It’s been a while since a major development has broken ground in Fountain Hills, but now that the silver shovels have been dirtied, Adero Canyon is “officially” under way.

Plant relocation, grading and utility work actually started weeks ago, but developer MCO Property held a small ground-breaking event April 29 to recognize town officials for their role in making the project happen.

Grading west of CopperWynd and adjacent to Scottsdale’s Hidden Hills neighborhood is occurring in earnest as officials hope to see homes under construction in 2016.

Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers will build 61 semi-custom homes in the first phase of Adero Canyon, occurring adjacent to Hidden Hills, while Camelot Homes will build 44 townhomes.

Adero Canyon was originally zoned by the town more than a decade ago to accommodate 171 custom-home lots on 431 acres.

With zoning changes approved by the Town Council last year, the total number of housing units was increased to 343.

The new “Planned Area Development” of 80 acres includes 31 semi-custom homes, 44 townhomes and 120 multi-family or resort/hotel units.

The remainder of Adero will consist of 118 custom home lots and 30 semi-custom.

Two former council members – Ginny Dickey and Tait Elkie – were invited to the ceremony along with the existing council because they were part of the re-zoning process.

“Everyone in this room made it happen,” Hall told the small crowd at an informal reception held at CopperWynd.

“It shows we have good, strong leadership in this town.”

Mayor Linda Kavanagh sat down with Hall before she was elected the first time and told him she would like to see Adero Canyon move forward, since the town was desirous of opening its trailhead for the McDowell Mountain Preserve and gaining unfettered public access into the natural area.

“We came up with a plan that is better economically and as partners, rather than adversaries as in previous positions,” Hall said.

“We needed give and take on both sides…Everyone had the desire to get this done.”

Hall said even though area neighbors objected to the re-zoning, town officials treated them with respect and listening to their concerns.

“Linda’s leadership forced me to the table,” Hall said. “She has been a beacon of enthusiasm for this project. That is infectious and makes a big difference…

“We will make this a project everyone can be proud of. We are partners for a better community.”

Kavanagh said Adero Canyon will help grow the town’s population and its economy.

“We need more people here to support our businesses,” she said. “We want to be a multi-generational town.

“Of course we want that trailhead, too…

“But MCO built this town, and I knew this plan was going to make us proud. This will be good for Fountain Hills.”