Commission recommends approval of Goldhawk at the Preserve down-zoning amid strong tribal and neighbor opposition

The Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission on May 8 recommended approval, by a vote of 7–1, of Z240006 ("Goldhawk at the Preserve"), a zone change with Rural-43 REPD overlay on roughly 1,940 acres in the Goldfield Ranch / Fort McDowell area. The proposal caps development at 696 dwelling units (about 0.36 dwelling units per acre) and includes 15 stipulations negotiated between the developer and tribal and community stakeholders.

Staff said the application is a down-zoning relative to prior approvals for the area and endorsed a condition (E0.3) that any new parcels created by minor land divisions within the REPD overlay adhere to Rural-190 development standards until final plats are recorded. At publication staff reported 86 letters and emails in opposition representing 41 property owners plus a 14-signature petition; common concerns were impacts to the remote character of Goldfield Ranch, lack of assured water supply, septic/wastewater management, fire protection and transportation access.

The developer, represented by Greyhawk Development and counsel Wendy Riddell, said the request reduces previously approved entitlements, preserves about 70% of the site as open space, proposes lot sizes averaging 2.5 acres (range 1–5 acres), and commits to on-lot building envelopes, limited on-lot disturbance, and an assured water-supply demonstration during subdivision. Riddell said the project will increase contributions to the Goldfield Ranch Fire District, bring hydrants to entrances, require sprinklers in homes, and use best practices for septic installation and HOA oversight.

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation leaders and technical staff urged caution. Paul Russell, vice president of the nation, told the commission: "This agreement is far more than a binding legal contract. It is a solemn promise that protects the very lifeline of our Gavapai people." Tribal representatives, hydrology and water experts raised concerns about production wells placed near the reservation boundary, the connectivity of a shallow alluvial aquifer to the Verde River, and potential contamination risks from up to nearly 700 septic systems. Experts and tribal counsel requested additional time and stronger financial assurances (the tribes' experts suggested a sinking/repair fund in the low millions — tribal counsel referenced a combined fund estimate "roughly about $6,000,000") to guarantee long-term monitoring, maintenance and replacement of septic systems.

Neighbors and local groups testified on road safety, long emergency response times, wildfire risk and local infrastructure limits. Traffic and civil engineering experts said the internal road layout and limited accesses could funnel large volumes of traffic onto single local streets and direct access to State Route 87 would be unsafe at current configurations. Fire and emergency services representatives said response times and the absence of a local staffed station create measurable risk; tribal and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community technical staff asked for binding fire-service commitments and demonstrated water/fire-flow capacity before final plat.

Applicant counsel said the parties had negotiated 15 stipulations and argued a project led by an experienced master developer was preferable to unregulated lot-splitting; counsel said she and the developer would continue to work with tribal nations, staff and neighbors through subdivision, ADEQ and ADWR processes.

After extensive public testimony and commissioner questions, Commissioner Finter moved to recommend approval with conditions a–s; Commissioner Millhaven seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call recommendation of 7–1. Commissioners and staff noted remaining technical and intergovernmental steps (ADWR assured water supply, ADEQ/wastewater, final plat and fire agreements) would be required before development and that many of the remaining concerns will be addressed in later permit and subdivision reviews.

Ending

The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final decision; several speakers asked the commission and the Board to delay action to allow additional technical work, and tribal representatives said they would continue to press for binding financial and operational guarantees to protect water and cultural resources.