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Board approves McLean Meadows/Arcana resort and 151-lot workforce subdivision in Valley
Summary
After staff and applicant presentations and public comment, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a zone change to allow a 150-unit resort commercial development and a 151-lot manufactured-home workforce subdivision with required infrastructure and conditions.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on Oct. 14 a combined zoning and preliminary-plat package for McLean Meadows, an Arcana-branded resort plus workforce housing development north of the junction of State Route 64 and U.S. 180 in the Valley area.
The action approves an ordinance changing two parcels from General (G, 10-acre minimum) to Resort Commercial (RC) for an 82.25-acre parcel and to Manufactured Home Park (MHP) for a 40.04-acre parcel, and it approves a preliminary plat for a roughly 151-lot manufactured-home subdivision. The applicants described the project as a two-part proposal: a low-impact resort with roughly 150 detached commercial lodging units and shared amenities, and a meet-the-market workforce subdivision with lots intended for ownership or lease, plus donated lots for Habitat for Humanity.
Deputy director of community development Jess McNeely told supervisors the project provides infrastructure the Valley area has lacked: maintained internal roads, a community water system permitted through Arizona Department of Water Resources, a community wastewater treatment system designed for reclaimed water reuse, and a plan to support a fire station site. The applicant's engineer described proposed water-storage and hydrant placement for firefighting; High Country Fire chief Kevin Trotter said his volunteer department can serve the development and noted the applicant is donating funds toward local fire capabilities.
The applicant team said the resort buildings would use earthen materials and low-profile massing to reduce visual impacts; the submitted master plan also includes homeowner association covenants that, by voluntary commitment, would prohibit short-term rentals in the workforce housing portion. Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona and Econa, the regional economic development organization, told the board the donated lots will enable permanently affordable homeownership and that the project would expand local water/sewer capacity in the Valley area.
During public comments residents and some nearby property owners raised concerns about density, water use and preserving dark skies; staff and the applicants responded in detail about water permitting, design, lighting controls under the county's dark-sky rules and the 18-month timeline for final plat or bonding for required infrastructure.
The board found the required zone-change and subdivision findings had been met, including consistency with the county comprehensive plan and Valley-area goals to concentrate commercial lodging near the 64/180 intersection and to provide workforce housing and necessary infrastructure. The final ordinance and plat conditions require the developer to build or bond for infrastructure, comply with the approved master plan, and meet ADOT and county standards for the development's Highway 64 access.
Votes at the meeting record unanimous approval for the ordinance adopting the two zone changes and for the resolution approving the 151-lot preliminary plat.
Ending
Supervisors said the development is a rare opportunity to combine visitor accommodations with workforce housing and infrastructure in a part of the county that has previously lacked maintained roads and community water and sewer; staff and the applicant will return with final plat and permitting documents as the project moves toward construction.
