Phoenix (December 14, 2010) – The Gilbert Town Council has a big decision to make on Thursday with respect to the fate of a proposed downtown mixed use project.
Phoenix (December 10, 2010) – Ahwatukee residents are not enamored with the current Loop 202 plan in which a freeway cuts through their community and South Mountain. Those plans can change if the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Tribal Council decides in January to recommend a possible extension of Loop 202 on reservation land south of Ahwatukee Foothills.
Phoenix (December 10, 2010) – Who says that you can’t beat city hall? An effective group of Gilbert elementary school parents and residents took on that challenge…and won, with the cooperation of SRP.
Phoenix (November 29, 2010) – The Tempe City Council recently voted unanimously to move forward with plans to restore Papago Park and Mill Avenue. The Papago Park restoration plans focus on improvements to marketing and park amenities while Mill Avenue will receive some much needed clean-up and landscaping.
Phoenix (November 19, 2010) – The Gilbert Town Council unanimously approved an overall update to the Town’s General Plan which will place it on the May 17th ballot. Then, the Council approved a Minor Amendment to the current General Plan for a slight increase in density for a 27-acre parcel. The Minor Amendment was not included in the overall update that the Council first approved, so what happens to the land use designation for that 27-acre parcel if the General Plan update is approved by the voters in May?
Phoenix (November 17, 2010) – Ball field lights have stood in the Paradise Valley Unified School District for 15 to 20 years, but now local residents object to adding cell tower antennas which would financially benefit the district. Opposing neighbors who live near Shadow Mountain High School, Shea Middle School and Mercury Mine Elementary School are citing concerns with the affect of cell towers on property values, surrounding views and health impacts due to long term exposure. District officials have yet to see the data that supports such health concerns.
Phoenix (November 16, 2010) – The downtown Scottsdale skyline may welcome new, taller buildings after the new City Council takes seat in January. The downtown infill-incentive district is the likely motive for the several rezoning proposals requesting greater building heights.
Phoenix (September 2, 2010) — A downtown Tempe renovation plan will be completed in October and will then go to the City Council for approval, but actual improvements will likely take a few years and hopefully not compromise the district’s character. Tempe spearheaded a planning process to address resident complaints and breathe life into the streets surrounding Mill Avenue. The proposed renovations could lead to the most drastic facelift of downtown since 1987.
Phoenix (September 20, 2010) — The “Discovery Triangle” is a redevelopment venture that seeks to make areas of Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale a regional hub for businesses and residents despite the Scottsdale City Council’s doubts of its benefits for the City. Opposition from Scottsdale initiated a shift of the northern point of the triangle from ASU’s SkySong in south Scottsdale to Papago Park, effectively removing Scottsdale from the picture. Now SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, is poised to join the Discovery Triangle venture despite Scottsdale’s objections to participate.
Phoenix (September 16, 2010) — Ryan and Laetitia Coleman, operators of Angel Tattoo, have been engaged in a lengthy battle with the City of Mesa to open a shop in Dobson Ranch. The City Council denied their Special Use Permit in April 2009, the Coleman’s thus sued the City and this week Judge Larry Grant of Maricopa County Superior Court orally dismissed that lawsuit.
Phoenix (September 8, 2010) — The alignment of the Loop 202 western extension is still a subject of debate, but the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is quietly buying Phoenix homes in the proposed freeway path from people with special hardship cases.
Phoenix (September 2, 2010) — A Laveen resident does not want to remove the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag displayed in front of his house, despite legal pressure from his homeowners association to do so. The yellow banner with the coiled snake is an emblem for the Tea Party movement but the HOA considers the flag debris and must be removed.
