Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute

Existing Conditions Map

A current map of the open space conditions, ownership and plans of the jurisdictions of (Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Yavapai County) has been created by the VVLPI Planning Council. It is available to view in each of the jurisdiction's planning departments. And it will be available to view in the Clarkdale Library.

Three Public Meetings

These meetings were designed to bring ideas and discussion toward creating a vision for the Verde Valley:

1. The first presentation of success stories by The Sierra Business Council of California who has accomplished much land preservation; and The Trust for Public Lands on their programs with special focus on Arizona partnerships.

2. The second was The Lincoln Institute "Making Sense of Place" film and food for thought on what has happened to the Phoenix area with its rampant growth and loss of some identity.

3. The third was a presentation of the VVLPI planning map by its authors and discussion showing the possibilities for open space planning in the Verde Valley.

The East Mingus Land Adjustment (Exchange) Task Force

VVLPI facilitated the East Mingus Land Adjustment Task Force exploring possible land exchanges with the Prescott National Forest and other alternatives with owners of the visible lands on Mingus Mountain. This Task Force represented all jurisdictions and unincorporated areas of the county working for six months to frame five recommendations.

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OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES >
ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES > EAST MINGUS LAND EXCHANGE

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

I. Organizational Structure: Create a private, non-profit, 501-[c]-(3) IRS qualified, corporation to support and fund open space initiatives in the Verde Valley.

A. Establish the organizational, legal and operating policy frame work for the organization.
B. Seek, acquire and manage physical assets, public and private funding, grants and income to support programs and projects of the organization.
C. Develop a constituency of informed and supportive citizens and organizations through a comprehensive public information program.
D. Assemble a planning council of active community leaders together with a technical advisory group.
E. Convene a collaborative council of local officials to advise the Board.

II. Open Space Acquisition and Management: Acquire interest in, and title to priority open space land and provide management for targets of opportunity.

A. Be a primary resource for facilitating land trusts, developers, private organizations and land owners to employ innovative land-protection techniques and funding mechanisms that reduce the cost of acquiring and protecting private land.
B. Establish good working relationships with developers while providing techniques that enhance the quality and profitability of their developments by preserving important elements of the natural landscape and conserving water resources.
C. Work with public land holding agencies to retain important open space lands in and around the Verde Valley under public ownership and management.
D. Capture the value added by open space through joint ventures with cooperative developers on developed land which benefits from contiguous open space.
E. Support and initiate cost-effective programs to manage the urban-rural interface and protect natural open space, while allowing low-impact recreational use.
F. Encourage public stewardship of open space lands through interpretive facilities and programs, visitor education, volunteer docents and neighborhood cooperation.
G. Encourage local jurisdictions to require comprehensive water management plans in all development.

III. Regional Open Space Planning: Facilitate a regional open space planning process and strategy for the Verde Valley in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, State Land Department, landowners, developers, local governments, the Yavapai Nation and the public.

A. Develop widely accepted definitions, criteria and priorities for protecting open space, including enhancing natural diversity, protecting critical wildlife habitat, maintaining separation between communities, insuring public safety, protecting watershed values and providing for appropriate public use. Base decisions on good science.
B. Work with the U.S. Forest Service and State land department to develop cooperative methodologies for land evaluation for possible trades, exchanges and sales which incorporate the Verde Valley Open Space Planning strategies.
C. Establish good working relationships with all government agencies, citizen organizations and relevant community organizations in the Verde Valley.
D. Enable the Planning Council, the Technical Advisory Group and the project managers to facilitate open space planning.
E. Facilitate the implementation of regional open space planning and supportive ordinances by each government jurisdiction.

IV. Public Education: Implement a public education program to develop informed public advocacy for open space preservation.

A. Use the Internet, the media and other means to inform the public.
B. Publish newsletters and annual reports.
C. Issue regular press releases to publicize events and accomplishments of the organization.

OUR VISION

The Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute envisions a high quality of life in a region where open space and the beautiful vistas are it’s defining characteristics:

Communities have maintained and enhanced their individual distinctiveness and are separated by healthy, diverse natural open space that includes interconnected greenways and trail systems.


Watersheds, viewsheds, sensitive ecosystems, wildlife corridors, steep slopes and cultural resources (sacred, archeological, historical, and agricultural), and outdoor recreational areas have been protected.

A regional open space plan is in place that has maintained a balance between natural and human communities and encouraged responsible growth and economic prosperity:

It has been achieved through a citizen-driven, science-based (biological, physical, and social) planning effort conducted in collaboration with all affected Verde Valley legal jurisdictions and has been successfully integrated into their plans.


All stakeholders have come together and are continually working together to achieve responsible stewardship of the Verde Valley’s open space for future generations.

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ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES

Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with public land management agencies, e.g., the USFS (Yavapai and Coconino Forests), National Park Service, Arizona State Land Department, and Arizona State Parks Department


Establish and maintain positive and productive working relationships with incorporated Verde Valley jurisdictions, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Yavapai and Coconino Counties, and unincorporated community organizations


Establish and maintain regular and effective communication with Verde Valley citizens


Establish and maintain positive and productive working relationships with key private sector entities, e.g., large land owners and developers and water rights holders


Establish and maintain positive and productive relationships with conservation/preservation organizations


Establish and maintain positive media relations


Fully utilize the resources of educational institutions in achieving the mission of VVLPI


Utilize a broad array of public/private funding mechanisms and groups to support preservation planning, acquisition, and management of open space in the Verde Valley


Continue to sponsor public workshops and seminars related to open space issues and preservation

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Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute
Preservation at Verde Valley LPI.org
P.O. Box 3356
Cottonwood AZ 86326