RESOLUTION R2000-02 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH REVISED STATUTES WHEREAS, the Open Space Element was transmitted to all the agencies required by A.R.S. 9-561.05, at least sixty days prior to action; and WHEREAS, the required publications and public hearing have been conducted by the Planning Commission and the Town Council; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the Town of Cave Creek has reviewed and recommends the attached final draft of the Open Space Element; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA AS FOLLOWS: That the Open Space Element (Exhibit A) is hereby adopted and incorporated as part of the General Plan. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CAVE CREEK, ARIZONA THIS 20 TH DAY OF MARCH 2000. APPROVED AS TO FORM: Fredda Bisman, Interim Town Attorney M sword/tocc/p&z/staf t7ro n/open ers. tc
EXHIBIT A Cave Creek Open Space General Plan Amendment Adopted March 20, 2000 The Town of Cave Creek 37622 North Cave Creek Road Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (IP THE CO C LATER G
Town of Cave Creek Open Space General Plan Amendment Adopted March 20, 2000 Town Council Vince Francia, Mayor Grace Meeth, Vice Mayor Gilbert Lopez, Council Member Dean Brewer, Council Member Ralph Mozilo, Council Member Laura Cox, Council Member Jerry Whitmore, Council Member Planning and Zoning Commission Alan Northcott, Chairman Peter Omundson, Vice Chairman Jerry Lyndes, Commissioner Bill Allen, Commissioner John Lyon, Commissioner James Lincoln, Commissioner Mary Sparling, Commissioner Town Staff Usama Abujbarah, Interim Town Manager Carrie A. Dyrek, Clerk Yvonne Passey, Court Administrator Marian Groeneveld, Accountant Bob Lee, Building Inspector Fredda J. Bisman, Interim Town Ron Short, Planning Director Attorney Wayne Costa, Engineer George Preston, Interim Town Magistrate Prepared by: The Planning Center March 2000
The Planning Center March 2000 Cave Creek Open Space General Plan Amendment Open Space General Plan Amendment Inventory of Open Space Resources..... 1 Forecast Open Space Needs... 6 Open Space Goals, Policies and Strategies... 7 Open Space Map...10 Public Involvement Procedures...11
TH E P LANNING CENTER 1. Open Space Resources Description and Inventory Location and General Description: The Town of Cave Creek is located on the southern edge of the Tonto National Forest and is in the Central Arizona Basin and Range bordering the Arizona and New Mexico Mountains Land Resource Areas. This area includes varied topography ranging from gently rolling hills to steep mountainous areas. The Cave Creek Open Space Inventory focuses on the natural features of the town that are integral to its visual and cultural character. These features are: Mountain View Areas which include mountains, ridgelines, high elevation flatlands which provide viewsheds as well as habitat and climate for rich vegetation and opportunities for viewing wildlife. Mountain view areas are generally those areas that are above 2000 feet and have a slope greater than 13%. Severe Soil Areas which include soils with severe and poor ratings for buildings and septic. In the Town of Cave Creek these soils include Lehmans Gran Rock outcrop. Wash Corridors which support vegetation, wildlife, and provide contrast to the surrounding terrain. Public Open Spaces are those areas already in the public domain. Mountain View Areas: Mountains, steep slopes and ridgelines are integral elements of the open spaces that define Cave Creek. Many of these elements are named features and are described below. In addition to these named features, areas that are generally above 2000 feet and/or 13% slope or greater also contribute to views from many locations within the town, and are considered important open space elements. Ridgelines create the silhouette of open space for the town. Ridgelines that are not broken by development are considered open spaces that contribute to the rural desert visual character of the town. Named Mountains and Ridge Lines: Elephant Butte. Elephant Butte is over 3,000 feet high, and is an important contributor to the mountainous backdrop of the Town's northern viewshed. It is included in the Mountain View Area. It northern limits are marked by the borders of Tonto National Forest and the Cave Creek Town Limits. Elephant Butte is directly west of Cave Creek Wash and its mountains extend into County land to 22"d Street. The predominant soil type of Elephant Butte is Lehman's-Rock Outcrop complex, 8 to 65% slopes. Typical plant communities associated with Elephant Butte soils are Tobosa (25%), Jojoba (10%), Curly mesquite (5%), Blue paloverde (5%), Slim tridens (5%), Whitethorn (5%), Christmas cactus (5%), Barrel cactus (5%), Big Galleta (5%), White Brittlebush (5%) and approximately 10% other shrubs and 10% other perennial forbs and grasses. The vegetation provides a fair habitat for rangeland wildlife. The area soils provide a severe environment for building and sanitary facilities. The main limitations of area soils are the depth to bedrock, slope, and shrink-swell potential. The cuts needed to provide level building sites or roadbeds can expose bedrock that is very difficult to excavate. Ripping or blasting, or both, may be necessary. The shallow depth to bedrock 1
toyn THE P LANNING CENTER also interferes with excavation for installing utilities. Cuts and fills are highly susceptible to erosion.' Elephant Butte is an important component of the visual quality of Cave Creek. It is visible from four of fifteen 'view stations' in the Town and included in the Mountain View Area. This area is defined as a "Special Areas (sic) which are free from intrusions and have high scenic quality. Changes should be limited only to natural ecological occurrences. 2), Black Mountain. Is located north of the Stagecoach Pass alignment and extends to Andora Wash. It is '/4 mile west from Tom Darlington Drive and 1/z mile east from Cave Creek Road. The predominant soil is also Lehman's Rock Outcrop Complex; 8 to 65% slopes. Black Mountain vegetation and habitat for wildlife are similar to that of Elephant Butte. Black Mountain is an important component of the visual quality of Cave Creek and is visible from two thirds of the view stations in the Town. Black Mountain is included in the Mountain View Area.3 GO John Mountain is a substantial focal point for the Town and the Cave Creek Recreation Area. It is bounded by Cloud Road, Cave Creek Road, Desert Hills Road and overlaps into the eastern boundary of the Cave Creek Recreation area. It is specifically mentioned in the descriptive portions of the visual quality survey for the Town and included in the Mountain View Area4. The predominant soil is Lehman's Rock Outcrop Complex 8 to 65% slopes. GO John Mountain vegetation and habitat for wildlife is similar to that of Elephant Buttes Saguaro Hill. This is a dense and prominent stand of Saguaros in the Cave Creek downtown Core on the north side of Cave Creek Road between Schoolhouse Road and the Viola Lane alignment. To the north it is bordered by Galloway Wash. This feature is considered a ridgeline element in the Town's open space inventory. This area is important to the rural desert character of the downtown. The soils are generally Pinaleno-Tres Hermanos complex 1% to 10% slopes. The main limitation to building in Pinaleno soils is shrink swell6. The richness and importance of this landscape to the overall rural desert character of the Town and its Core makes it an important open space to the community. High Elevation Flatland and Vegetation: High elevation flatlands and vegetation are an element of Mountain View Areas and considered important open spaces to the Town. They provide open expanses that enable views of mountains and ridgelines. They provide a rural desert experience to residents and visitors to Cave Creek. Named high elevation flatlands and vegetation considered open space are lands that are above 2200 feet in elevation identified below. Named High Elevation Areas Cahava Ranch - This area is at approximately 2400 feet. North. It is bounded by Elephant Mountain to the north, Cave Creek Recreation Area to the south and Cave Creek Wash on the east. The western boundary is at approximately 40th Street, extended. It is bounded by 1 Soil Survey of Aguila-Carefree Area, Parts of Maricopa and Pinal Counties, Arizona. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. April, 1986. 2 Technical Guide: Cave Creek Comprehensive General Plan. Mimbres - Arizona. July 1988 ibid. ibid. e. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. April, 1986. s ibid 2
to^ THE PLANNING 00CENTER some steep slopes to the south and includes dense and varied undisturbed vegetation patterns that offer visual and physical relief from more developed areas. It is an important open space component in the viewshed for Elephant Butte. Arrival into this designated open space area creates an individual sense of discovery and enhances the feel of a rural community desired by Cave Creek residents. The predominant soils in the Cahava Ranch are Greyeagle-Suncity Variant complex 1 % to 7% slope. The depth to hardpan of this soil type is limited, and ripping the pan may be necessary for excavation. The predominant vegetation associated with this soil type is creosotebush (45%), Brush muhly (10%), Triangle bursage (5%), other perrenial grasses, forbs and annual forbs and shrubs (35%)7. Wash Corridors Wash corridors provide a rich habitat for vegetation and wildlife throughout the Town. These areas provide visual relief and a connection to the mountains and high elevation areas. They are considered an important open space resource. They provide vegetation and habitat for wildlife that is a significant element in defining the rural desert character of the Town. Wash Corridors include Cave Creek Wash and its Tributaries and the Jewel of the Creek. Cave Wash and Its Tributaries. The wash generally runs from north to south and originates in the Tonto National Forest. Through the Town of Cave Creek it runs east of Elephant Butte and Maricopa County Cave Creek Recreation Area and through GO John Canyon. The majority of the wash tributaries are located to the east of the main wash. Cave Creek wash provides a corridor for wildlife and vegetation throughout the town. This open space has cultural significance to the town. Hence it is important to preserve the wash as a natural open space area. The wash may move laterally during large storms or over time. Therefore, the wash, its floodplain and a 100' buffer zone from each side of the wash and its major tributaries are identified as Wash Corridors in this description and inventory. GO John Canyon : This area is located adjacent to Cave Creek Recreation Area on its east side. The Cave Creek Wash travels through GO John Canyon and the GO John Mountains. It is bordered to the north by Andora Wash and to the south by Creek Canyon Road. The 500-acre area provides critical habitat for a multitude of desert wildlife and serves as a scenic backdrop for the Town. The riparian areas of GO John Canyon serve a critical flood control function and are fed by springs just north of the canyon. The springs provide water for most of the year. Cave Creek Wash runs through Canyon. The Canyon is defined by steep slopes and rock outcroppings. A mesquite bosque flanks both sides of Cave Creek, and Saguaros are prominent throughout the area.8 The Canyon and wash are included in the Cave Creek Wash buffer area (which includes the area surrounding the wash on the east) and the Mountain View Areas identified on the Open space map. Willow Springs Wash : is adjacent to the Jewel of the Creek. The wash and surrounding area is approximately 765 acres and includes steep slopes and rock outcrops on both sides of the wash. Its northern boundary is at the Cave Creek Town Limits at Willow Springs Lane North. Willow Springs Wash joins the Cave Creek Wash at its southwestern border and is bordered to the east by Sierra Vista Drive. The predominant vegetation includes giant saguaros, barrel cactus, ocotillo, jojoba, hedgehog cactus, foothills palo verde and ironwood U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. Soil Survey of Aguila-Carefree Area, Parts of Maricopa and Pinal Counties, Arizona. April 1986. 8 Desert Foothills Land Trust. GO John Canyon Evaluation. 3
THE 000 PLANNING CENTER trees. The habitat on the parcel is consistent with that of the southwester willow flycatcher, ferruginous pygmy owl ad the California leaf-nosed bat. The areas surrounding the wash area. The wash area provides important views for the Upper Cave Creek Basin and the north side is included in the Mountain View Area on the Open Space map. The Wash hosts a mesquite bosque. Other portions of the area contain grassy areas that provide valuable food sources for larger mammals including mountain lions and bobcats9. The Wash is and adjacent area identified as a wash corridor and considered open space. The Wash Corridor on the south side of Willow springs wash includes this area. The area surrounding the wash is included in the Severe Soil Areas identified on the Open Space Map. Severe Soil Areas The predominant soil association in the Town of Cave Creek is the Gran-Rock outcrop- Lehmans. The coverage of this soil association is interrupted at the southern end of the study area by three other soil associations. The Cipriano-Suncity-Carefree association lies south of New River Road and West of Cave Creek Wash. The Tremant-Ebon-Pinamt association only slightly intrudes into the study area along the easterly flood plain of Cave Creek Wash south of New River Road. The Eba-Penaleno association extends east of the Tremant-Ebon-Pinamt association, south of the slopes of Black Mountain, to the eastern limits of the study area.10 The Gran Rock outcrop-lehmans soil types present are rated severe for building and septic." These soils are generally located in areas with steep slopes (6% to 65%) and at higher elevations. Because they are generally coincident with Mountain View areas, those areas which are predominantly Gran Rock outcrop-lehmans are also considered open space Severe Soil Areas. Public Open Spaces include areas that are publicly owned and operated. These include the Town of Cave Creek Park Gateway Park and the Maricopa County Cave Creek Recreation Area. Maricopa County Cave Creek Recreation Area. This 4.5 square mile area is currently under Maricopa County jurisdiction. It is generally bounded Saddle Mountain Rd/Highland Road on the north, approximately one third of a mile past Cloud Road on the south, 28th Street on the west and 48th Street on the east. It is surrounded on three sides by the Town of Cave Creek and is an important open space resource. The recreation area is primarily oriented towards use as a nature study area. Rodeo grounds on the southeast corner of the recreation area and equestrian trails will establish the recreation area as an important equestrian area12. The Predominant Soil Type in the Recreation area is Lehman's Rock Outcrop Complex 8% to 65% slopes.13 9 Desert Foothills Land Trust. Attachment Petition to Reclassify State Trust Land Suitable for Conservation Purposes. November 1999. 10 Mimbres-Arizona, July 1988. 11 U.S. Department of Agriculture. April 1986. 12 Mimbres-Arizona. Background Report Cave Creek Comprehensive General Plan. April 1988. 13 Ibid. 4
tft^the PLANNING CENTER Gateway Park Gateway Park was created in 1994. The approximately 26 acre Park includes an amphitheater, interpretive center and restrooms. It's northern boundary is generally located one mile north of Cave Creek Road, and its southern border is Cave Creek Road. It's eastern boundary is less than one half mile west of Tom Darlington Drive and it's western boundary is Vermeersch Road. 5
THE PLANNING CENTER 2. Forecast Open Space Needs: The Town of Cave Creek is defined by its open spaces. The varied topography ranging from gently rolling hills to steep mountainous areas creates a setting that draws new residents and visitors to the town in increasing numbers. The current population of the Town is 3,78514. The population is projected to almost double to 6,255 in 2005. The Town believes that although its open space needs are met according to this plan, reducing the amount of publicly and privately owned open space would negatively impact the quality of life for residents and the desert rural residential character of the town. 14 Arizona Department of Economic Security Population Statistics Unit. December, 1999.
THE 000 CENTER PLANNING 3. Open Space Goals, Policies and Strategies: The following Open Space Goals, Policies and Strategies are designed to meet the forecasted open space needs of the Town of Cave Creek. Goal: Enhance and protect public and privately owned identified open space by preserving, conserving and protecting the geology, flora, fauna and water resources within them. Protect private property rights by permitting very low density residential development which preserves, conserves and protects the geology, flora, fauna and water resources of Mountain View and Severe Soil Areas and Wash Corridors. Limit development of mountains, slopes and washes in Severe Soil and Mountain View areas to those areas which are appropriate for the geology; do not require diversions or terraces to prevent soil erosion and do not result in soil erosion. Amend the Town of Cave Creek Zoning Ordinance to include a zoning category that protects qualities that contributes to open space and protects flora, fauna, water and wildlife resources and develop appropriate zoning enforcement techniques. Prohibit any development on Town owned open space resources except for development necessary to accommodate sanitary and safety needs. Provide safety and sanitary facilities as needed through the Town Capital Improvement program, as funding for them becomes available. Goal: Enhance and protect existing viewsheds and ridgelines. To the extent possible use accurate mapping systems. To the extent possible, implement in Mountain View Areas the Visual Classification definitions for Visual Class I included in the 1988 Mimbres - Arizona visual analysis : "Class I. Special Areas - These areas are free from intrusions and have high scenic quality. Changes should be limited only to natural ecological occurrences. 15" 15 Mimbres-Arizona. April 1988. 7
R Town of Cave Creek General Plan Draft Open Space Element fyn THE PLANNING 00CENTER To protect private property rights, amend the Town of Cave Creek Zoning Ordinance to include a zoning category for very low density residential development so that development can be located in areas that do not affect the Visual Quality of the Class I. Special Areas included in Mountain View Areas. Amend the sign ordinance so signs do not intrude on existing viewsheds. Strengthen hillside regulations to protect views of slopes. Offer residents of Cave Creek the opportunity to visually publicly owned open space with privately owned open space. enhance existing Develop and implement design and zoning standards that result in the visual blending of the boundaries between privately and publicly owned undeveloped areas and yards. Goal: Protect, preserve and enhance Wash Corridors and associated wildlife corridors and riparian habitats. Preserve and enhance Wash Corridors and associated wildlife corridors and habitats by prohibiting development in floodplains, floodways, and in the Wash Corridors. Develop and adopt a floodplain management strategy to protect Wash Corridors and associated wildlife corridors and habitats and that also protects development from the risk of flooding from Cave Creek Wash and its tributaries. Minimize crossings of Cave Creek Wash to preserve the visual, aural, and environmental quality of the Wash Corridor and associated wildlife corridors and habitats. Preserve the integrity of undisturbed portions of Cave Creek Wash by creating non-vehicular access easements, which may include Stagecoach Trail and portions of Spur Cross road.
'Q" PLANNING M CENTER Protect open space resources including Willow Springs and GO John Canyon by supporting their acquisition for preservation. Provide letters of support and information to the Desert Foothills Land Trust and other entities to assist in the preservation of GO John Canyon and Willow Springs. 9