Cave Creek council accepts ad hoc open‑space report, directs staff to update appraisals and funding plan for 4,005‑acre acquisition

Steve Lamar, chair of the ad hoc open‑space committee, urged the Cave Creek Town Council on Tuesday to approve his committee’s recommendations for acquiring roughly 4,005 acres of state trust land and to begin fundraising and partnership work that could make purchases possible.

"We ask council to approve our recommendations. Acquiring the 4,005 acres of open space will benefit our community beyond expectations," Lamar said as he closed the committee’s presentation and asked the council to act.

The council unanimously voted to accept the final report, dissolve the ad‑hoc task force and direct staff to update appraisals of the 4,005 acres, prepare a memorandum of understanding with the Desert Foothills Land Trust to administer private donations, and come back with funding options. The motion, including an amendment to authorize staff to work with the Arizona State Land Department to initiate an auction for high‑priority parcels after updated appraisals are received, passed on a 7‑0 roll call.

Why it matters: the parcels in question were annexed and rezoned in 2009 and remain under the Arizona State Land Department’s ownership; the committee flagged both conservation and recreational zoning across the acreage and recommended prioritizing parcels with strong trail connectivity and visual value to maximize public benefit and leverage partner support.

Council and staff details: a staff speaker said the town currently has about $2.5 million in the open‑space fund and that the fund is expected to grow to about $2.6 million by July 1; staff estimated an updated appraisal would be completed in roughly four to six weeks and said they would return to council with a funding plan in one to three meetings. Council members discussed whether the evening’s action amounted to a commitment to buy all 4,005 acres or a statement of intent to pursue acquisition efforts; the motion directs staff to produce the financial analysis and next steps rather than to complete purchases immediately.

Public input and partners: several residents spoke in support. David Phelps thanked the committee and invited the public to a follow‑up meeting at the library; Michael Wehner recommended prioritizing parcels at greatest risk of development should the town not act. Bill Oman, board chair of the Desert Foothills Land Trust, introduced other trust representatives and said the organization intends to continue and expand its partnership with the town to help conserve the Sonoran Desert parcels.

Political and timing concerns: multiple council members urged urgency, noting that changes at the state level could alter the State Land Department’s approach to trust land sales and that acting sooner could secure priority parcels. Councilors also discussed bonding and voter approval; staff advised that pledging a dedicated sales‑tax stream for bonds generally does not require voter approval under state law, while property‑tax pledges would.

Next steps: staff will update appraisals, present funding options and a revised memorandum of understanding with the Desert Foothills Land Trust, and return to council with recommendations—likely within the next one to three council meetings. The council adjourned after the unanimous vote.