Skip to content Skip to main navigation Skip to footer

Upper 260 (NF 10)

391.64 acres located in the Prescott National Forest

The Upper 260 Parcel (Map) of land is located in the 1.25 million-acre Prescott National Forest and totals 391.64 acres, more or less. The parcel is situated along the northeast side of State Route 260 (SR 260) within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Camp Verde (Town). This Parcel is part of the Prescott National Forest and is bordered by the Coconino National Forest on the northeast at the northwestern end of the parcel. The central portion is bordered on the east by private land. Northeast of the Parcel is Arizona State Land Department Trust Land.

The Parcel is bordered by State Highway SR260 (SR 260) to the west and Prescott National Forest beyond the highway. To the south it borders Yavapai-Apache Nation Trust Lands at the Nation’s Cloverleaf Farm and Ranch, and private land.

SR 260 provides access to the parcel from Camp Verde to Cottonwood, Clarkdale, and Jerome. The SR 260 corridor includes commercial/industrial and residential along both sides of the divided highway heading towards Cottonwood.

Camp Verde Town Boundary and General Plan

Although the parcel is part of the Prescott National Forest, the Town of Camp Verde considers all but the very northeast corner to be part of their community for planning purposes. Not only does the Town include it within their town boundaries, the Upper 260 Parcel is also included in the Town’s General Plan for future development which designates it as part of the “260 West Character Area”.

The 260 West Character Area includes zoning for agricultural, residential, light commercial, medium commercial, heavy commercial, and general and heavy industrial for future development.The Arizona Department of Transportation 2022 Average Annual Daily Traffic Report 2022 indicates that between Cherry Creek Road at SR 260 and the Exit Ramp 287 onto I-17, the traffic count is 7,252 vehicles per day. ADOT estimates that by 2042 the average daily traffic count along this stretch of SR 260 will be 25,307 vehicles per day. These traffic counts and projected traffic counts provide one indicator of expected growth in the area. Overall, the SR 260 corridor is desirable for future long-term growth which the State of Arizona is already planning for. However, there is currently a lack of sewer capacity restricting growth along the Upper 260 corridor. There is no resolution for the problem, and therefore development is likely limited in the foreseeable future.

Access

There are legal access points onto the property including the following:

  1. State Highway 260
  2. Forest Service Road 9603U (aka Old State Highway 279 aka Mahoney Rd.)
  3. Hayfield Draw – an asphalt paved road – this road is a physical access but is not an authorized legal access

Water Rights/Claims

There are no Arizona Department of Water Rights registered wells associated with the property. Several washes cross this property. However, there are no surface water documents or surface water claims associated with the property. The Verde River crosses the very northeastern corner although there are no water rights/claims associated with the river.

Utilities

There are permitted buried utility and gas lines along SR 260. There is also a permitted 69kV electric transmission line crossing the property.

Permitted electric distribution lines are located in the southern portion of the tract on the north side of Old Highway 279 and in the northeastern corner of the parcel. There is no sewer or developed water source.

Authorized Uses

There is a buried water transmission pipeline, a permitted electrical distribution line and a permitted 69KV electric transmission line as well as a permitted buried natural gas transmission pipeline and telephone facilities on the property.

Cattle Grazing Permit

Approximately 345 acres near the northwesterly side of an unnamed wash is located within the Verde Grazing Allotment.

A Grazing Permit is not a lease. It is an authorized permit for a rancher to utilize the Prescott National Forest land for their private cattle grazing. A term permit allows a rancher to utilize Forest Service lands for a specified period of time.

The 345 acres of the Verde Grazing Allotment affected by this proposed land exchange equals only 1.3 percent of the total Verde Grazing Allotment.

Unauthorized Uses

There is an unauthorized asphalt paved road known as the North Hayfield Drive on the property.

Intergovernmental Agreement

In June 2022, the Town of Camp Verde (Town) and the Yavapai-Apache Nation entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to address, among other things, certain “land use, development, and in lieu of taxes issues” associated with the Nation’s acquisition of the Federal Parcels and their corresponding addition to the Yavapai-Apache Nation. The IGA describes how the acquired lands will be managed by the Nation upon completion of the exchange. The IGA also includes provisions addressing a tax-sharing arrangement between the Nation and the Town. This required a public process led by the town of Camp Verde for its community members and by the Nation for its community members. This formal agreement recognizes the significant benefits of the proposed exchange to both the Town and the Nation. Their lands being closely intertwined, the parties have established a cooperative and mutually respectful and beneficial relationship. Both the Town and the Nation wish to provide for the health and prosperity of their communities.

The Town recognizes that the Nation’s lands once spanned much of what is now the State of Arizona but is now less than three square miles, about 1,800 acres. The Nation has a young and growing population that requires more land. The Nation and Town negotiated an agreement to clarify the future relationship of the Parties regarding land use, development, and in lieu of taxes assuming the land exchange comes to fruition.

The IGA provides a mechanism under which the Nation and the Town will consult with each other on issues such as Traffic Analysis, Zoning, Building Standards, Fire District Inspections, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services. The IGA also establishes a Community Planning Group through which the Nation and the Town can work cooperatively to resolve issues of common concern.

The IGA notes the Town’s interest in generating sales tax revenue through in lieu taxes. The Town already has the proposed federal land identified in their 2016 General Plan and desires that any future development be consistent with their zoning standards.

Under the IGA, the Town of Camp Verde supports the Nation’s acquisition of lands bordering the town through the proposed exchange.

For more information on the Intergovernmental Agreement click here.