Holm
told The Desert Advocate the county has had “numerous inquiries
from developers” interested in putting businesses along the
corridor. He did not specify the type of proposed businesses
or name the developers who have expressed interest.
Speaking
to about 70 participants at a Sept. 12 workshop at Desert Mountain
School, Holm emphasized the revised plan will not have the power
of law–that it is simply a “tool.”
“The
county board of supervisors has the final say on zoning changes,
site plans and building permits,” he pointed out. “However,
the board strongly factors the community’s interests and desires
into its determinations.”
Holm
encouraged members of the community to build a consensus about
the type of commercial development they want along the corridor.
“The
stronger the consensus, the bigger influence the community’s
recommendations are going to have on the decisions made by the
board of supervisors,” Holm said.
The
updated scenic corridor guidelines will become part of Maricopa
County’s comprehensive plan. The county in 1996 adopted the
Carefree Highway Scenic Corridor portion as an addendum to the
New River Land Use Plan.
A
revised plan is needed in response to the area’s population
growth and greater demand for business services.
Shareen
Goodroad, president of the New River/Desert Hills Community
Association, said she is confident
her organization can help build a consensus.
“We’re
the only organized area group set up to serve as a voice between
residents and the
government,” said Goodroad. “We’re objective and looking out
for the greater good of the community.”
At
the workshop, attendees completed and submitted surveys detailing
their suggestions for the revised land use plan.
Goodroad
ad‑ vises residents should contact the association to
review the suggestions and ideas submitted to the county at
the workshop.
“For
people not familiar with the various aspects of planning, our
recommendations will serve as a good starting point,” Goodroad
said.
Although
the association is in favor of opening the corridor to businesses
that directly benefit residents, it wants to preserve the rural
aesthetics that make the area so special, she added.
The
existing land use plan established minor commercial activity
nodes at 7th Street and 24th Street along Carefree Highway,
according to county handout material distributed at the workshop.
The remainder of the land located within the scenic corridor
is designated as rural residential. Certain types of uses such
as auto malls are discouraged within the 7th Street commercial
node.
Holm
said the meeting was the first step in developing new corridor
recommendations. The group is expected to come up with a revised
plan after reviewing community input.
That
draft plan will then be discussed at a second public meeting
before it is submitted to
the county planning and zoning commission, Holm said. After
that it will be reviewed by the county board of supervisors,
which is expected to approve the final document by summer 2007.
