Cave Creek council adopts 2024 Town Core Plan update, adds policy to preserve views from town core

Cave Creek — The Town Council unanimously adopted the town’s 2024 Town Core Plan update on Monday and added a new action directing staff to encourage developers to preserve views of nearby hills and mountains from the town core.

Council approved Resolution R2024-15 adopting the plan by voice vote, 6–0. Before the final adoption, a council member proposed and the council approved a motion to add language under the plan’s site-design section directing staff to meet with developers “to encourage planned lot use that maximizes views of nearby and distant hills, mountains, and mesas.”

Luke (Development Services Director) told the council the Town Core update is the product of months of work by planning staff, the planning commission, business owners and residents. He described the update as a “specific area plan” that does not require voter ratification under state law but serves as a guide for streetscape, parking, utilities and public amenities in the town core. The planning commission originally recommended the update in December 2023 after a public review process and staff redline edits.

The director highlighted new or expanded sections in the update, including a dedicated town-utilities section, a Town Core fire-safety section, and a longer-range town-core parking plan intended to maximize shared parking. He also noted updated, more sophisticated maps in the plan that identify unentitled vacant commercial parcels and public amenities such as crosswalks and parking.

During council discussion, members praised the document as a practical planning tool and asked the planning commission to return with follow-up recommendations, specifically on parking details, lighting for pathways and median design. Council member Tom Maguire (first name used in public remarks) moved the view-preservation language into the plan’s site-design actions; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote, then the council adopted the full plan.

The plan will guide future studies, capital projects and development expectations for the town core over its lifecycle; staff noted the document is intended to be refreshed periodically rather than discarded when discrete actions are completed.