We previously reported on how the city of Phoenix may move the trailhead of the Cholla Trail in the Camelback Mountain. The move would coincide with a new housing development at the nearby Phoenician Resort. Now, the City Council has approved the development and provided guidelines for how the planned houses can be situated on the lot to preserve mountain views as well as how they can be built, per AZ Central.

Three hundred condos and single-family homes can proceed but new home heights cannot exceed that of the existing resort. The majority of these homes will be built to the northeast of the hotel between the mountain and existing golf course. However, some of the new housing will be built to the south as well as a few large lots to the east. The plan also includes 99 acres of greenspace.

There has been plenty of public outcry from nearby residents about the project. Many were fearful of how the new homes would block views of Camelback Mountain, a selling point between Phoenix and Scottsdale. Others raised concerns that if the Cholla trailhead was moved, it would mean inadequate public parking or restroom facilities, leaving residents to deal with the inconvenience.

Easing most of the neighbors concerns, the Cholla Trailhead relocation was not fully approved at the session. The Phoenician has asked for the entrance of the trail to be moved along the northern property boundary and has offered to provide $100,000 towards the move. With costs estimated at $2 million in total, there’s still a concern over where all that money is coming from. More time has been allocated for a feasibility study to come up with specific costs and potential difficulties incurred with the move.