Carefree Truth
Issue #590, September 4, 2017
Mayor Peterson opened the floor to the audience. Two people had turned in speaker slips.
Warren Lindale said rental units are usually long term, year round, and bring a lot of good economic development to the community. People don't normally rent and move away. He asked if the building is 4-1/2 stories above grade. That was confirmed by Larry Gabriele. Mr. Lindale asked why they needed 4 more feet. Mr. Gabriele said the request was based on soil tests. The 4 additional feet were needed to put in underground parking and build up. Mr. Lindale said that answered his question about why the subterranean part was not lowered 4'. He said the Council had not heard that. Mayor Peterson and Dr. Krahe assured him that question had been asked in a previous meeting with the applicants.
Mr. Lindale asked how many feet there would be per floor. Mr. Gabriele replied there would be 11' per floor. Mr. Lindale said that explained why they needed the extra 4'. He asked if they could put the utility equipment on the ground, rather than requiring the 6' parapets. He was told there would not be space for the equipment at ground level. Mr. Lindale asked how they were going to deal with the 22' wall behind the building. Doug Whitney Bell said it would be stepped. Mr. Lindale noted that there would be a huge engineering cost for the wall too. Mr. Whitney Bell agreed.
Mayor Peterson asked, "From a position of a merchant in town, what do you think of this?" Mr. Lindale replied, "I think it's great. I like development. I just had some odd questions that came up in my mind, and I develop everywhere, that had to be popping up when you develop." He said he knew it would make the architect shudder, but what low income units are they offering in the mix that would allow a cook in a restaurant to live there. "I'd give 10 more feet if he could give me 10 low income rentals." Councilman Gene Orrico said that would really mess up the project. He pointed out that there are rentals across the street for $700-$750. Mr. Lindale said his son, who doesn't make much money, couldn't afford to live here. "It's hard to live here if you don't make a good income."
Issue #590, September 4, 2017
Mayor Peterson opened the floor to the audience. Two people had turned in speaker slips.
Warren Lindale said rental units are usually long term, year round, and bring a lot of good economic development to the community. People don't normally rent and move away. He asked if the building is 4-1/2 stories above grade. That was confirmed by Larry Gabriele. Mr. Lindale asked why they needed 4 more feet. Mr. Gabriele said the request was based on soil tests. The 4 additional feet were needed to put in underground parking and build up. Mr. Lindale said that answered his question about why the subterranean part was not lowered 4'. He said the Council had not heard that. Mayor Peterson and Dr. Krahe assured him that question had been asked in a previous meeting with the applicants.
Mr. Lindale asked how many feet there would be per floor. Mr. Gabriele replied there would be 11' per floor. Mr. Lindale said that explained why they needed the extra 4'. He asked if they could put the utility equipment on the ground, rather than requiring the 6' parapets. He was told there would not be space for the equipment at ground level. Mr. Lindale asked how they were going to deal with the 22' wall behind the building. Doug Whitney Bell said it would be stepped. Mr. Lindale noted that there would be a huge engineering cost for the wall too. Mr. Whitney Bell agreed.
Mayor Peterson asked, "From a position of a merchant in town, what do you think of this?" Mr. Lindale replied, "I think it's great. I like development. I just had some odd questions that came up in my mind, and I develop everywhere, that had to be popping up when you develop." He said he knew it would make the architect shudder, but what low income units are they offering in the mix that would allow a cook in a restaurant to live there. "I'd give 10 more feet if he could give me 10 low income rentals." Councilman Gene Orrico said that would really mess up the project. He pointed out that there are rentals across the street for $700-$750. Mr. Lindale said his son, who doesn't make much money, couldn't afford to live here. "It's hard to live here if you don't make a good income."
https://vimeo.com/231950712
John Traynor said he didn't particularly object to the design but to the heights. The average height above grade doesn't matter. When walking around at a festival, people won't see the Retreat when looking at the building from a certain angle. He read from a letter written by Gary Neiss. "The current owner of the southern property previously owned by Butte Properties blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." "I was under the impression that this was a done deal, and now I am hearing that there is no closing, and a closing won't occur until after the Council agrees. Kind of awkward. This is a public document and it contradicts what facts were drawn."
Mr. Farrar said he didn't know of any developer that would close on a property unless he knew what he was getting. Mr. Traynor said he asks that question at every meeting he attends. He asked it at Stagecreek. "Why would anybody invest $10 million dollars without some assurance that the thing would go forward?"
Mayor Peterson said, "I don't understand the point". Mr. Neiss said, "Let's read what it says. 'The current owner of the southern property previously owned by Butte Properties has been working with a local design team', that's these folks here that INCA is working with." Mr. Farrar pointed to Justin Ferrandi and said, "INCA". Mr. Neiss told Mr. Traynor, "We explained that earlier in the presentation. So, that's what that says."
Mr. Traynor said, "I won't argue with you. It said what it said. Forget what the words were. It said what it said. And in the final analysis, it's an economic decision. Everybody knows this. I'm just worried about the aftermath when people outside of this room, now it's going to the Development Review Board and I have no problem with what they do, but we've now built a box and all you're doing is saying to them, 'Wrap it' ". If the project were not developed, a future developer could come in with a new higher starting point. He asked where this will all end. "I'm sorry, but I read what I read. People can say anything."
John Traynor said he didn't particularly object to the design but to the heights. The average height above grade doesn't matter. When walking around at a festival, people won't see the Retreat when looking at the building from a certain angle. He read from a letter written by Gary Neiss. "The current owner of the southern property previously owned by Butte Properties blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." "I was under the impression that this was a done deal, and now I am hearing that there is no closing, and a closing won't occur until after the Council agrees. Kind of awkward. This is a public document and it contradicts what facts were drawn."
Mr. Farrar said he didn't know of any developer that would close on a property unless he knew what he was getting. Mr. Traynor said he asks that question at every meeting he attends. He asked it at Stagecreek. "Why would anybody invest $10 million dollars without some assurance that the thing would go forward?"
Mayor Peterson said, "I don't understand the point". Mr. Neiss said, "Let's read what it says. 'The current owner of the southern property previously owned by Butte Properties has been working with a local design team', that's these folks here that INCA is working with." Mr. Farrar pointed to Justin Ferrandi and said, "INCA". Mr. Neiss told Mr. Traynor, "We explained that earlier in the presentation. So, that's what that says."
Mr. Traynor said, "I won't argue with you. It said what it said. Forget what the words were. It said what it said. And in the final analysis, it's an economic decision. Everybody knows this. I'm just worried about the aftermath when people outside of this room, now it's going to the Development Review Board and I have no problem with what they do, but we've now built a box and all you're doing is saying to them, 'Wrap it' ". If the project were not developed, a future developer could come in with a new higher starting point. He asked where this will all end. "I'm sorry, but I read what I read. People can say anything."
https://vimeo.com/231946872
Mayor Les Peterson said it was his understanding that this development team had made the building as low as possible. "It has to pencil." The bulk of the comments were, "Don't make it look like a box, and bring it down". The question before the Council was, did they want to trust this team with the development of the property. The Mayor trusted the team, and would vote to go forward with them.
Councilman Mike Farrar noted that Justin Ferrandi, the Chief Operating Officer of INCA, which currently owns the property, was present. Mr. Farrar asked for his comments and thoughts. "You're the seller."
Mr. Ferrandi agreed with the assessments he'd heard that night. It's an expensive product to build, and he was surprised that they made some of these accommodations. He thought it was responsible. He has lived here since 1973 and loves the addition to the town. "We care, believe it or not." "There's an opportunity to make this happen. It's been a piece of dirt forever." He felt this would provide an element to get people walking downtown and something happening. "It's a great team of people." He has been working with them, and they've taken into account what Carefree wants. "It's important."
Mr. Farrar told Mr. Ferrandi that, as he'd heard, there were other people in the room that weren't real happy with the previous developer's plans. "So, we're really trusting , as the Mayor said, and we believe in your team. I've met each one of you and I'm really impressed by your background." The Council is putting all their hopes for the community on architect Doug Whitney Bell to do what his clients are directing him to do. "We're really hoping for a beautiful project that we can all be proud of, so thank you."
Hearing no further comments or questions from the Council, the Mayor called for a motion and a vote. The motion to approve the Resolution was made by Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer and seconded by Councilman Mike Krahe. It passed by a vote of 6-1. Councilman Jim Van Allen stated, "I'm sorry, but I have to oppose."
Mayor Les Peterson said it was his understanding that this development team had made the building as low as possible. "It has to pencil." The bulk of the comments were, "Don't make it look like a box, and bring it down". The question before the Council was, did they want to trust this team with the development of the property. The Mayor trusted the team, and would vote to go forward with them.
Councilman Mike Farrar noted that Justin Ferrandi, the Chief Operating Officer of INCA, which currently owns the property, was present. Mr. Farrar asked for his comments and thoughts. "You're the seller."
Mr. Ferrandi agreed with the assessments he'd heard that night. It's an expensive product to build, and he was surprised that they made some of these accommodations. He thought it was responsible. He has lived here since 1973 and loves the addition to the town. "We care, believe it or not." "There's an opportunity to make this happen. It's been a piece of dirt forever." He felt this would provide an element to get people walking downtown and something happening. "It's a great team of people." He has been working with them, and they've taken into account what Carefree wants. "It's important."
Mr. Farrar told Mr. Ferrandi that, as he'd heard, there were other people in the room that weren't real happy with the previous developer's plans. "So, we're really trusting , as the Mayor said, and we believe in your team. I've met each one of you and I'm really impressed by your background." The Council is putting all their hopes for the community on architect Doug Whitney Bell to do what his clients are directing him to do. "We're really hoping for a beautiful project that we can all be proud of, so thank you."
Hearing no further comments or questions from the Council, the Mayor called for a motion and a vote. The motion to approve the Resolution was made by Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer and seconded by Councilman Mike Krahe. It passed by a vote of 6-1. Councilman Jim Van Allen stated, "I'm sorry, but I have to oppose."
Jim Van Allen
Mayor Peterson thanked the applicants and said, "We're looking forward to working with you".
https://vimeo.com/231958584
Part 3 of 3.
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Mayor Peterson thanked the applicants and said, "We're looking forward to working with you".
https://vimeo.com/231958584
Part 3 of 3.
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.