Inconsistent Standards: Yavapai County Zoning Rules
Why Approving the Camino Madre Wind Project Would VIOLATE the County’s Own Recently Adopted Protections
Introduction
Yavapai County has adopted detailed zoning standards for utility-scale solar facilities that explicitly protect wildlife corridors, scenic views, rural character, and sensitive environments.
However, the county has no zoning standards at all for industrial wind farms or battery storage facilities.
Approving the proposed Camino Madre project - which includes dozens of massive wind turbines, solar arrays, and up to 300 MW of battery storage on Yavapai Ranch - would be fundamentally inconsistent with the county’s own rules.
The County’s Own Standards for Renewable Energy
Section 608.A - Purpose
“encourages the efficient use of energy and promotes clean, renewable energy production by providing clear standards to encourage Utility Scale Solar Facilities that:
a. minimize and mitigate impacts on natural, cultural, and Recreational Resources;
b. maintain and protect wildlife populations and corridors, viewsheds, vegetative communities, dark skies, air quality, and natural quiet…”
Section 608 - Key Protections Required for Solar Facilities
Wildlife Corridors: Projects must maintain wildlife corridors with a minimum width of 1,300 feet. Fencing must be permeable with a 6-inch gap at the bottom to allow wildlife passage. (Section 608)
Visual Impact: Applicants must submit a visual impact analysis with photographic simulations showing views from scenic resources, roads, and neighboring properties. Mitigation and screening are required. (Section 608.D.2.f)
Restricted Locations: Projects are discouraged or prohibited in areas that would:“fragment, degrade, or irreparably harm important resources”Have “significant negative impacts on Special Status Species… wildlife corridors… Scenic sites, areas, and viewsheds of recognized aesthetic or recreational value”Affect steep slopes, forested areas, riparian zones, or floodplains (Section 608)
Major Setbacks: Minimum 1 mile (5,280 feet) from dwellings and subdivisions. Significant buffers from federally protected lands and sensitive habitats. (Section 608)
Open Space & Planned Area Development (PAD): Many development options require preserving 25% to 40% of the site as open space specifically to protect wildlife corridors, scenic resources, and natural features. (Sections 440, 441, 442)
The Conflict: No Rules for Wind, Strict Rules for Solar
Yavapai County has zero specific zoning standards for industrial wind turbines or wind farms. Wind energy is only mentioned once in the entire ordinance - as a small residential accessory use in one zoning district (Section 410), subject to normal height and setback rules.
There are no requirements for:
Visual impact studies for hundreds of 500–800+ ft turbines
Wildlife corridor protections
Minimum setbacks from homes
Dark skies or noise protections from industrial-scale wind
Decommissioning and site restoration standards - Yet the county demands all of the above (and more) for solar facilities.
Approving the Camino Madre project without applying equivalent or stronger protections would directly contradict the standards the county itself established in Section 608 for renewable energy development.
Full Ordinance
You can read the complete Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Ordinance here:
PLANNING AND ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA
Our Conclusion
Yavapai County has clear, detailed, and protective zoning rules for utility-scale solar energy projects - rules that explicitly safeguard wildlife corridors, scenic views, rural character, and sensitive environments (see Section 608 and related open space/PAD requirements).
Yet when it comes to the massive industrial wind project proposed for Yavapai Ranch, those same rules appear to have been ignored or never applied.
"Rules for thee, but not for me"
The county approved MET test towers for this project without apparently informing the developer of the strict environmental and visual protections already on the books for similar renewable energy developments. This raises serious questions about fairness, transparency, and whether the county is prepared to enforce its own standards consistently.
If Yavapai County is serious about protecting our forests, wildlife, and way of life, it cannot selectively apply its own zoning ordinance. The Camino Madre project must be held to at least the same level of scrutiny the county demands for solar facilities - or it should be rejected outright.
The residents of Yavapai County deserve better than selective enforcement. We expect the Board of Supervisors and Planning & Zoning staff to apply their own rules equally and transparently. FAILURE TO DO SO LOOKS VERY SUSPICIOUS!
This is not just about one project. It’s about whether our county’s own laws actually mean anything.