A much-discussed housing development proposed off of State Route 89A is on hold for now but the owners said they plan to move forward again after the first of the year.
Spring Creek Ranch, a 280-acre project that is seeking to have manufactured homes, apartments, RV park and other amenities located between Sedona and Cottonwood, withdrew its zone change application to Yavapai County on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
A county press release issued that same day stated, “This application was advertised on Aug. 26. for public hearing to be held Sept. 17. This item has been removed from that agenda and no future public hearing dates will be set for this application.”
Lisa Borowsky, vice president of Spring Creek Holdings and daughter of the land’s owner, Eric Borowsky, said they have been frustrated that their hearing before the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission was originally set for March but then postponed due to COVID-19 precautions until early summer and then again to Sept. 17.
“We believed it may not happen until November,” Lisa Borowsky said. “We were then notified, I believe on Sept. 4, that we’d be on the agenda of the 17th.”
After that confirmation, Borowsky said she then began reaching out to the various leaders of those groups opposed to this project with the desire to answer questions and concerns but had little success.
Borowsky said they then asked the county for a continuance, which was denied. They were told they could come before the commission on Sept. 17 to request one directly but that there were no guarantees they would get one. So, she said they then withdrew their application.
The plan now is to refile the application for a zone change in January. The date the commission will hear it is not yet known.
She said they plan to move forward with the project as it stands with some possible modifications.
“For now, we’ll continue to try and find middle ground with the community,” Borowsky said.
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 care living facility, a recreational facility, a small store and one to two restaurants as well as 58 acres of open space with a 2.5-mile pathway along the creek.
In late August, Borowsky came before the Cottonwood City Council seeking to have Spring Creek Ranch annexed into the city. Council unanimously voted 5-0 to authorize staff to proceed with the annexation of the property as well as Coconino National Forest land — 11 square miles in all.
Even though the city is proceeding with annexation, it does not mean the project itself has been approved. There will be several steps over the next year in which the owners of the project will have to come before the city, including a possible major amendment to the city’s General Plan.
This also means there will be plenty of opportunities for additional public input.
“We are aware of the application withdrawal from the county,” Cottonwood Community Development Director Scott Ellis said. “This does not affect their desire to be annexed, and [they] have assured the city that they would like to move forward with annexation.”
Borowsky confirmed that nothing has changed in terms of their desire to be annexed.
“We would really love to be part of Cottonwood,” Borowsky told the City Council last month. “I think it’s a really good fit for us and a benefit to the city.”
