CAVE CREEK - Cave Creek is in the final stages of a landmark annexation that would set aside more than 4,000 acres of untouched desert for preservation, and out of the hands of developers.

The Cave Creek Town Council voted 7-0 this week in favor of development agreements with the Arizona State Land Department for the 8.8-square-mile annexation of mostly state trust land.

Officials predict it could finalize by this summer.

At a Town Council meeting Monday, council members praised town and state officials for the deal, which has been six years in the making.

"It would be difficult to quantify the amount of effort that has gone into this," said Vice-Mayor Gilbert Lopez.

Mayor Vincent Francia said he hopes the efforts encourage state land reform legislation.

In a deal between the town and Land Department, 6.7 square miles would be rezoned to open space, preserving it from sprawling suburbs and buffering the town from western encroachment.

In exchange, the town has allowed for more intense development along Carefree Highway between 28th and 36th streets, permitting the state to maximize the return on its sale or lease.

The annexation involves four separate areas north of Carefree Highway and east of the 24th Street alignment.

The largest site, called Rogers Wash, encompasses nearly 4,000 acres north of Rockaway Hills drive.

The 768-acre Willow Springs area runs west of the Spur Cross Road alignment and south of the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.

The third site, Apache Wash, is 720 acres west of 32nd Street, and the final "core site" includes 1,878 acres of in-town property.

The plans are now subject to approval by the State Selection Board, which is made up of Gov. Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Terry Goddard and State Treasurer Dean Martin.