"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer
Carefree Truth
Issue #977, December 27, 2021
Issue #977, December 27, 2021
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer wanted to make sure everyone understood that what they were potentially approving was just a General Plan amendment. "This is not a zoning change. If someone comes to the Town with plans for a resort, they will still have to go through all the zoning processes. The Town will be able to make sure everything is in accordance with Carefree's standards and that it is what we're looking for without changing the nature of our town. Is that correct?"
Gary Neiss confirmed that was correct. Ms. Kroyer said, "Nothing will happen immediately, and when it does, we all have a chance to have input again. Is that correct?" Mr. Neiss again confirmed that she was correct. She said in that case she would make a motion to approve the amendment. Councilman Vince D'Aliesio seconded the motion. Mayor Les Peterson asked if there were any additional comments.
Councilman Tony Geiger said, "These are really tough situations. I live near the N.E. corner of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road, so I'm very sensitive to the thought of a Costco there. We went through this process for many, many years, going back 15 years and many battles. I think the neighbors there did are really great job of working with the Town to come up with something of a compromise, something they can live with. I certainly appreciate the comments from the neighbors who live close to the corner being discussed at this meeting.
I heard comments about property tax. I've been involved with the town since 2013, although I've only been on the Council for a year. Always, I've heard that a property tax was never going to happen. There's never been any support for that, and I've always operated under the principle that Carefree's not going to have a property tax. It would have been great if, over the past year, folks who have spent a lot of time fighting things and making petitions had brought a petition with 700-800 signatures forward so the Town doesn't have this commercial development. But that wasn't done, and I don't know that there is a big appetite for a property tax out there. It has to be something that is driven by the citizens. The Council cannot impose a property tax. The voters have to vote to approve a property tax."
He also wanted to clear the air. "As someone who's been involved in this water project for Carefree since the beginning, since 2013, I can tell you unequivocally that the people I've worked with, the time that we spent, we fought for this project because we want representation and the say so in our water resources. We have nobody representing us. Cave Creek controls our water. We can't vote on that Council. That's why we wanted this water project.
Because there were a lot of problems, and some big problems to come. Although Cave Creek has made progress, there are some formidable problems that can't be overcome. So, the take-away should not be that this water project is for development. There are some benefits to development by having this water project, but there are 1000 people in this town that are adamant that they want this water project because they need to have a voice in a critical infrastructure."
Mr. D'Aliesio added that it's important for people to understand this has been a long process, and a lot of meetings have gone into getting to this point. "As a town, we are evolving. Things are changing. I'm on Carefree Water. Why should I care? Well, because we have citizens that lack representation and who need that. And we have an infrastructure that needs to be updated as well.
Regarding economic development and regarding a General Plan amendment, those are things that are constantly in motion and have been in talks for years and years, and this process has been extremely drawn out and well thought out and researched to the point that there's not much more that can be done with regard to that research, but these talks will continue. But an amendment is simply that. It is an evolution and is something that, as we change and as we continue to change as a town within, with regards to our demographics and with regards to the face of this community, it's something that has to happen. It doesn't mean that a Holiday Inn is going on that N.W. corner tomorrow, but those are things that will be under discussion with what should go there once an amendment is done. Maybe nothing will go there at all. But it is something that has to be addressed and an amendment is an important thing to do at this time for our town."
Vice Mayor John Crane noted that Mr. Neiss had said that, "We have a fiduciary responsibility, and that's true. But we also have a responsibility to preserve the nature of what we have. I think Sue Hardy's comments are right on the mark. When something is eventually built there, that we have landscaping and setbacks that preserve much of what we have. And I think, going through this process, this is a General Plan amendment that has to come back for zoning eventually by an applicant who brings a site plan. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but we'll have the ability to exercise some discretion and ask for setbacks that are possibly greater than what our standards are today, in terms of what our Ordinances say. And that's why these future processes are so important, that we are engaged, that the neighbors are engaged, and that this meeting, and that everything Steve compiled, and the input from those nearby residents, are a matter of record that we can fall back on. That will serve as our guidance for how we manage what eventually happens on this property."
Mr. D'Aliesio presented a reminder that, "A few years ago there was a re-zoning of the N.E. corner of Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway, and Carefree listened to the neighbors behind that property and placed some development restrictions on that. We listened, we talked, we collaborated with the folks behind there, and we came to a compromise. That property is still empty and waiting for the right development to come along. It's not a car wash, it's not a gas station, it's not a Costco for that matter. And it could very well be that the results of this General Plan amendment on the N.W. corner will result in the same thing, waiting for the right development that the neighborhood agrees upon."
The Council unanimously approved the General Plan amendment.
https://vimeo.com/655581594
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
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.
Gary Neiss confirmed that was correct. Ms. Kroyer said, "Nothing will happen immediately, and when it does, we all have a chance to have input again. Is that correct?" Mr. Neiss again confirmed that she was correct. She said in that case she would make a motion to approve the amendment. Councilman Vince D'Aliesio seconded the motion. Mayor Les Peterson asked if there were any additional comments.
Councilman Tony Geiger said, "These are really tough situations. I live near the N.E. corner of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road, so I'm very sensitive to the thought of a Costco there. We went through this process for many, many years, going back 15 years and many battles. I think the neighbors there did are really great job of working with the Town to come up with something of a compromise, something they can live with. I certainly appreciate the comments from the neighbors who live close to the corner being discussed at this meeting.
I heard comments about property tax. I've been involved with the town since 2013, although I've only been on the Council for a year. Always, I've heard that a property tax was never going to happen. There's never been any support for that, and I've always operated under the principle that Carefree's not going to have a property tax. It would have been great if, over the past year, folks who have spent a lot of time fighting things and making petitions had brought a petition with 700-800 signatures forward so the Town doesn't have this commercial development. But that wasn't done, and I don't know that there is a big appetite for a property tax out there. It has to be something that is driven by the citizens. The Council cannot impose a property tax. The voters have to vote to approve a property tax."
He also wanted to clear the air. "As someone who's been involved in this water project for Carefree since the beginning, since 2013, I can tell you unequivocally that the people I've worked with, the time that we spent, we fought for this project because we want representation and the say so in our water resources. We have nobody representing us. Cave Creek controls our water. We can't vote on that Council. That's why we wanted this water project.
Because there were a lot of problems, and some big problems to come. Although Cave Creek has made progress, there are some formidable problems that can't be overcome. So, the take-away should not be that this water project is for development. There are some benefits to development by having this water project, but there are 1000 people in this town that are adamant that they want this water project because they need to have a voice in a critical infrastructure."
Mr. D'Aliesio added that it's important for people to understand this has been a long process, and a lot of meetings have gone into getting to this point. "As a town, we are evolving. Things are changing. I'm on Carefree Water. Why should I care? Well, because we have citizens that lack representation and who need that. And we have an infrastructure that needs to be updated as well.
Regarding economic development and regarding a General Plan amendment, those are things that are constantly in motion and have been in talks for years and years, and this process has been extremely drawn out and well thought out and researched to the point that there's not much more that can be done with regard to that research, but these talks will continue. But an amendment is simply that. It is an evolution and is something that, as we change and as we continue to change as a town within, with regards to our demographics and with regards to the face of this community, it's something that has to happen. It doesn't mean that a Holiday Inn is going on that N.W. corner tomorrow, but those are things that will be under discussion with what should go there once an amendment is done. Maybe nothing will go there at all. But it is something that has to be addressed and an amendment is an important thing to do at this time for our town."
Vice Mayor John Crane noted that Mr. Neiss had said that, "We have a fiduciary responsibility, and that's true. But we also have a responsibility to preserve the nature of what we have. I think Sue Hardy's comments are right on the mark. When something is eventually built there, that we have landscaping and setbacks that preserve much of what we have. And I think, going through this process, this is a General Plan amendment that has to come back for zoning eventually by an applicant who brings a site plan. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but we'll have the ability to exercise some discretion and ask for setbacks that are possibly greater than what our standards are today, in terms of what our Ordinances say. And that's why these future processes are so important, that we are engaged, that the neighbors are engaged, and that this meeting, and that everything Steve compiled, and the input from those nearby residents, are a matter of record that we can fall back on. That will serve as our guidance for how we manage what eventually happens on this property."
Mr. D'Aliesio presented a reminder that, "A few years ago there was a re-zoning of the N.E. corner of Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway, and Carefree listened to the neighbors behind that property and placed some development restrictions on that. We listened, we talked, we collaborated with the folks behind there, and we came to a compromise. That property is still empty and waiting for the right development to come along. It's not a car wash, it's not a gas station, it's not a Costco for that matter. And it could very well be that the results of this General Plan amendment on the N.W. corner will result in the same thing, waiting for the right development that the neighborhood agrees upon."
The Council unanimously approved the General Plan amendment.
https://vimeo.com/655581594
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
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.