Regional housing group outlines land-trust plan, 14-acre donation for workforce homes in Camp Verde

Mary Shaquen, executive director of the Verde Valley Community Development Organization, briefed the Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 6 about the organization’s regional housing work and next steps. Shaquen said VVCDO is concentrating on workforce housing for households roughly between 100% and 150% of area median income and listed several recent accomplishments, including a regional advisory committee, a developable-land database, a cost-to-build study and a newly launched Verde Valley Community Land Trust.

Shaquen described the land-trust model the organization plans to use: the nonprofit keeps ownership of the land in perpetuity while homeowners buy and own the vertical structure and lease the land under a ground-lease arrangement designed to keep homes affordable. She offered an illustrative example of how shared-equity and the ground lease would work and said the land trust has right-of-first-refusal protections and ground-lease terms to preserve long-term affordability. "The land is never sold out from under them," Shaquen said, summarizing the land-trust principle.

The organization reported it has been gifted 14 acres in Camp Verde on Highway 260 and plans to pursue development of about 45 single-family homes targeted to the missing middle, with a mix of 2–4 bedroom units and design features prioritized by prospective buyers (garages, fenced yards). Shaquen said the VVCDO is working with municipal partners, local banks and national land-trust networks to arrange financing, construction partners and long-term stewardship.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about the cost implications of green infrastructure, whether local banks will finance ground-lease transactions, and the mechanics of resale restrictions and maintenance responsibilities. Shaquen acknowledged trade-offs between green-site features and affordability, said the organization is testing different construction models and named several partners and pilot programs. She also described a donated parcel in Camp Verde as the organization’s first large site and said additional donor interest is under discussion.

Next steps: VVCDO will continue outreach to municipalities (including a presentation scheduled to Sedona City Council), refine the cost-to-build study and pursue funding and municipal partnerships; commissioners signaled support for regional engagement and asked staff to coordinate timing for local code or policy changes where appropriate.