SKP Saguaro — How to Become a Leaseholder
This page outlines the rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to membership in the SKP Saguaro Co-op.
A copy of the official documents can be obtained from the SKP Saguaro Co-op office. But the material on this page has been taken directly from those documents and reflects current policies pretty accurately.
A membership in the SKP Saguaro Co-op entitles the purchaser to a lifetime lease on a lot. The basic price of a membership is $9,416.00. This figure is the core of the cost of a lifetime lease on a lot. The cost of any improvements made by the previous leaseholder as added to this figure. At the time of acquiring a membership, the yearly prorated maintenance fee and taxes (if applicable) are added, as well as a $200.00 transfer fee.
Our bylaws require a prospective member to maintain a current membership in Escapees Inc.
The Co-op is an "adult only" facility. Persons under 18 years of age are not permitted residency. A membership is limited to two adults sharing a lifetime commitment. Bylaws provide for short visits by family and non-Escapee friends.
Lot sizes are about 52 by 75 feet, and include 50 and 30 amp electrical service, water, sewer, and cable TV. Telephone service is available, if you wish to subscribe to it.
Each site must be operated as a self-contained RV site. Park trailers must have Board approval before entering the Co-op. There is a restriction of one RV and two vehicles per lot.
Buildings, commonly called casitas, are built with the approval of the City of Benson and Co-op Architectural Committee. See the Photos page, and scroll down to the section of photos of casitas to see some examples. Zoning regulations are in force and building permits are required. Size regulations limit the building to a maximum of 288 square feet in area, outside dimensions, an attached, roofed porch with a maximum of 200 square feet, and a maximum height of 12 feet. The building including a full bathroom and laundry, but electric appliances such as clothes dryers, hot tubs, and kitchen ranges are not allowed. Since we are a licensed RV park, members must live in their RV. The park is located within the City of Benson and has city utilities, trash pickup, police, fire, and ambulance services.
Although buildings are inspected before resale to help maintain an attractive and safe park, these inspections are not guaranteed for completeness or accuracy.
To view the Architectural Committee Guidelines, click here. (Note - This document is over 100 pages in length.)
To be added to the Hot List (the waiting list), to become a member, you will need to submit two checks.
- $20 Processing Fee (non-refundable)
- $500 Hot List Fee (refundable, non-interest bearing)
- A photo copy of your current SKP membership card.
The $500 Hot List Fee applies toward membership purchase.
Refunds require a written request signed by both prospective members.
Memberships entitling you to a lease are available to those on the hot list on Saturdays. You can call the Co-op office at any time to obtain information about upcoming available leases. To be considered for a lease on one of these lots on Saturday, you must call the Co-op office (520-586-7343) between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM (Arizona Standard Time) to have your intent to obtain a lease registered. You must then call the Co-op office again between the hours of 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM on that same Saturday to indicate your willingness to take a lease. As of 3:30 PM, the Hot List member who is closest to the top of the list (has the lowest number) will be given her or his first choice of the lots available. The next person or couple will be given second choice, and so forth until all the lots for that week are spoken for.
If you have called in between 3:00 and 3:30, and have a low enough number to qualify for a lease, but decline, that counts as a "turn down". After turning down a lease three times, you will be moved to the bottom of the Hot List. Note that declining a lot priced above $11,000.00 does not count as a turn down.
If you are one of the successful applicants, the office staff will explain the details of the leasing procedure. The balance of the money due must be in the Co-op office not later than the following Friday (within six days). You will not be able to park on the lot until checks have cleared. Checks require a minimum of five banking days to clear.
The memberships cannot be willed, given to a family member, or sold privately. In the event of the death of both leaseholders, the membership reverts to the Co-op. Payment after the lot has been re-leased will be sent to the designated beneficiary.
Leaseholders are encouraged to place their lot in the rental pool. A lot which is in the rental pool for 16 nights of any given month receives rental pool credit for that month. Seventy-five percent of the monthly rental pool income is divided by the number of lots in the rental pool for each month, and apportioned accordingly. Rental pool credit applies to the next year's maintenance fee.
The success of the Saguaro Co-op is dependent on the contributions of its members. In accordance with our bylaws (Article II, Section 3A), "Members shall share knowledge, labor, and time towards the betterment of the Co-op. All leaseholders who spend a substantial period of time at the Co-op are expected to serve on one of the committees or in one of the positions which have been established to ensure the smooth running of the Co-op."
Please see our Lots Available page for a listing of those lots currently available for transfer within the park or acquisition from the Hot List.