HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2000-42RESOLUTION 2000-42
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS ACTING IN SUPPORT OF THE TOWNS OF
QUEEN CREEK AND GILBERT AND THE CITY OF CHANDLER URGING THE
MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DEFER THE PROPOSED
SALE OF ANY OF THE 2,400 ACRES OF LAND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT
TO THE SAN TAN MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK AND REQUEST THE
COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO DISCUSSIONS AND MEETINGS
WITH QUEEN CREEK AS WELL AS PINAL COUNTY AND CITIZEN GROUPS
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS:
Whereas,theFountainHillsTownCouncilisinfavorofpreservationofpublic
lands;and
Whereas,thestatepollsandsurveyregardingStateGrowingSmarterLanguage
aboutopenspacepreservationrevealthatsimilarsentimentsabouttheimportanceofopen
space are held bya majority of County residents;and
Whereas,news of a possible sale of the County land adjacent toSanTan Mountain
Regional Park generated extreme concern among Queen Creek,Gilbert,and Chandler
residents;and
Whereas,preservation of open space is of statewide concern,as evidenced inthe
factthatthe November 2000 ballot issues contain boththe Citizens Growth Management
Initiative and Growing Smarter Plus;and
Whereas,theland adjacent totheSanTan Mountain Regional Park was purchased
with publicly approved County bond money for parks and open space;and
Whereas,local residents support the protection and preservation ofthe publicly
owned lands inthe San Tan Mountains remaining as open space to meet the needs of
County residents,expected to increase by8 percent per year inthispart of theValley,and
byas much as 100,000 per year county-wide,making open space an ever more rareand
important commodity;and
Whereas,San Tan Mountain Regional Park isthe only county-operated park
located inthe fast-growing Southeast Valley;and
Whereas,the San Tan Mountain Regional Park isthe last of the County desert
parkstobe developed,while County parks funding hasbeen used forthe benefit ofallthe
other County parkstheselasttenyears;and
Nfemanu*'^
Whereas,thepublicdemandanddesireforopenspacehasincreaseddramatically
overrecentyearsastherateofpopulationgrowthanddevelopmenthasledthepopulation
to place an increased value on public open space;and
Whereas,the County hasarare opportunity tomeetthe desires of residents andtax
payersifthelandadjacenttotheSanTan Mountain RegionalParkwere preserved as
public open space instead of being sold;and
Whereas,there isstilla need fortimetobe spent in analysis and discussion about
alternativestofundpark development withtheelectedofficialsfromEastValley
Communities;
Whereas,theTownof Fountain Hillsisalso concerned thatthe County manageall
of its park lands appropriately;and
Whereas,residents ofthe Town of Fountain Hillshavehad concerns inthepast
regarding proposals for development inthe McDowell Mountain Regional Park,including
a proposal fora large outdoor statuary display during 1999,and more recently have been
concerned regarding reports that the County might consider granting permission to locate a
large cellular communications tower inside that park's boundary,and also have concerns
regarding maintaining the integrity of the park's boundary;and
Whereas,the Town of Fountain Hills urges the County to preserve theSan Tan,
McDowell Mountain,and other County parks to retain their value as examples of relatively
pristine Sonoran desert;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON
COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.That the Fountain Hills Town Council isinfull support of the efforts of
the Towns of Queen Creek and Gilbert and the City of Chandler to preserve and protect the
2,400 acres adjacent totheSanTan Mountain Regional Park.
Section 2.That the Board of Supervisors suspends any action onthe proposed sale
ofanyofthe2,400acres adjacent totheSanTan Mountain RegionalParkasdescribedin
Exhibit A.
Section 3.That the Board of Supervisors direct the County Administrative Officer
and Parks Director to meet with the cities and towns and citizens groups to formulate a
planofretentionand preservation forthelandownedbythe County anddescribedin
Exhibit A.
Section 4.The Fountain Hills Mayor and Town Manager will lend assistance and
supportasappropriatetowardsthispreservationeffort.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and Common Council of the Town of
,thFountainHills,this 7m day of September 2000.
FOR THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS:ATTESTED TO:
William E.Farrell,Town Attorney