The Town Council has approved changes to the Zoning Ordinance that would allow for the use of cantilever construction on lots in Fountain Hills with a slope of 30 percent or more.

The vote was a unanimous 6-0, but implementation of the change is pending the writing of architectural guidelines and an agreement with the Neighborhood Property Owners Association to have that committee do the architectural design review on such plans.

Marissa Moore, Senior Planner for the town, said additional research had refined some numbers she had presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission. She said there are 895 undeveloped single family home lots remaining in Fountain Hills. Of those, 52 would meet the proposed criteria to allow for cantilever construction.

Moore said her research on cantilever design nationwide found limited examples to work with. She said Fountain Hills is somewhat unique in the hillside lots they have to work with. She said there was a lot to dislike in the examples she saw in photos from other locales. That made her focus on the aesthetics.

“We want designs that fit with the character of the community,” Moore told the council.

The amendment presented by staff allows for a one-to-one ratio for the building height to the open space underneath the cantilever. It proposes a maximum of 24-feet for each, or 48 feet total from ground below the cantilever to the top of the building.

Councilman Henry Leger said he is hesitant to move forward without having standards in place. Brown was adamant, however, saying he had been working on this proposal for 18 months and wanted it moved forward.

Resident Bob Shelstrom, a retired engineer, told the council he has no objection to the cantilever concept, however, he said the engineering has to be done right. He recommended requiring geotechnical and soils engineering reports on such projects.

Brown pointed out that those reports are already required for all construction submittals in Fountain Hills.

The council approval includes some stipulations recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Those include the creation of the design criteria and parameters for the maximum slope in which building would be allowed; limit the visual mass of the structures; limit building to a single story; and require soffit under the building to be finished.

The council did not include a stipulation related to legal liability of engineering impact on adjacent homes. It was considered unnecessary.

Brown, who is a general contractor, provided background on his involvement in the process.

“As a builder I’ve been through just about every kind of review out there,” Brown said. “I’ve built in seven states and Fountain Hills is unique with the number of challenges that can be presented.”

He said a lot with a 45 percent slope may have been buildable under Maricopa County jurisdiction when the lot was purchased, but under town ordinances the lot cannot meet the building standards now in place.

Brown also said he has become aware that steps inside a home that would offset the slopes have become an issue with people simply not wanting to climb stairs.

“People want/need to build flat and this [cantilever] is a sensible solution,” Brown said.