By Maya McFall, Independent Newsmedia | Cave Creek / Carefree Independent
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 and 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.”
“Having been in retail my whole career and knowing brick and mortar….it’s an odd site,” she said. “You’re creating something very attractive that balances out Spanish Village…I think it would be great for the town, and I love the look of the buildings. I think it would enhance us.”
Carefree mayor John Crane vocalized his own concerns about the site.
“I also wrestle with the fact of turning commercial into residential for much of the same reasons that have been expressed, because once we convert it into residential, it’s residential in perpetuity and we run the town on sales tax revenue. And while the market may not support commercial there today, it someday may,” Crane said. “If we take it and we repurpose it, it’ll be lost forever. And for a town that runs on sales tax revenue, that’s really concerning.”
Hayes, in response to the concerns from council, reminded them that the project has support from the planning and zoning commission.
“Your own economic development staff is supportive of this site being residential because they don’t believe it has the viability of a retail site,” he said.
During the public comment hearing, several residents came forward to voice their support or their concerns on the project.
John Nimsky, a commissioner on the planning and zoning committee, spoke in favor of it, reminding council that the committee voted unanimously for the project. He said the committee believes “this is the best and highest use for the property at this time.”
Mike Braun, who is also a commissioner on the committee, echoed a similar sentiment.
“We have commercial property on Cave Creek Road that we’ve had no interest in. That’s the property we need to concentrate on,” he said. “I think that the town council is looking too far in advance on something that truthfully I don’t think will ever be developed as a commercial piece of property.”
