This page was developed to help out new homeowners by providing some information about the community and the area and the city in which it is located. It will also help existing homeowners understand more about the area and community they live in.
You have moved into a very unique area in the Nation, in Arizona, and in Scottsdale. Its natural environment is upper Sonoran desert and the city of Scottsdale has enacted a zoning overlay that tries to protect this environment to benefit residents, tourists, and the animals who call it home. It is called the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance or ESLO. As part of this ordinance, a certain percentage of land must be left in its natural state, plants used are controlled, building heights and colors are controlled, and lighting is controlled to keep it a dark skies area. Basically, this ordinance forces us to live in, and blend in with, the natural environment rather than changing it into something else. You will notice a number of washes that pass through Carriage Trails and they all are common property the HOA must maintain as natural space but also keep the washes open for flood control. Obviously this strategy also saves a lot of water since landscaping tends to be the major water user. Many of the restrictions in the Carriage Trails HOA are based on the requirements in this ordinance including the plant list, paint colors, and lighting restrictions. See the “ESLO” brief for more information.
Carriage Trails is in a AO flood plain which may require you to have flood insurance. Most of the houses in Carriage Trails have been padded up to be above the flood level and the county has done studies to try to get the flood plain designation changed to reduce or eliminate the need for flood insurance. See the “Flood Control” brief for more information.
The City of Scottsdale has a great web site with lots of information for residents including the city’s General Plan that guides development, the city Charter, ordinances, information on developments, information on city services, information on recreational facilities, voter and election information, etc. The main link is https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/ . There is a search box right at the top that works pretty well. Also, see the “COS Resources” brief for a list of some of them.
With all this focus on
preserving the environment, wildlife is abundant which is generally good but there
are things to be aware of too if you have pets. There are also a number of organizations that
specialize in rehabilitating wildlife and returning them to the wild. See: https://carriagetrailshoa.com/resources/
“Living with Wildlife” and “Wildlife Rehabilitating Organizations” for
useful links to information.
North Scottsdale also contains a 30,000 acre Preserve which
includes most of the McDowell mountains and the upper Sornoran Desert generally
north of Dynamite Blvd. In addition to it being a Preserve there are trails in
it that allow people to experience and enjoy the Preserve. For more
information, see: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve
This area hosts many events so there is never a lack of things to do. Events are held in Scottsdale, many at West World, in Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills. There is also an annual art event called Hidden in the Hills where artists open up their homes and galleries to visitors so you can learn about art from the artists in addition to buying art. See the “Events” brief for a list of some of the events.
In addition to Scottsdale’s Preserve there are numerous county and state parks and recreation areas to enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating and other outdoor adventures. See the “Places” brief for specifics.
Residents in this area tend to get involved in all sorts of activities
and causes and as a result organizations have formed to support those
activities. See: https://carriagetrailshoa.com/resources/ “Citizen Activist Groups”