What happens to our property values and our property rights if:
. . the town remains committed under the four Open Space Agreements and the claims about a water shortage are true?
. . the town remains committed under the four Open Space Agreements and the claims about water rationing are true?
The majority of Cave Creek’s water supply comes from Lake Mead and is delivered via the Central Arizona Project canals as CAP water. Whether or not you accept as truth the scientific consensus about climate change and the Southwest being in the midst of a 16-year-long drought, the fact is more than 200 water agents, attorneys, and water specialists recently attended a meeting with Arizona water officials to develop a drought contingency plan involving present and future water availability in Arizona should the reduction in the levels at Lake Mead continue to drop.
Under the four Open Space Agreements, what happens to our property values if the claims about a water shortage are true?
Putting any State-declared water shortage aside, the four Open Space Agreements contain two provisions predicting a water shortage: “The Town does not have a designation of assured water supply under the Arizona Groundwater Code, A.R.S. §45-756 and A.A.C. R12-15-710 and has an allocation of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water which is not sufficient to serve full build out of the Town under the Town’s Master Water Plan in effect as of the Effective Date;”.
The second provision predicting a water shortage resulting from the required residential and commercial development under these four Agreements states, in part: “The Town’s CAP allocation could be short up to approximately 1,000 acre feet of the water necessary to serve the real estate which is the subject of the Four Agreements . . .”. The “real estate” referred to is 2,959 new homes, along with hundreds of acres of intense commercial development.
To help meet the water shortage predicted under the four Open Space Agreements, in 2013, the town requested 1,100 acre feet/year of additional water allotment. That water allotment request was denied. The town received a water allotment approval for 386 acre feet. Approval of the 386 acre feet came with the added directive that the town would receive only one additional water allotment approval to support the town’s expected build out in 2040 of 65 acre feet/year. There is no evidence that the town has purchased its 386 acre feet water allotment. The purchase price is $1,288.00 per acre feet, making the cost to the town: $497,168.00. This $497,168.00 is an expense that must be paid through higher water bills or with monies from the town’s General Fund.
This is 549 acre feet short of the water shortage predicted in the four Open Space Agreements, and is in addition to any State water shortage that may be declared by Arizona water officials. As evidence above, even if the 386 acre feet and 65 acre feet water allocations are purchased, the town will still suffer the effects of a 549-acre feet water shortage under the four Open Space Agreements unless additional water allotments are approved and purchased.
The town’s current water allocation is 2,606 acre feet/year for 2,579 homes and businesses. The four Open Space Agreements require an additional 2,959 new homes. Using the Arizona Department of Water Resources own calculations, the 2,959 additional homes will require a water allotment of 2,959 acre feet/year. Although it is impossible to estimate how much water is used by commercial developments as these figures are not made public, this 2,959 acre allotment also includes water that will be used by the required commercial development under the Open Space Core Site Agreement. One resort is required.
During the recent FY 2017 budget workshops, the mayor and town council discussed selling some of the town’s present CAP water allotment to raise much-needed income for the town. Given that there is no evidence of the town’s purchase of the 386 acre feet water allotment, any sale of CAP water the mayor and council may be contemplating would be based on a reduction to our existing 2,606 acre feet/year water allotment – an allotment the town has had since entering into the four Open Space Agreements.
Any sale of our present CAP water allotment by town officials exposes existing residents to a water shortage which will be even worse in the event of a State-declared water shortage and by remaining in the four Open Space Agreements.
Under the four Open Space Agreements, what happens to our property values if the claims about water rationing are true?
Splashed across the headlines are news stories that the water level in Lake Mead has almost reached the tipping point where water rationing will likely be required.
Water rationing will affect every city and town differently. Because of their financial investment and commitment to water management and conservation protocols, the city of Phoenix only obtains about 36% of its water from the CAP, and the city of Scottsdale only obtains about 48% of its water from the CAP, making them better positioned to avoid or minimize the effects of water rationing should the reduction in the levels at Lake Mead continue to drop.
Unlike Phoenix and Scottsdale, since 2008 Cave Creek town officials have pursued a policy for the acquisition of 4,000 acres of land under the four Open Space Agreements and have made a financial investment toward that end. The $50+ million dollar expense for our water treatment facility was incurred to accommodate the residential and commercial development required under the four Open Space Agreements. Since October, 2015, the town has spent an additional $100,000± from the General Fund monies in pursuit of the acquisition of the 4,000 acres.
Recently Vice Mayor LaMar wrote that the acquisition of the 4,000 acres is a priority of the town council in order to “keep the advance of Phoenix urban sprawl from engulfing the Town.” All of the “Phoenix urban sprawl” alleged by Vice Mayor LaMar will occur in Phoenix and outside the borders of Cave Creek. Meanwhile, absent in his article is any discussion about Cave Creek’s urban sprawl --- an urban sprawl created and agreed to by our town officials as part of the four Open Space Agreements. Cave Creek’s urban sprawl will more than double the number of homes and present population within the borders of Cave Creek.
In referring to the “Phoenix urban sprawl,” Vice Mayor LaMar also wrote that “The more developed our adjoining communities become the more attractive and valuable our residential and commercial property will become.” In comparison to Phoenix or Scottsdale, how “attractive and valuable” will Cave Creek properties be to potential purchasers and commercial investors if Cave Creek is subject to stricter water rationing than Phoenix or Scottsdale?
What is the point of having property rights if our properties are not “attractive and valuable” due to the fact that our properties have no investment value because there is not enough water?
On August 30, 2016, voters in Cave Creek will decide which is more important: making an investment in water management and conservation, or making an investment in 4,000 acres of undevelopable land?
The current Town Council members whose priority is the acquisition of 4,000 acres of undevelopable land includes mayoral candidate Ernie Bunch and council candidates Tom McGuire and Susan Clancy. Before you vote it is very important to know how the other candidates stand on this issue, as well.
As I declared when announcing my campaign for Mayor: the four Open Space Agreements are toxic to our Cave Creek lifestyle. We must preserve our Cave Creek lifestyle, our property rights, and our property values for today and tomorrow. We live in the desert. Our State is experiencing a 16-year drought. The priority of our town officials should be water management and conservation, not the acquisition of 4,000 acres of undevelopable land. If you agree, please vote for me on August 30, 2016.
Thank you.
Janelle Smith-Haff
Candidate for Mayor
www.janelleformayor.com
[email protected]
Paid for by Janelle for Mayor Committee
. . the town remains committed under the four Open Space Agreements and the claims about a water shortage are true?
. . the town remains committed under the four Open Space Agreements and the claims about water rationing are true?
The majority of Cave Creek’s water supply comes from Lake Mead and is delivered via the Central Arizona Project canals as CAP water. Whether or not you accept as truth the scientific consensus about climate change and the Southwest being in the midst of a 16-year-long drought, the fact is more than 200 water agents, attorneys, and water specialists recently attended a meeting with Arizona water officials to develop a drought contingency plan involving present and future water availability in Arizona should the reduction in the levels at Lake Mead continue to drop.
Under the four Open Space Agreements, what happens to our property values if the claims about a water shortage are true?
Putting any State-declared water shortage aside, the four Open Space Agreements contain two provisions predicting a water shortage: “The Town does not have a designation of assured water supply under the Arizona Groundwater Code, A.R.S. §45-756 and A.A.C. R12-15-710 and has an allocation of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water which is not sufficient to serve full build out of the Town under the Town’s Master Water Plan in effect as of the Effective Date;”.
The second provision predicting a water shortage resulting from the required residential and commercial development under these four Agreements states, in part: “The Town’s CAP allocation could be short up to approximately 1,000 acre feet of the water necessary to serve the real estate which is the subject of the Four Agreements . . .”. The “real estate” referred to is 2,959 new homes, along with hundreds of acres of intense commercial development.
To help meet the water shortage predicted under the four Open Space Agreements, in 2013, the town requested 1,100 acre feet/year of additional water allotment. That water allotment request was denied. The town received a water allotment approval for 386 acre feet. Approval of the 386 acre feet came with the added directive that the town would receive only one additional water allotment approval to support the town’s expected build out in 2040 of 65 acre feet/year. There is no evidence that the town has purchased its 386 acre feet water allotment. The purchase price is $1,288.00 per acre feet, making the cost to the town: $497,168.00. This $497,168.00 is an expense that must be paid through higher water bills or with monies from the town’s General Fund.
This is 549 acre feet short of the water shortage predicted in the four Open Space Agreements, and is in addition to any State water shortage that may be declared by Arizona water officials. As evidence above, even if the 386 acre feet and 65 acre feet water allocations are purchased, the town will still suffer the effects of a 549-acre feet water shortage under the four Open Space Agreements unless additional water allotments are approved and purchased.
The town’s current water allocation is 2,606 acre feet/year for 2,579 homes and businesses. The four Open Space Agreements require an additional 2,959 new homes. Using the Arizona Department of Water Resources own calculations, the 2,959 additional homes will require a water allotment of 2,959 acre feet/year. Although it is impossible to estimate how much water is used by commercial developments as these figures are not made public, this 2,959 acre allotment also includes water that will be used by the required commercial development under the Open Space Core Site Agreement. One resort is required.
During the recent FY 2017 budget workshops, the mayor and town council discussed selling some of the town’s present CAP water allotment to raise much-needed income for the town. Given that there is no evidence of the town’s purchase of the 386 acre feet water allotment, any sale of CAP water the mayor and council may be contemplating would be based on a reduction to our existing 2,606 acre feet/year water allotment – an allotment the town has had since entering into the four Open Space Agreements.
Any sale of our present CAP water allotment by town officials exposes existing residents to a water shortage which will be even worse in the event of a State-declared water shortage and by remaining in the four Open Space Agreements.
Under the four Open Space Agreements, what happens to our property values if the claims about water rationing are true?
Splashed across the headlines are news stories that the water level in Lake Mead has almost reached the tipping point where water rationing will likely be required.
Water rationing will affect every city and town differently. Because of their financial investment and commitment to water management and conservation protocols, the city of Phoenix only obtains about 36% of its water from the CAP, and the city of Scottsdale only obtains about 48% of its water from the CAP, making them better positioned to avoid or minimize the effects of water rationing should the reduction in the levels at Lake Mead continue to drop.
Unlike Phoenix and Scottsdale, since 2008 Cave Creek town officials have pursued a policy for the acquisition of 4,000 acres of land under the four Open Space Agreements and have made a financial investment toward that end. The $50+ million dollar expense for our water treatment facility was incurred to accommodate the residential and commercial development required under the four Open Space Agreements. Since October, 2015, the town has spent an additional $100,000± from the General Fund monies in pursuit of the acquisition of the 4,000 acres.
Recently Vice Mayor LaMar wrote that the acquisition of the 4,000 acres is a priority of the town council in order to “keep the advance of Phoenix urban sprawl from engulfing the Town.” All of the “Phoenix urban sprawl” alleged by Vice Mayor LaMar will occur in Phoenix and outside the borders of Cave Creek. Meanwhile, absent in his article is any discussion about Cave Creek’s urban sprawl --- an urban sprawl created and agreed to by our town officials as part of the four Open Space Agreements. Cave Creek’s urban sprawl will more than double the number of homes and present population within the borders of Cave Creek.
In referring to the “Phoenix urban sprawl,” Vice Mayor LaMar also wrote that “The more developed our adjoining communities become the more attractive and valuable our residential and commercial property will become.” In comparison to Phoenix or Scottsdale, how “attractive and valuable” will Cave Creek properties be to potential purchasers and commercial investors if Cave Creek is subject to stricter water rationing than Phoenix or Scottsdale?
What is the point of having property rights if our properties are not “attractive and valuable” due to the fact that our properties have no investment value because there is not enough water?
On August 30, 2016, voters in Cave Creek will decide which is more important: making an investment in water management and conservation, or making an investment in 4,000 acres of undevelopable land?
The current Town Council members whose priority is the acquisition of 4,000 acres of undevelopable land includes mayoral candidate Ernie Bunch and council candidates Tom McGuire and Susan Clancy. Before you vote it is very important to know how the other candidates stand on this issue, as well.
As I declared when announcing my campaign for Mayor: the four Open Space Agreements are toxic to our Cave Creek lifestyle. We must preserve our Cave Creek lifestyle, our property rights, and our property values for today and tomorrow. We live in the desert. Our State is experiencing a 16-year drought. The priority of our town officials should be water management and conservation, not the acquisition of 4,000 acres of undevelopable land. If you agree, please vote for me on August 30, 2016.
Thank you.
Janelle Smith-Haff
Candidate for Mayor
www.janelleformayor.com
[email protected]
Paid for by Janelle for Mayor Committee
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