A half dozen people stood outside the Cottonwood City Council Chambers at 6 p.m. April 18, as the Cottonwood Planning and Zoning Commission’s meeting reached capacity.
The meeting presented an overview of the proposed design review program for Brookfield Homes’ 89 & Vine project, including the project design aspects such as building architecture, landscaping and site features.
89 & Vine is located on 682 acres northeast of State Route 89A and Cornville Road. The zoning for the Planned Area Development project is already approved to include up to 2,050 homes, 176 acres of open space and some commercial development.
“It was important for everybody,” Cottonwood Community Development Manager Berrin Nejad said April 21.
According to Nejad, having a packed house for a planning and zoning meeting is unusual, but she believes it reflects a desire from the public to know about the project. She noted that attendees remained respectful and attentive.
“This was kind of catching up with the past,” Berrin said of the development, which has a 30-year history.
Nejad explained that the developers are “very anxious” to start. Should the subdivision application process, followed by a vote from the City Council in the next few months, successfully go through, Brookfield could begin construction by the end of September or early October.
Praising the ambitious scope of the designs presented by Brookfield, Berrin said that the project shows how confident the developers are in the city.
“This is going to change the future of Cottonwood in every way,” Nejad said as she flipped through the developer’s thick book of design features. “I think this development speaks to different socioeconomic levels.”
Nejad added that she is looking forward to Cottonwood being able to compete with housing in Sedona, offering attractive and affordable living spaces in an increasingly diverse and vibrant community.
“It’s not just retirees anymore. Now it’s changing. People are choosing to live in Cottonwood …. And it’s not just about today. Young people are coming here, and the city and the developers want to make sure the development is still applicable in 10 to 15 years — that it applies to future generations.”
While notably cautious about announcing the project before it has been agreed upon by all parties, Brookfield’s Craig Peterson praised the city for its efforts to get 89 & Vine off the ground.
“We are working out our infrastructure agreement,” Peterson said April 25. “I think the planning and zoning commissioners summed it up really well when they said that it’s changed into something that’s going to be exactly what the city is looking for, with vineyard and open space. It’s turned into something that I think everyone will be really proud of.”
