Town Council Discusses Ritz-Carlton

On Thursday, January 24, 2008, the Paradise Valley Town Council, in work/study session, spent two hours listening to and commenting upon the Five Star Development of the Ritz-Carlton project on 105 acres surrounded by Lincoln Drive, North Mockingbird Lane and Indian Bend Road. The major concern voiced by members of the Council was how this whole thing was going to look from the street. The Council is gun shy over Montelucia and the great public uproar over that abortion at Lincoln and Tatum.

There was talk about lowering the heights of some proposed high density structures but absolutely nothing said about the huge number of dwelling units (duplexes.) The developer dresses up 8 per acre duplexes by calling them "Patio Homes" but they sure look like Scottsdale type condos, and 28 foot high to boot. All nicely surrounded by walls, just like those on McCormick Ranch.

Isn't it great to know that your one acre home is on an "Estate Lot?" Almost as good as the "so-called" "Luxury Homes" they want to build on half-acre lots. More developer PR.

More and more talk is heard about developers putting together 20 acre parcels and calling them Special Use Permit resort developments per Town ordinance. A developer can easily afford to buy 20 acres for $40 million then generate $224 million by selling 112 condos on 14 acres while still having 6 acres left for a Hermosa Inn or Smoketree Inn sized resort. Can it happen in your back yard? You bet! A Town Council candidate has already had developers knocking on her door.

The Town Council must justify why they would permit Five Star Development to trivialize the one home per acre principle our Town Founders so wisely adopted in 1961. The resort itself on 30% of the land looks good but the Town of Paradise Valley does not need condos on the rest of the property. The Town of Paradise Valley does not need duplexes regardless of what they are called. The Town of Paradise Valley does not want high density tract housing.

Write, phone, e-mail the Council. Pack Town Hall. Speak out. Let your opinions be heard. Do not wait until it is too late and another Montelucia or even worse rises at the eastern gateway to our Town.