this stuff known to the community and to get them involved.”
Susan
Demmitt, a land‑use consultant, is working with
developer Sienna Corp. on a 60‑lot subdivision covering
about 400 acres. Demmitt said the land was purchased by
Sienna, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., three years
ago and a preliminary subdivision plat was approved by
the county last year. A final subdivision plat is planned
to be submitted sometime in the next few months, she said.
John
Hankinson, principle owner of Sienna Corp., told the Advocate
he was going to try to submit the final plat “ASAP,” adding
the homes would be built between 2,800‑ and 4,500‑foot
elevations along the mountainside, making them the highest
homes in Maricopa County.
Average
lot size is eight acres, according to Demmitt, with the
smallest parcel about five acres. The land is zoned R‑190.
Demmitt
said there is an existing mining road that would be improved
to county safety standards, including fire and rescue
services, to serve the area. Also, as a part of the plan,
another water tank would be constructed somewhere near
the top of Continental Mountain.
Maricopa
County Supervisor Don Stapley characterized Sienna’s plans
as the latest in several stalled attempts to develop the
mountainside and expressed his hope that all development
issues could be worked out this time.
While
the planned subdivision does not currently share a contiguous
border with Cave Creek, Demmitt is working on a pre‑annexation
development agreement with the town due to the possibility
of annexation in the future. The subdivision is planned
to be on Cave Creek water and sewer.
“There
are certain processes we have to follow,” said Abujbarah.
“In exchange for our services, the developer will be asked
to contribute–because we have a stressed water system.”
Abujbarah
explained there is about $9 million in this year’s budget
for water system improvements, including the construction
of water tanks.
Demmitt
points out that water service to the planned subdivision
is still under discussion.
“We
will work with (Cave Creek) on meeting the town’s overall
water needs,” she said.
The
Desert Advocate was unable to speak with anyone from the
Maricopa County Planning Department on this matter.
