The Sedona City Council approved a pair of preliminary plats, which helps move forward a small subdivision and a triplex for those who need a helping hand.

By a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Sept. 25, a nine-unit subdivision at 100 Racquet Road and a Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity project on Peach Lane got the go-ahead to move forward in the city’s development process.

According to a city report, the nine-unit subdivision will be at the northeast corner of Racquet Road and Salido Del Sol, within the existing Foothills South subdivision in West Sedona. It is approximately 4.43 acres in size, and is part of the Foothills South. The property was developed as the Sedona Racquet Club prior to incorporation of the city of Sedona in 1988. By 2012, the Racquet Club was closed and sold and has since been bulldozed.

The intention to subdivide the property for single-family lots was made clear during the 2016 application for a Major Community Plan Amendment and zone change, during which the property was redesignated and rezoned to Single Family Low Density and RS-18a, in alignment with the designation and zoning of the remainder of Foothills South.

Vice Mayor John Martinez, who lives in Foothills South, recused himself from voting on this item because he has a financial stake in the project.

Habitat for Humanity Verde Valley is proposing a townhouse subdivision with three three-bedroom, two-bath homes on a quarter-acre of land at 460 Peach Lane in Uptown. The properties to the west and north are multifamily residential, and to the east are single-family residential lots. The land on which the Habitat homes would be built is also zoned multifamily residential.

This subdivision request would allow for the applicant to sell the units to individuals. Without approval of a subdivision application, the units could not be sold separately but could be rented. The project has received some push back from some in the area mostly concerning the number of units on the piece of property and exemptions made by the city in terms of setback to property lines.

In order to be considered to be one of the Habitat homeowners, applicants must meet one of the following need criteria:

• Currently living in overcrowded living conditions.
• Currently living in substandard living conditions.
• Paying more than 30 percent of monthly income for housing.
• Inability to secure a traditional mortgage.
• Must have residence in the Verde Valley for no less than 12 consecutive months.
• No bankruptcies in the past 24 months.
• Be a legal resident of the United States.
• Have an ability to pay an affordable mortgage.
• Be willing to partner with VVHFH to build their home.

Applicants must have an annual income that falls between 35 to 60 percent of the Yavapai median income.

“This is a first for Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity to build three homes all at one time,” Tania Simms, executive director of Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity, said when the project was proposed at the beginning of the year. “We have never held a Home Builder’s Blitz here in the Verde Valley. We are very excited that the Sedona community and many supporters are coming together to accomplish this project. “It’s a huge undertaking, but we have many resources available to us, as Home Builder’s Blitz is a Habitat for Humanity program that many Habitat affiliates across the country commit to and accomplish every year.”

Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795 ext. 122, or email reland@larsonnewspapers.com