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Board allows taller retaining wall for Carefree Man Caves project to address topography, 5-0
Summary
The Board approved BA250022 to permit a 10-foot retaining wall and a combined 16-foot retaining-plus-screen wall for an RV condo development along Carefree Highway, citing topography and drainage constraints; vote was unanimous.
The Maricopa County Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 to approve BA250022, allowing a 10-foot retaining wall where 6 feet is standard and a combined retaining-wall-and-screen height of 16 feet where 14 feet is typical, for an RV-condominium project on Carefree Highway.
Planning staff said the requested relief applies only to a southeast portion of the five-acre parcel, and that the site’s topography and drainage needs motivated the request. The parcel lies within the Carefree Highway scenic corridor; staff said the proposed plan conforms to other corridor screening and setback requirements and that large engineered retaining walls are not uncommon in hillside areas.
Applicant representative Brad Garcia told the board the taller retaining wall would permit a generally level building area for vehicle access and internal circulation while preserving the required landscape area between the development and adjacent residential properties. Garcia said the exposed higher wall would face inward to the project site and that neighbors to the south would see only a 6-foot screen wall above grade.
Board questions focused on engineering and alternatives such as stepped retaining walls. Staff and the applicant said the site’s contours constrained stepped solutions and that the single-wall approach would preserve landscaping areas required along the south side. Motion and vote: Vice Chair Person moved to approve BA250022; Member Clapp seconded and the motion passed 5-0.
