Clemenceau Place zone change withdrawn by developer

Cottonwood’s Nov. 15 regular city council meeting focused primarily on the use of funds provided by the Community Development Block Grant Program.

CDBG provides funding for community and housing development in rural Arizona with $1.2 million allocated to Yavapai County and $400,000 to the city of Cottonwood. A variety of beneficial projects are eligible for CDGB, such as community housing, public safety and neighborhood redevelopment.

First on the new business agenda for the council was the presentation of proposals for this grant, including:

• Providing housing for veterans and senior citizens via Elevate to Thrive, a nonprofit created by Rachel Collins. She raised the issue of residents having to compete with short-term vacation rentals.
• Optimizing the Community Health Center of Yavapai Cottonwood Division’s electronic health system, specifically to meet Federally Qualified Health Center quality metrics and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services metrics, in order to be able to open their doors to more members of the community.
• Expanding Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity’s critical home repair program and downpayment assistance program.
• Funding repairs for the Verde Valley Senior Center’s building, the brick structure of which is deteriorating.
• Building an outdoor fitness court at one of the city’s parks or along a trail system. While the recreation center is available, it is not accessible to everyone in the community, but an outdoors facility would be accessible for all.
• Acquiring property for supportive housing to be managed by or leased to a local nonprofit.
• Creating a bike and pedestrian safety plan to benefit those dependent on these modes of travel. This plan would identify and prioritize places for improvement, especially at key intersections.

Applicants filled out a pre-applica­tion form that will be compiled and reviewed. More information will be provided at the Jan. 2 hearing.

The next item of business was the approval of a letter to the Legislative Housing Supply Study Committee presented by Shannon Boone, housing manager for the city. The letter deals with the issue of affordable housing and retaining local control by opposing the by-right zoning legislation. All members of the council were in favor of signing the letter after a roll call vote.

Clemenceau Place

The next item on the agenda was to have been consideration of a zone change from single-family residen­tial to a planned area development to allow 397 multi-family dwell­ings, 19 single-family dwellings, medical offices and a storage facility on W. Mingus Ave, also known as Clemenceau Place.

As the applicant withdrew the request for a zone change prior to the meeting, this item was not considered.

It was not immediately clear why the developer pulled the application at press time.

“The Clemenceau Place project was terminated by the developer,” Cottonwood Deputy City Manager Rudy Rodriguez stated in an email Nov. 18. “I am not exactly sure as to what prompted the termination of this large project. The city would hope that this project would move forward at some point, however for the time being it is dead.”

Apartments on Birch

Gary Davis from Community Development presented a zone change request from very low residential to high density residential at 1642 and 1644 E. Birch St. All members of the council voted in favor.

The complex proposed for the roughly five-acre area will be called the Village on Birch. It will offer 40 multi-family units including eight efficiency units, 16 one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units. Each unit will have a private patio, carport and washer/dryer.

Davis also presented the request for a zone change from agricultural residential to multiple family residen­tial at 1642 and 1644 E. Birch St. All members of the council voted in favor.

A majority of the evening’s business dealt with housing and the lack thereof, especially with regard to zone changes to accommodate the creation of more housing developments.

It was also the last meeting for outgoing Councilmen Michael Mathews and Doug Hulse. Neither councilman ran for reelection this cycle.