Following nearly seven hours of discussion and input, the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission split its vote concerning a proposed development between Sedona and Cottonwood.
The commission’s 5-4 vote on Thursday, Dec. 19, recommended denial to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors of a zone change to the proposed Spring Creek Ranch.
Those commissioners voting in favor of a denial were Curtis Linder, Sandra Marlin-Griffis, Robert Cothern, Michael Ellegood and Bruce George.
Those in favor were Jim Stewart, James Peterson, Dale Famas and Kevin Osterman.
Mark Mumaw was absent.
More than 125 people turned out to the county complex in Cottonwood to hear the proposal being brought forward by longtime Arizona developer Eric Borowsky and his daughter, Lisa Borowsky.
The vast majority of those who spoke were in opposition of the project. Those commissioners who recommended denial said they saw the need for additional workforce housing but were concerned about density and the rental or purchase affordability aspect.
The Borowskys are seeking to change the zoning of their 246 acres from Residential Rural to Planned Development. Joining them in this endeavor are members of the Ryerson family, who have owned 36 acres of adjoining land since the early 1960s.
Eric Borowsky purchased his land 15 years ago.
The maximum number of pads on the land will be 1,900 manufactured home sites and 400 RV sites, down from 600. In addition, they hope to have 400 apartments — with no buildings over 30 feet high, which is the Yavapai County standard — and a 200-unit assisted living facility. Some of the manufactured homes may also be used as long-term rentals.
As presented to the commission, the site would also offer a recreational facility, a general store, restaurant, park area with walking path on 60 acres of open space as well as a Verde Valley Fire District fire station and possible Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office substation.
The Borowskys said they felt a selling point is the fact there will be no age restrictions, nor will they allow any short-term vacation rentals within the community. All apartment leases will be for six months at a time. They said the family would own and manage the property, which would be developed over a minimum of six to nine years or longer depending upon demand.
Immediately following the meeting, Lisa Borowsky said it’s time to regroup and decide whether to request being pulled from the Jan. 22 supervisors’ meeting.
“I’m a little disappointed, as one can imagine,” she said. “We would have liked the opportunity to take another swing at working with the community members. And, to have additional time to rally support, which we know is out there for us.”
As for the next step, she said, “We have options in terms of how we want to proceed from here. We’re going to weigh those options and decide what’s best for our project. As to whether we postpone that [supervisors’ meeting], if we can postpone it, revise things, work with the community more and come back at a later date, I don’t know the answers to those questions at this time.”
See the Wednesday, Dec. 25, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News for a more detailed article.
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
