The owners of a proposed master-planned development took the first step required while seeking annexation by the city of Cottonwood.
For more than a year, the proposed Spring Creek Ranch has been on the minds of many in the Verde Valley as it’s come before Yavapai County on several occasions and now the Cottonwood City Council.
On Tuesday, Dec. 15, the council heard the first reading of an ordinance regarding the proposed annexation of land contiguous to the city limits of the city, including U.S. Forest Service land and the 280 acres that make up Spring Creek Ranch.
The agenda item was just a first reading; no vote was taken. A second reading is scheduled for Jan. 19. At that time the zoning for the annexed land will be established. Currently, the city of Cottonwood is looking at general agricultural with a minimum of five-acre lots. The forest land will remain as is and will still be under the jurisdiction of the USFS.
The owners of Spring Creek Ranch first came before Yavapai County seeking a zone change on their 280 acres, which is currently zoned for 140 two-acre parcels. They are seeking to have a planned community with manufactured homes, single-family homes, apartments and an RV park.
In August, they came before the Cottonwood City Council seeking annexation into the city. In September, the Borowskys withdrew their application for a zone change before the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission, with the plan to re-file the application after the first of the year.
At the time of the withdrawal, Spring Creek Ranch Vice President Lisa Borowsky confirmed that nothing had changed in terms of their desire to be annexed into Cottonwood.
During that August meeting, the Cottonwood City Council directed staff to move forward with the potential annexation of Spring Creek Ranch. The owner of the property, Eric Borowsky, has requested the city consider annexation of their land, located south of State Route 89A, about 1.5 miles southwest of Page Springs Road. Access to and from the development would occur via State Route 89A on Spring Creek Ranch Road.
If approved, a city report states that the annexation will also include a large tract — approximately 11 square miles — of Coconino National Forest land located between the current city boundary and the Spring Creek Ranch parcels, which are not currently contiguous to the city of Cottonwood. The annexation area will begin at the city’s north boundary near Dead Horse Ranch State Park and extend north, then east around the north side of State Trust Land, to connect to the Spring Creek Ranch property to the south.
As currently proposed, Spring Creek Ranch would include 1,500 lots, with the majority, if not all, being manufactured homes. Additionally, there are plans for 400 apartment units, a maximum of 200 RV spots and a 200-unit assisted living facility, a recreational facility, a small store and one or two restaurants, as well as 58 acres of open space with a 2.5- mile pathway along the creek.
The developer would be responsible for the costs of water, sewer and roads, while the city would provide normal services including police and fire.
If approved, the project would be developed in phases over five to seven years based on supply and demand. The manufactured homes would be owned by the home buyer, but the buyer would pay rent for the land on which it sits. There would be no age restrictions and short-term vacation rentals would not be allowed.
During the Dec. 15 meeting, just one resident spoke in person while six others spoke virtually, each opposing the annexation. To date, the Cottonwood City Council has received dozens of emails in opposition to annexation, as well as petitions.
“We need to be very clear here, this discussion tonight is not fundamentally about annexing Spring Creek Ranch — it’s about annexing and developing state trust land,” Sedona resident and Keep Sedona Beautiful Board Trustee Craig Swanson said. “This is simply a means to the end. The gerrymandered shape of the land to be annexed proves this out.”
Mayor Tim Elinski said he understands the feelings from many in the public who have been experiencing “fatigue” over this project the past year. But he stressed what’s being proposed is annexation, and that does not mean automatic approval of the current iteration of Spring Creek Ranch.
“I anticipate it will look a bit different than what they proposed to the county,” he said of the project. “But at this time, what we’re talking about is annexing the land. Cottonwood has a long history and good track record of being good stewards of our resources and having developments that have come out of the ground that make good sense and are good use of space. We have a lot more tools in our toolbox to manage growth responsibly. That’s one of the things that differs us from the county.”
Being that Spring Creek Ranch is private property, Elinski said there is little the city can do to prevent them from developing that land. He said the same applies to the state trust property, which eventually will be developed.
“The question I have to ask myself and the council asks itself is, ‘which jurisdiction is that land best suited for development?’ he said. “Currently, I believe that is the city of Cottonwood, which is why I have always been in favor of annexing the state trust land.”
After the meeting, Lisa Borowsky said they have enjoyed working with the city’s leadership and administration on the idea of annexation.
“We look forward to continuing this work and, ultimately, accomplishing annexation of Spring Creek Ranch into the city,” she said. “The city’s thoughtful and rational approach to future development aligns with our principles and goals.”
