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Cave Creek accepts 10‑ft easement for Morningstar trail, abandons 30‑ft ROW to accommodate owner
Summary
Council approved acceptance of a 10‑foot non‑motorized trail easement along the Morningstar alignment in exchange for abandoning 30 feet of right‑of‑way; council and public commenters framed the action as a compromise that advances trail connectivity to the Maricopa Trail.
The Cave Creek Town Council on May 20 accepted a 10‑foot non‑motorized trail easement on private property along the Morningstar alignment and agreed to abandon 30 feet of right‑of‑way at the owner’s request to preserve the buildable area of the parcel.
Staff said the easement would link town trails to Maricopa Trail and Spurcross Ranch and that the alignment had been field‑checked with a surveyor. The property owner asked for abandonment of the adjacent 30‑foot strip to maintain sufficient buildable area and avoid putting a future house into a narrow, sloping portion of the lot.
Morningstar Trail Task Force members, volunteers and neighbors praised the compromise and noted benefits for safety and access: one commenter said the trail would provide safer egress for people who become disoriented on nearby trails and improve emergency access.
Staff advised the council that the easement acceptance will be low‑impact, that trail construction would be designed to minimize visibility, and that the owner required completion of the easement steps before listing the property. Staff said they would complete final design work and aim to have the trail constructed before December under the owner’s timeline.
Council member Tom (speaker 4) moved to accept the 10‑foot trail easement in exchange for abandonment of 30 feet of right‑of‑way; the motion was seconded and carried 7–0. Council members commended the ad hoc task force for producing a compromise that addressed neighborhood concerns while securing trail connectivity.
