Proposed Development
Photo: lakeshore650.com
LAKESHORE 650
Fain proposes new master planned community
Fain Signature Group, along with Brown Homes, desires to create a master planned community on 652 acres of Fain owned County land located near the intersection of Lakeshore Dr. and Fain Rd.
Two public open house events were held in July 2023 and a third in August 2023. All events were well attended and citizens expressed strong opposition to any high density development in that area.
Fain's website promotes this project as "housing for all." Their conceptual plan includes a variety of housing stock including rental apartments, multi-family attached housing and single family detached housing. Along Fain Rd, there would be commercial opportunities for services such as restaurants and retail. The community would include the typical amenities such as a dog park, sports courts, clubhouse, walking trails, etc.
The Fain development team explained that the new community will be developed in multiple phases as market conditions warrant. Lakeshore Drive improvements would also be phased in and is ultimately envisioned as a 5 lane roadway through the new community.
In September 2023, Fain Signature Group submitted a request for annexation of the Property from Yavapai County into the Town of Prescott Valley. Fain simultaneously submitted a Planned Area Development rezoning request and asks that both the annexation and rezoning be run concurrently and conjunctively.
TIMELINE
October 10, 2023: Fain Signature Group held a public Neighborhood Meeting.
Oct 12, 2023: Town of Prescott Valley held the first of two public hearings for the Annexation request during the Town Council meeting. Watch the recorded meeting here.
June 10, 2024: Planning and Zoning approved a recommendation to rezone 652 acres for a master planned community. Watch the video
Watch the Developer's website for more information:
Gary Beverly, PhD, Exec Committee Member of the Citizens Water Advocacy Group provides water facts and fills in the blanks for the audience at the July 26 2023 Open House event for the proposed Fain Lakeshore 650 development.
THE OBSERVATORY
Proposed high density, land lease project at Bradshaw Mountain Rd and Turquoise Cr.
Fain Signature Group seeks a zoning map change for their project, The Observatory, which is to be located off of SR 69 at Bradshaw Mountain Rd and East Turquoise Cr.
The Observatory will be situated on 323 acres with approx 6 homes per acre. The single family, manufactured homes will be 1,200 to 1,900 square feet each and the median home price will be $288,000. The buyer will purchase the home only and lease the land from the builder.
The builder held a second Public Meeting on May 24, 2023 to an overflow crowd at which citizens expressed concerns over the negative impacts that this high density development would have on the community. The builder will require a zoning map change for this high density, land lease project.
THIS PROJECT HAS NOT MOVED FORWARD SINCE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, HOWEVER THE DEVELOPERS WEBSITE REMAINS ACTIVE
SAND & GRAVEL MINING OPERATION
Fain Enterprises seeks to have a 40 acre parcel located within a residential district re-zoned for the purpose of conducting a sand and gravel mining operation.
In their application to the Town of Prescott Valley dated 7.31.23, landowner, Fain Enterprises, describes the project as: “A rock and gravel harvest site to source hard rock for aggregate materials for use in roads, highways and construction purposes.
The project narrative describes the proposed location as having 5 million tons of usable materials on it. The landowner explains the preferred practice would be to drill, blast and crush materials on-site and haul with over-the-road trucks to their asphalt plant at 2400 Glassford Hill Rd. An alternative practice would be to haul the excavated rock to their current location for crushing.
Fain Enterprises would build a road from the pit to the asphalt plant. The road would be gravel and maintained with dust control provided using water trucks. The road would cross Old Black Canyon Hwy, go into Lynx Creek valley and meet up with existing roads in the valley.
The Town will need to determine whether this “part time use” is compliant with the General Plan and Town Code. The surrounding properties are zoned for low density residential land use. According to Town Code 13-06-101, “The purpose of this zoning district is to establish and preserve quiet, conventional single family home neighborhoods as desired by large numbers of people, free from other uses except those that are both compatible with and convenient to the residents of such a district.”
The mining operation will require an application for two approvals by the Town Council and one by the Board of Adjustment. The Council will need to approve a Minor General Plan Amendment from Low Density to Industrial designation, and from R1L-70 to M1 zoning on the site. The Board of Adjustment will need to grant a Use Permit per Town Code 13-71-020(C)(4) in order to allow a heavy commercial use that produces noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat and/or glare beyond the boundaries of the district.
An Oct 23, 2023 Daily Courier article stated that “The town and the Fain family have worked together to find a location for the operation that will not impact [Fain] park land or nearby neighborhoods.” However, the proposed mining operation is located less than ½ mile from a Dewey-Humboldt residential community, approximately 1 mile from the communities of Stoneridge and Prescott Country Club, and less than 3 miles from Bradshaw Mountain Middle School
On October 24, 2023, Fain Enterprises held a Neighborhood Meeting to receive public comment on the proposed rezoning and General Plan amendment. There was no formal presentation nor handouts provided. At least 100 residents attended the meeting.
The proposed mining operation would generate silica dust as well as noise.
Prescott Valley residents, Dr. William and Mrs. Penelope Wolf discussed the risk of crystalline silica dust in their Letter to the Editor, published in the Daily Courier on October 24, 2023. Read the full letter here
Listen as residents describe the negative impacts and living conditions associated with living near an existing Fain mining operation in the Mingus West community. Watch the video.
If Prescott Valley Town Council approves the rezoning request, the landowner must then file a reclamation plan with the State Mining Inspector who determines whether or not to approve the plan. If approved, the landowner then applies for a Mine ID. Additional permits from ADEQ may also be required for this operation.
For more information, citizens may call Development Services at 928-759-3070 or email the Town Manager at GDavidson@prescottvalley-az.gov
For updates from Fain Signature Group, click here
These photos were taken by Prescott Valley resident, Ken Freund, from his home in Mingus West. The photos illustrate the real-time impact that the blasting at the Fain owned Cemex and Vulcan Materials Quarry has on the surrounding neighborhood.
Mr. Freund explains that every time they blast at the quarry his house jolts violently, huge clouds of dust appear and new cracks show up in his ceilings and walls.
360 UNIT RENTAL COMMUNITY AT KACHINA & SR 69
UPDATE SEPT 2023: PROJECT IS NOT MOVING FORWARD AT THIS TIME. DEVELOPER WITHDREW
Grounds Properties intended to seek a zoning change from commercial C2-PAD to residential R2-PAD for 20 acres at the intersection of Kachina Place and Hwy 69.
Grounds Properties had planned to submit a development proposal to install multiple 3 story apartment buildings on 20 acres for a total of 360 residential rental units. The proposed community would also include a dog park, fitness center, outdoor pool and event space.
A public hearing was held on August 1, 2023.