By Maya McFall | Cave Creek/Carefree Independent (abridged)
The town of Carefree voted against a proposed 14-unit condominium development during the June 30 regular meeting.
The council voted 5-2 against the motion, with councilmembers Diane Roth and Clint Miller voting for the motion.
Carefree’s Planning and Zoning Commission previously voted to recommend approving the development to council.
The details of the condominiums include:
- The site is 0.97 acres, designed to be “harmonious” with desert landscape, maintaining natural wash & existing boulders
- Seven buildings in total, each containing two units
- Individual units range from 910 to 1,550 square feet
- Building height is 24 feet from finished pad.
“For me, this decision is more about one parcel or one project,” said councilmember Colleen Rose-Scurti. “It’s about the long-term vision for Carefree. Every entitlement or rezoning request should be evaluated based on whether it supports our adopted plans, preserves future opportunities, and serves the best interest of our community not just today, but 20 or 30 years from now.”
The property was originally purchased as commercially zoned land, but now the request is to convert it to residential, Rose-Scurti said.
“If the intent from the beginning was to build residential housing, there were residential or mixed-use properties available that could have accommodated that vision without eliminating one of Carefree’s limited commercial properties,” she said.
Alex Hayes, representing the developer of the site, Scott Wayland, emphasized that the development aligns with the town’s vision.
“I would also look at this redevelopment plan that the town paid…a very substantial sum for experts to examine what is the best land use mix to create economic vibrancy in the town center, and what they recommended was that this site be used for residential,” said Hayes. “There’s a reason why it hasn’t been developed today. And then the wash also makes it difficult to have to develop the site in a way that would be a successful commercial development.”
Councilmember Diane Roth agreed with Hayes and said the development would “enhance our town.”
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