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This letter was mailed by POP to residents of the Town of Paradise Valley on February 21, 2008, scroll down to see their responses:

Hello neighbors,

How do 8 residences per acre strike you? That is part of the Five Star Development plan for the remaining 2/3 of the land of the Ritz-Carlton Resort property not intended for the resort.

The resort will only cover roughly 30 acres while the plan is for 146 residences on 65 of the remaining acres. How do 12 housing units along Lincoln Drive on about 5 acres sound? That's on the drawing board as well. Montelucia re-visited? Sound like tract housing?

What is the benefit to the town to have such high density? More air pollution, more traffic pollution, more garbage truck pollution, more water consumption, more fire and police protection required. So much for our Town character and open space life-style.

If you agree that the number of units per acre should be scaled down CLICK YOUR REPLY BUTTON and send this message back to me.

Then, let our Town Council know how you feel about high density in the residential portion of the Ritz-Carlton proposal.

Council e-mail addresses

VirginiaASimpson@cox.net, mhamway@cox.net , slemarr@palocristi.com , edwinkler@cox.net, dschweiker@cox.net, rc44@cox.net, briancooney@cox.net

Mel Kowal for POP

 

Here are some of the responses received:

I hope this can be stopped !!     Elaine

We are in agreement.....no more Montelucia's in PV.... Roxanne

 less people    John

 Agree    Peter

I agree with you   Tucky

Yes, of course, it's high density.  And, as such , it shouldn't be allowed.  Let developers go ahead and construct a 725-room resort hotel (that's what it's zoned for). That, done with generous setbacks, height restrictions and adequate landscaping could turn out to be very attractive and non-intrusive on a 126 acre property. Plus, it would offer the potential for more "bed tax" revenue for the town.     Ron

 Agree            Lewis and Diane

Agree         Maggie

 Agree. Right On!     Eileen

 Of course it should be scaled down !!  Life in Paradise Valley should not be for the convenience and profit of resorts.

Scott Lamarr quotes that 20% of homes are on less than one acre.  Well a good percentage of those homes existed prior to Paradise Valley.  We bought an acre off a homestead and brought in the utilities before being taken in by P.V.

We do not need tract houses nor another Montelucia.      Joe

Agree            Hugh

I definitely DO NOT want that kind of housing densities in Paradise Valley.  Did we not learn our lesson with the Montelucia monstrosity - I truly hate the looks of that development.

Thanks for your email.  I will definitely send an email to the Town Council members as well.    Tanda

Agree            Jim

Agree            Christine

Thank goodness for POP.  It is apparent Five Star Development does not have our best interest in mind.  As for the Town Council - we already know, from past experience, that they are a bunch of gutless wonders!  We need to take a stand - NOW.            Patricia

 Needs to be scaled down.            Linda

The town has been trashing its open spaces concept for so long and no amount of griping has made an iota of difference.   Strict codes?  Give me a break. It's just more of the same with the Ritz Carlton.  Views of mountains, sunrises and sunsets disappear daily.  All of those pollutions are ahead of us.        Virginia

Agree            Bernie

Number of units should be scaled down!!!!!!!!!!!!        Mollie

Absolutely, it should be reduced.  How about 1 per acre?            Rick

We don't need to help the Ritz make more money!  They want to reside in our neighborhood.  They should meet our requirements!            Barbara

Yes I agree that the number of units should be scaled down... and set back further from Lincoln and Mockingbird.        Kevin

We do not want this plan.            Sandy and Dean

Thanks baby!  I love you.       Julie

one house per acre        esta

Yes! We agree with you -------way too high on the density.

What will it cost the Town to maintain the streets ( Lincoln & Mockingbird), the grounds on Lincoln and Mockingbird, the trash, the security, the police, how to track all those workers, etc., etc???? Will it cause increased crime? More noise? (of course) More traffic? (of course) Will all these things cost more than the estimated bed tax that the Town will receive?            Arlie and Paul

Agree            Ellen

Agree            Ed

Let's get rid of Mary and Scott also!!!!!!!        Kathy

If this is what is in the plan - heaven help us!!            Melva

I agree with you.  Thanks        Mary

I agree and I feel that the Town Planning Commission and the Council have let us down.  The Town Council reappointed Commissioners who did not look after this community's best interest.  It is just an "old boys network".    Michelle

I am so upset about this, I cannot put it into words.  Driving west on Lincoln somewhere close to the old "The Other Place" on the north side of Lincoln, there are stakes with orange ribbons on them.  I think they are marking where to put a traffic signal.  Go, Mel, go!  This is awful.  And where is it writ that without another resort extorting taxes from tourists that PV will have to tax residential?  I can't remember the most current amount but a former council member estimates that PV has enough money in its coffers to run the town for three years.  So what do we do with that money????  Roundabouts, stupid unneeded roadway islands and other stupid things must because the money is sloshing around waiting to be spent. Keep it up.      Ken

bob agrees        Bob

I've emailed you before and I am not in favor of the proposed high density housing.  Thanks for following up with our interests.    Deborah

Agree        Dorothy

The density you mention at the Ritz is ridiculous!!! I live on Cheney, and am horrified by the negative impact this project would have on our immediate neighborhood, as well as PV at large! Thanks for your efforts!            Lee

I believe that one residence per acre is what it was and what it should be

in the future.  I'm writing to all those listed with this same info and more.         Pat

I agree completely, one totally stupid decision by our council that allowed neighborhoods to be irrevocably damaged as happened with Montelucia should not give license to repeat the same error.    Kirk

I understood at first there were to be 24 or so 1 acre home sites and that has now dropped to 8 [I think.]   r

This is APPALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!            Rebecca

I'm with you all the way—        Ginger

Our home is in Lincoln Estates, 2 homes from Tatum. Our neighborhood and property values have been destroyed by a lack of leadership and integrity in Paradise Valley by its elected officials in allowing high density 2 story housing across the street at Montelucia. Once again you are considering doing the same with the Ritz Carleton. Make the property a park or go back to one home per acre.

It is a shame you aren't forced to live in such a situation.  Listen to your homeowners. Let those for high density housing go to Scottsdale. You might even consider moving there yourself.  Paradise Valley has become Pair of Dice Valley due to your lack of though in zoning. Next thing I'll know we will have gambling in Pair of Dice Valley. Though I say this "tongue in cheek", I could not be more unhappy with the current situation.

Don't be dumb and once again dumber! You remind me of two mothers watching a military parade. One says to the other, "Everyone is out of step besides my son." Get back in step with your community.      Stephen

I'm with you            Pat

Keep 1 acre--keep up the effort.  Good job.     Tom & Gayle

I may be too late for your purposes, but i agree that this is too high! Bets

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