Citing the potential long-term economic benefits, the Town Council unanimously approved proposals for the development of Adero Canyon in western Fountain Hills.

Thursday evening the council voted 6-0 on all five of the amendments and resolutions required to move an updated plan forward. Vice Mayor Cassie Hansen, an employee of developer MCO Properties, did not participate in the discussion.

"This will add families with smaller, more affordable homes that will help business and the schools," Mayor Linda Kavanagh said. "We want CopperWynd (resort) to survive and if this addition helps we need to consider that. We will do what is best for Fountain Hills."

Residents in the Cordabella neighborhood adjacent to the resort and down the street from the Adero Canyon site continued to voice their opposition and concerns for the project at the meeting.

Dean Wieber, representing 75 Cordabella residents, told the council it had tremendous power with its decision.

"Upzoning a parcel of land is the most significant concession that a developer can achieve to increase the value of their property," Wieber said. "If this rezoning is approved there will be two clear winners and, unfortunately, a clear loser."

He cited MCO and the town as winners and the neighborhood residents as losers.