Alcantera Vineyards has sat on the edge of the Town of Camp Verde for years, off of East Thousand Trails Road, but despite its proximity, it sits on county land.
But the owner of the Alcantera, CCJB Holdings, LLC, which purchased the property from the Predmore family earlier this year, is seeking to change that, requesting from the Camp Verde Town Council the opportunity to annex the land into the Town of Camp Verde.
“It is our wish that the Town of Camp Verde assist in providing water, wastewater and road improvements to the parcels listed above,” CCJB COO John Bradshaw wrote to the Camp Verde Town Council in a July 1 letter requesting annexation. “This will allow for future development that will benefit the Town of Camp Verde through tax generation and the local community through the creation of jobs.”
At a meeting of the council on Sept. 25, Bradshaw made his case for annexation.
“With all the other projects that we have in Camp Verde, it just made sense to consolidate everything into one municipality if it’s possible,” Bradshaw told the council. Bradshaw also spoke of a desire to create a good “working relationship” with the town government, without having to deal with multiple governments.
Camp Verde Economic Development Manager Steve Ayers made the case for the annexation, saying that it would bring in revenue for the town. According to Ayers, annexing land that has a business on it is usually good for the town, which would be able to charge 3.65% sales tax from Alcantara and hopefully recoup any costs of providing town services.
“[The county is] not as friendly as the municipality can be,” Ayers said. Alcantara has had to operate off of temporary zoning through the county, but Ayers argued that the town could give the business a more consistent expectation of zoning regularity. “We can give these guys the permanent zoning so they can do what they need to do out there.”
At the Sept. 25 meeting, Vice Mayor Dee Jenkins asked how much those services would cost.
“What is the cost to the town, and what is the return over time, best case scenario and worst case scenario?” Jenkins asked. “We all like to see the best happen, but it doesn’t always come together as it is initially presented.”
Ayers said that some of the improvements on the road had already been started by the business, lowering the costs for the town. He also argued that the remote location would not lead to a significant amount of service calls. He also argued that as the business expands its offerings in the area, sales tax revenues would only increase.
The council unanimously voted to follow up on this request and seek more information leading to an annexation, though the annexation itself is still a ways away. According to Ayers, Yavapai County does not need to approve the annexation.
