Planned for Sundays year-round at Planned for Sundays year-round at Immaculate Conception church
The Cottonwood Planning & Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow a recurring farmers market in the unpaved overflow parking area of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church at its meeting on Feb. 23.
Located at 700 N. Bill Gray Road off State Route 89A, the property owned by the church is currently zoned CF or Community Facility, and AR-70 or Agricultural Residential. A farmers market is considered a similar intensity to the permitted uses of the zoning.
The applicant, Erin Stoffel, director of parish administration, said the church will be the host site but the events will be managed and operated by Connect the Harvest LLC in partnership with the church.
The market will operate year-round from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. This window includes vendor set up, public market hours and tear-down. The applicant also requested approval for four seasonal community events throughout the year. The letter of intent states these events may include an autumn harvest festival and pumpkin patch, holiday market and Christmas tree lot, and spring or summer community festival weekends.
Alongside the vendor tents, there will be an area for food truck vendors. There will be portable restrooms, which will be cleaned weekly and will be lockable and chained in place when not in use. The organization will tear down and set up the tents each week. Signage will be taken down after each event.
Stoffel said traffic was considered in multiple meetings with church staff and councils. While the traffic is difficult coming in and out from State Route 89A, members of both councils hope that, by hosting the market, they will significantly disperse the traffic. The traffic, she said, will be staggered as attendees can arrive before the first mass to attend the market, which will continue through the end of the church’s services.
In regards to parking, Stoffel said they have the land to further develop and make temporary parking before they get approval for extended parking. The church also has plans to develop a senior community center and other buildings and anticipate having more parking areas and access points developed around their entire campus. Stoffel said the church foresees parishioners taking time to support local businesses and attend the market.
Dawn Peterson, owner of nonprofit Connect the Harvest LLC, explained that they are bringing in food eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Women, Infants and Children Farmers Markets Nutrition Program; Senior Farmers Markets Nutrition Program; and Double Up Food Bucks at each market.
She clarified that this is a food market and there will be no arts and crafts. They are concentrating on four areas with their vendors: food, kitchen, garden and renewables, like composting. Peterson said vendors will be local to Arizona but she is accepting everyone she can find from the Verde Valley. The Arizona Humane Society and other shelters and rescue groups will be present with adoptable animals, and different scout groups will also attend. She said she is also trying to have FFA and 4-H involvement.
“It sounds like this could really be an asset to our community,” Vice Chairman Bob Rothrock said.
“I really appreciate the fact that you’re not competing with other farmers markets in the area. You’ve picked a different day which gives more access to people,” Commissioner Kathy Hellman said.
The conditional use permit with staff recommended stipulations was approved 6-0.
