The Cottonwood City Council held its first reading of a proposed rezoning of the recently annexed area known as Spring Creek Ranch.
Senior planner Gary Davis presented the ordinance, which was unanimously recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission Aug. 16, at the council’s Sept. 7 meeting.
The land is located west of the intersection of State Route 89A and Page Springs Road. The approximately 11 square miles of land was initially annexed into city limits Jan. 19. Around 282 acres of the area is privately owned, a small parcel is Arizona Department of Transportation’s State Route 89A right-of-way, and the rest is part of the Coconino National Forest.
The entire area was previously zoned RCU-2A by Yavapai County, which allows rural residential uses with a minimum lot size of 2 acres. Arizona law requires that land annexed into municipalities be given zoning by the city that is consistent with the previous county zoning.
Because Cottonwood did not have a zoning ordinance similar to the RCU-2A zoning, the council adopted ordinance 692 in February which extended RCU-2A zone temporarily. In order to stay compliant with state law, the city council adopted ordinance 698 on April 20, which created a new agricultural/residential zone with development regulations that are similar to RCU-2A.
Now, the city is working to initiate the rezoning of the 282 acres of privately owned property in the annexation area to NF or National Forest and AR-87or Agricultural Residential with a 2-acre minimum lot size.
The rezoning will not change the development potential of the land.
“The AR-87 is no different than the county zoning laws and so they [property owners] cannot come in and do anything different without coming back for another rezone,” Councilwoman Jackie Nairn said.
On July 12, the city invited property owners within and near the rezoning area to a neighborhood meeting. No residents attended the meeting.
The second reading and final public hearing of the ordinance will be held Tuesday, Sept. 21. For more information about the meeting or the rezoning, visit cottonwoodaz.gov.
