The largest crowd in recent memory to address a town issue made its presence known Thursday evening, Sept. 12, as the Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the Town Council reject the General Plan and zoning requests for the proposed Daybreak apartment community in Fountain Hills.

More than 200 individuals signed comment cards opposing the plan with up to 20 speakers stepping to the podium to make their position known. There were just two public speakers in support of the project.

Development Services Director John Wesley outlined the staff position in his report. He stated the developers’ applications were workable, and a number of concerns had been addressed in agreed to stipulations.

However, by sheer force of number the opposition made their point that the project is not good for the neighborhood and traffic safety and density issues were going unaddressed.

Paul Gilbert, the attorney for the developer, Hilltop Vista Properties, said they had been prepared to ask for another continuance if discussions with opponents were being fruitful. However, he said they remained far apart.

The developers, led by former MCO Properties President Jeremy Hall and Neil Ginsberg, original developer of CopperWynd, are proposing a rental apartment community with a total of 400 units. The site is on approximately 62 acres on a hillside off Palisades Boulevard just north of Shea Boulevard. The parcel is currently approved for a resort site.

The proposed apartments would include 270 one-, two- and three-bedroom units for families and individuals. The additional 130 units would be an age restricted community for those 55 years of age or older.

Discussion

Robert Courtney, president of the Westridge Village Homeowners Association, told the commission this was an incomplete application with a lot of problems and flaws.

“Don’t be under any pressure to approve this,” he said. “Take the time to have a complete plan.”

Bob Hahn, who was formerly the president of the Westridge Village homeowners group, told the commission that the resort developer looking at the property in 2007 had worked closely with the neighborhood to address all of its concerns about the project.

“That is not the case with Daybreak,” Hahn said.

He noted that the plan calls for a 57-foot fill at the south end so the entry can coincide with Valley Vista Drive across Palisades.

“This is a place to dump their fill from the site so they don’t have to haul it away,” Hahn said. “This is money over the environment, ‘greed over need.’”

Barbara Goldstein said she has concerns about traffic safety; the entry to the development is 600-feet north of Shea Boulevard. She also said she believes the plan lacks adequate parking and is inappropriate for the location.

“Wait for smart, safe, intelligent development,” she said.

Gilbert said the developer is committing to construction of a two-lane roundabout or a traffic signal at the entry onto Palisades to address traffic concerns.

Larry Goldstein said the residents who turned out were motivated by love, pride and fear.

“This is just a business venture for the developer,” Goldstein said. “Which motivation do you want to support?”

There were just two voices from the audience stepping up to support the project.

Dori Wittrig is a long-time resident and said she loves Fountain Hills as much as anyone and this type of housing is needed in the community.

She said there are no single family homes in town affordable as starter homes.

“This type of housing brings people,” Wittrig said.

Cassie Hansen, original Town Clerk for Fountain Hills and a former councilwoman, was the other speaker. She also worked for Hall as an employee of MCO Properties.

“I’ve seen a lot of controversial projects presented over the years,” Hansen said. “You need to balance public opinion with an objective dose of common sense.

“The (projects) that came to fruition over the years did not destroy the community, and in fact were beneficial to the town.

“This is a unique housing opportunity not available in Fountain Hills. Deliberate based on facts, not emotion.”

The Town Council is scheduled to consider the requests at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1.