More general plan neighborhood meetings scheduled
By Curtis Riggs | August 20, 2008
Lewis, Carefree Highway on tap
CAVE CREEK – A couple more neighborhood meetings about proposed general plan amendments have been scheduled.
A meeting about a zoning change on 24 acres near the southwest corner of Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. It will be held at the Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek.
The week after, property owner David Lewis will hold a neighborhood meeting about his plans for a five-acre parcel between Scopa Trail and Galloway Drive. This meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Brix Wine Spot, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 144 in Stagecoach Village on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
General plan amendment applicants have until Sept. 17 to hold their neighborhood meetings, according to Cave Creek Planning Director Ian Cordwell.
The Cave Creek Planning Commission will discuss the five proposed general plan amendments at its meeting on Oct. 16. The Cave Creek Town Council will review the cases a month later on Nov. 17.
The request to up-zone the 24 acres near the intersection of Cave Creek and Carefree Highway includes tracts which front both roads, Cordwell said.
Developer’s representative Ben Pearson has amassed a number of property owners who have parcels in this area. The request is to change the land-use designation from Desert Rural (DR-89), a multi-family zoning designation, to commercial zoning.
The Lewis request to amend the general plan has changed many times over the years. At one time he was considering building a resort. Despite talk of Lewis actually going for a multi-family zoning designation on his property, Cordwell commented, he is leaving his amended application as a request for commercial zoning.
“He is leaving the application as it is, but wants to listen to people in the neighborhood,” Cordwell said.
The zoning director added some of his staff have talked to those involved with the general plan amendment concerning parcels on the northwest corner of Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway. He said they are considering withdrawing their application for a more intense land-use change.
“There is not enough demand for commercial there,” Cordwell said about one reason to withdraw the request.
Cave Creek property owner T.C. Thorstenson is still considering up-zoning his five acres behind Hammerhead Jack’s to commercial. He has yet to schedule his neighborhood meeting.
The other pending general plan amendment was filed by the Cave Creek Museum to up-zone its small property on Basin Road. After holding its neighborhood meeting earlier this summer, museum officials talked about withdrawing the request for a general plan amendment. The Museum Board of Directors, however, have yet to do so.