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The Scottsdale Unified School District hosted a community meeting on September 26, 2011 to present the approved plans for the new maintenance and storage facility on the south campus of Tavan Elementary School.  Dr. David Peterson, Interim Superintentant and Rick Freeman, Director of Facilities and Operations answered neighborhood questions in regard to the 5 month construction project and the future use and operation of the Annex.

The Annex has two purposes, one is to maintain the southern third of the District’s schools, mostly landscape, athletic fields and general facility repairs. Second, the pictured building is a neighborhood friendly warehouse, where the District can storage access or damage assets, such as desk, chairs and computers.

The property will be 75% paved and the balance of the yard area will be graveled.  This will reduce the dust source which could effect the immediate neighborhood.  Operation times will be weekdays, 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  The facility and yard will remain secured at all times.

CURRENT DEVELOPMENT:  Arcadia Osborn Neighborhood Association and other concerned neighbors have been working diligently to reach a compromise with MidFirst Bank on the development of R&G Ranch ay 48^th St & Indian School. Our position all along has been that we are not opposed to this development per se, but are opposed to the height waiver and the traffic issues that could arise from this project if not adequately addressed.

Compromise reached: No building over 30 feet

In the last several weeks, members of the core team have had separate meetings with the City of Phoenix Traffic Department, Mayor Phil Gordon and Councilman Michael Johnson. Through the efforts of Mayor Gordon and particularly Councilman Michael Johnson, MidFirst Bank and the developers of R&G Ranch have dropped their request for a height waiver, and will be limited to the C1 restrictions of 30 feet plus an additional 7 feet for above-building mechanicals. 

Unfortunately, the issue of two driveways across the Cross Cut Canal linear park and additional traffic mitigation on Indian School Road remains as originally planned.  Neither the Streets Department, nor our elected officials thought changes were necessary.

Big Win for the Neighborhood

Nevertheless, having the developer drop the height waiver is a BIG win for the neighborhood.  What very much impressed the Mayor and Councilman Johnson was the more than 700 petition signatures that were gathered in opposition of the development as currently filed.  Without everyone’s support no concession would have been made.

Next Steps: AONA a Forum for Neighborhood

This accomplishment demonstrates what an active neighborhood association with active members can accomplish.  AONA needs to build on this success and remain an active forum for the neighborhood.    An official AONA meeting will be held in the near future.  If you are interested in becoming an officer, or know someone whom you’d like to nominate, please reply to this e-mail and state your interest.

City Council Votes on Plan October 5, 3 pm

Meanwhile, the City of Phoenix Council will vote on the Z-11-11-8 rezoning request on Wednesday, October 5th at 3 PM at the City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.  Because this compromise has been reached, the AONA Sub Committee assigned to the R&G Ranch development will not oppose this revised plan. Neighbors are welcome to attend the meeting; however, because of the compromise, attendance is not crucial to our efforts, as it was with the earlier meetings.

HISTORY: The Republic and Gazette newspaper employee retreat was sold to Mid First Bank in 2009.   Two years of site analysis and a series of development ideas, Mid First Bank and  Arcadia Development, LLC have presented their development plan.  Their proposal is upgrading the current R1-10 zoning to C-1 zoning with a height wavier.  This will provide for a Mid First Bank, six restaurants with an open “green” common area, two retail buildings (14,976 SF) at Indian School Road, a two-story retail and office building (16,856 SF) along the west property alignment and a three-story office building (63,468 SF) on the south portion of the Ranch property.  The three-story office is the reason for the “height wavier”. 

An increase in traffic will be generated from the proposed development and would be greater as a C-1 property as opposed to the current R1-10 zoning, which would allow single family homes.  The neighborhood is concerned with the ingress/egress drives on 48th Street, in regard to walking, jogging, cycling and student use of the pathway along the east portion of the Ranch and onto the Cross Cut Canal Park.

The cross cut canal was dug in 1888 to move excess water from the Arizona Canal to the Grand Canal. The cross cut had two purposes; to transfer irrigation water and be used for rain water runoff drainage.  Originally, 48th Street ran only north from Osborn to Indian School, south of Osborn 48th moved traffic both directions When plans to extend the AZ143 north to Indian School, AONA fought back and the parkway was truly reduced to a “Park Way”.  In 1998, design work and construction started on 48th Street.  The cross cut canal was placed in a culvert and covered with landscape, 48th Street was downgraded to a residential street with traffic calming features and a 25 mph speed limit.  AONA raised money to plant additional trees, buy benches and pathway bricks.  It worked with the city to lower the light poles to reduce the light glare into adjacent neighbor properties.

The Phoenix Park Department has been  having problems with the light pole bases rusting, due to irrigation and dog urine. Their remedy is to increase the height of the bases, but continuing to use the same lighting.  The light poles will be modified to maintain the same height as the ones removed.

As of May 24, the bases were complete and the light poles will be reset in the next two weeks.  The parks department does not have the money to paint the bases. Boy Scouts at Troop 6 will be requested to paint the bases as part of their community service.  AONA residents are encouraged to offer additional ideas to improve the park.  Additional paint will be set aside for graffiti abatement. 

The traffic calming or “football”  bricks are another issue. Russell Moore has been working with the street’s department and so far the best they can do is patch the sections of loose bricks with asphalt.  Mr. Moore states “I wonder how many trips Hunter Contracting and other related construction vehicles have used 48th Street during the Cross Cut Canal project with no damage to the roadway.  Currently, most of the damage appears to be in the southbound lane.  The failures have a pattern, such as irrigation lines leaking.  Also, the bricks don’t look like the interlocking kind that are used in roads today.   Other American cities have had brick streets for 50+ years without these issues.” 

AONA will need to address the paving brick failure, working with the city to find a viable, long term solution. Otherwise, the bricks could be replaced with asphalt paving, taking away the charm and neighborhood character of the Cross Cut Canal “Parkway”.

Trash Talk has a goal of maintaining alley trash collection in secure and open alleys where the City of Phoenix can efficiently and effectively serve the needs of the people who live in our area.  

Dateline: September 26, 2011

Alley and Trash Talk Mini News

Thanks to all of those who came out for the update meeting with Assistant Public Works Director John Trujillo and his staff.  About 50 residents attended the meeting and participated in a positive conversation with John. I am sure a lot of others wanted to attend, but couldn’t for various reasons.  Below are some highlights:

• John and team are committed to making the partnership with the this community work.  He feels positive about the residents of this area, and believes his department and residents can benefit from the pilot program the PW Department is initiating
• Pointed out the hours Lead Environmental Specialist Anthony Figueroa and his team have spent in the neighborhood to educate, and reinforce city code as well as introduce themselves to residents.  John believes the pilot could result in a reduction in need to spend time on enforcement, if everyone works together
• Shared some of the department statistics.  Bottom line- his department handles about 2 million tons of garbage, bulk and recycled trash for almost 400,000 residents each year.
• His vision is that residents and the department will find more and more ways to divert items from landfills by focusing on re-use of materials. One example is his hope that this program can help them learn how to increase the amount of grass going into compost for resident’s gardens and reduce tons of grass and other clippings thrown in the landfill
• Most alleys are 16 ft. wide, and trucks need 16 ft. of height to maneuver through alleys to collect trash.  The pick-up arm, the trash can, and the truck take up about 13 ft. in width.  That leaves the driver only 1 1/2 feet on each side and a few feet above the truck to to efficiently and safely pick up your trash.  That is why the department would like residents to regularly clear overhanging limbs, grass, bushes and other obstructions in the alley. Think of the alley like it were a tunnel for the trash truck.  The tunnel is 16 ft. W x 16 ft high. A 13 ft wide vehicle and trash can needs clearance every time the truck comes through the tunnel behind your house. Give it the 1 1/2 foot clearance it needs on each side and the 16 Ft height it needs overhead to clear your portion of the tunnel.
• John doesn’t expect alley collection will ever be as cheap as curbside, but hopes the residents in our neighborhood can prove trash can be collected at a lower cost because of how we maintain our alleys.  
• PW will have bulk bins, a tractor, 2 compost bins, and a tool trailer out here on Saturday to assist in the 2nd. Annual Block Watch Alley Clean-up program
• Don’t hesitate to call the PW phone line if you have problems.  John and staff want to prove they are responsive to our needs
• He asked for patience as elements of the pilot program are being developed and rolled out
• Heard residents’ feedback about illegal dumpers and offered to put cameras in some alleys to help catch or scare off people who are dumping in our area

Drew Chavez of Blacktop Strategies shared the results of the data he and Tony Motola collected from their survey teams.  Drew apologized for any confusion or concern residents may have had.  Here are a few things  that came out in the survey:

• Interviewed 158 residents
• This area had one of the highest percent of neighbors familiar with and using the recycle program 99%
• High percentage of aging people
• 28 vacant homes in the area.  I forgot the number of renters, but I think home ownership was about 60%
• 38 % of residents have lived in their home more than 15 years which indicates there is stability
• Most people are generally positive about the Public Works Department

The Arcadia Osborn Neighborhood Association meet on May 12, 2011 in the Ingleside Middle School cafeteria.  The following are briefs on the issues discussed:

• Mountainview and Central City police precincts, which serve the neighborhood: Phoenix PD Community Programs Officer, Doreen Wiegert reported on the current crime activity for the area and the two police precincts:  Osborn Road is the dividing line between the two precincts.
• Graffiti issues: County Attorney Merillee Todd discussed the anti-graffiti program, the seriousness of the public vandalism and the prosecution of the taggers.
• Ingleside Summer Surveillance: IMS Principal Tanya Beckwith asked the community to keep an eye on the Ingleside campus and report any suspicious activity to 911.  This would also apply to Tavan Elementary and Arcadia High School.
• Ingleside Reconstruction Project: Dr. David Peterson,  Assistant Superintendent reported the SUSD Board approved the project and it will start right after the end of the spring semester.  The north classrooms will be demolished and the new classroom building will be started. A new drainage system is to be installed to address the surface water flooding from Indian School. The project should run 16 to 18 months.
• Tavan South Campus Facility: The SUSD will be building a furniture and electronic warehouse on the open dirt lot south of the pre-school. This property will primarily serve the Arcadia complex and south Scottsdale schools, saving operation dollars in labor and transportation cost.
• VERITAS Preparatory Academy will be moving into the old Motorola property at 56th St and Earll. The primary grades will start first this fall and the higher will follow in September, 2012. 
• R & G Ranch Development Plan: Mike Curley from Earl, Curley and Lagarde reviewed the proposed plan which Mid-First Bank would like to build.  The current R1-10 zoning will need to be changed to C-1 to accommodate restaurants, retail shops, office space and a stand alone bank building for Mid-First.  This is an opportunity to provide the Arcadia neighborhood with a community core.  Public meetings will be held to inform and collect comments from neighbors in regard to the project layout, landscape design, type of construction and impacts from traffic, height, noise, and lighting.
• Arcadia Portal Multi Use Trail: Dan Colton from Colton Commercial has been working with SRP, the city of Phoenix and the immediate neighborhood to complete the 48th Street Park Way (green belt) to the north and to improve safety over the Arizona Canal with a pedestrian bridge.  The “Portal” project should be complete by October, 2011 for cyclist and pedistrians.
• LED Billboards at 44th and Indian School: The outdoor advertising community has fixed it’s next profit seeking horizon on placing electronic LED billboards in the residential areas of Phoenix. The current application (ZA-67-11-6) to grant a “use permit to alter a nonconforming outdoor advertising structure to replace (2) 12′x25′ tri-vision faces to electronic LED boards“ was approved on approved on March 24, 2011.  The appeal to this application will be heard in a City of Phoenix Board of Adjustment hearing on June 9, 2011. All interest residents are encouraged to attend.
• CamelSquare Development Report: This property is located on the northwest corner of 44th Street and Camelback. New stipulations approved December 15, 2010 allow for 4 stories (56’ high) and approximately 1,000,000 SF in C2 offices.
• City of Phoenix Alley and Trash Pick up: The Public Works Department are proposing to move all alley pick up to curb side service; citing increased cost, dust violations and damage claims from city garbage trucks. Wally Graham has met with the city, explained the situation, he has a newsletter called “ALLEY AND TRASH TALK NEWS”, which fully covers the issue.
• AONA 4th of July Celebration: Planning has began for the next July 4th social, volunteers are need to promote, decorate and help with the food prep and service.  Arcadia Tavern will again sponsor the water slides, additional donations would be greatly appreciated. Call Barry 602-549-0401 for more details.

Arcadiaview.com is the neighborhood newsletter to keep the AONA residents informed of current zoning issues, new developments, upcoming activities, relative city actions and crime alerts. AONA is between 40th and 56th Streets AND Thomas and Indian School Roads.