Cave Creek council authorizes application to initiate auction of 405 acres of open space

The Cave Creek Town Council voted to authorize filing an application with the Arizona State Land Department to initiate an auction of 405 acres of open-space, recreation and open-space conservation–zoned lands and to permit the town manager to administratively approve studies, plans and surveys necessary to complete the state land department application process.

Council member (mover) introduced the motion to proceed with the application and to empower staff to complete required technical work. The motion was seconded and placed on the floor for comment before a voice vote.

Council members praised the long-running volunteer and staff effort that produced the proposal. Council member (praise) called the proposal "a win-win for the entire community. Period. End of story," and thanked staff and volunteers for years of work. Another council member compared the parcel to Spur Cross and said protecting the land would preserve "one of the last places" of Sonoran Desert within Maricopa County, emphasizing recreational and conservation benefits.

One council member said the council's actions "moving forward this year" could double the town's preserved open space from 4,500 acres to 9,000 acres, framing the application as part of a larger preservation strategy. A separate council member asked whether they could raise questions after the vote about testimony from Bruce Arland and a related signature petition; staff advised that the petition item could not be added to the current agenda and suggested the question be raised with staff after the meeting.

The mayor called for a voice vote. The council voted in favor and the motion carried; the transcript records a voice vote with no opposed votes explicitly stated and does not provide a roll-call tally. The council adjourned the item with authorization for staff to proceed with application materials and the technical work required by the State Land Department.

Next steps: staff will prepare and submit the application to the Arizona State Land Department and complete the studies, plans and surveys authorized by the council. Questions about the signature petition and related testimony were deferred to follow-up with staff after the meeting.