Town staff updates planning commissioners on Black Mountain Marketplace, hotel, rodeo improvements and town‑hall plans

Town planning staff used the March 19 meeting to brief commissioners on current development projects and community improvements.

Staff reported that the Black Mountain Marketplace (southeast corner of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road) recently received site‑plan approval; the roughly 12‑acre project includes seven pads and a mix of retail, quick‑service restaurants, a fuel station and a fitness anchor. A previously approved hotel project (114 rooms) has submitted building permit materials and is in second review, staff said. The Vickers commercial retail center north of the Carefree/53rd Street intersection has a site plan approved and is expected to pursue building permits; the owner intends a garage‑door sales/service business with tenant spaces for others.

Staff also described improvements at the town rodeo grounds including an elevated donated viewing area and planned lighting, and said they are pursuing an APS electrical upgrade (an additional ~800‑amp service) to expand capacity. Fees for building, fire safety and rodeo‑grounds usage are under review; staff proposed launching a self‑issued online permit option for routine items (example: a $50 online permit for water‑heater replacement) to streamline permitting for residents.

On town facilities, staff previewed a conceptual town‑hall expansion to the south of the existing building that would centralize front‑counter functions and colocate development services, building and utilities staff; the project remains subject to budget/CIP decisions by council.

Staff said they will forward presentation materials to commissioners and present a similar report to council on April 7.