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Zach Colick
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| Joined: | Mon Jan 15th, 2007 |
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Posted: Tue Jun 16th, 2009 09:07 pm |
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Editor's note: The following story appears in the June 17 Town of Paradise Valley Independent. Post comments by hitting reply in the upper right-hand corner. Comments will be posted in an upcoming issue of the Town of Paradise Valley Independent.
Residents seek voice on pending resort agreement
Solis project hinges on substation’s relocation
By Zach Colick
Independent Newspapers
The relocation of an SRP electrical substation near Fashion Square Mall to a nearby residential neighborhood has many downtown Scottsdale residents crying foul, and they want a voice in future beautification efforts.
Downtown-area residents and activists have spoken out for months in front of the Scottsdale City Council and at various public meetings about Scottsdale Canal Development’s plan to relocate an SRP substation near Scottsdale and Camelback roads to 68th Street and McDowell Road.
The move is necessary for the development company to construct the future Solis Scottsdale Resort and Residences.
The planned 240-room luxury, urban resort, located at Scottsdale and Camelback roads, has a price tag of roughly $600 million.
Since the Scottsdale City Council approved the Solis project earlier this year, SRP and Scottsdale Canal Development officials say they have continued to work on finalizing an agreement to make way for the new resort in downtown Scottsdale.
In the interim, Jeff Lane, SRP spokesman, said two public meetings have taken place in Scottsdale to answer questions from an interested public, as well as gauge area residents of design work to the new proposed substation at 68th Street and McDowell Road.
Scottsdale City Council members approved in January an alleyway abandonment as part of the resort approval process that will make way for the substation’s relocation in south Scottsdale.
The abandonment has been controversial as residents in the area of the new substation have protested its relocation, fearing it will bring an eyesore to their neighborhood.
“I think when it all comes to fruition and as we keep moving forward, there will be much more positive input — not that there isn’t already,” said Mark Madkour, Scottsdale Canal Development’s principal and managing partner
“We’re getting a lot of true support for this project, but there’s always going to be some people who feel differently, and we understand that.”
As part of the proposed relocation of the existing substation, Mr. Lane said an SRP well on the current site must also be relocated.
Relocation will commence in three phases, with work to be completed during daytime hours to limit the impact on the surrounding neighborhood. SRP will notify area homeowners of the pending work.
Scottsdale Canal Development purchased a parcel of land for the well relocation across the street from the proposed Solis project at 73rd Street and Minnezona Avenue.
Prior to any well relocation, a test well must be drilled to ensure the well’s future location is viable.
SRP’s Public Involvement department went door to door last month to approximately 30 homes and businesses in the immediate neighborhood to provide contact information and answer any questions or concerns about the test well.
SRP followed up with letters in English and Spanish to a slightly larger group of area residents and landowners.
Phase one of relocation, which began June 8 and includes boring a test well, will last approximately one week. Phase two requires crews to drill 24/7 for approximately six weeks once an agreement is established between SRP and Scottsdale Canal Development.
Phase three, meanwhile, consists of construction of the site’s final features, including installing a pipeline under 73rd Street to take water to the canal after drilling is complete.
Mr. Lane said residents and business owners on both sides of the fence concerning the proposed Solis Scottsdale Resort and Residences have received information as well as seen future artist renderings of the SRP substation during two informational meetings jointly held between SRP and Scottsdale Canal Development officials.
Stakeholders will also get an opportunity 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 25 at SRP headquarters, 1521 N. Project Drive, Tempe, to offer both oral and written statements during an SRP Facility and Support Services Committee meeting.
Mr. Lane said the committee reviews real estate matters for SRP’s board of directors and will most likely make a recommendation in August.
If approved later this year, Mr. Lane said design and construction of the new proposed SRP substation, as well as relocation of the existing substation, could take another 15 to 18 months before Scottsdale Canal Development breaks ground on its planned 240-room resort.
Mr. Madkour said construction on the future Solis Scottsdale Resort and Residences cannot take place until the current SRP substation is removed from the property near Scottsdale and Camelback roads.
He hopes to start construction on the new substation at 68th Street and Indian School Road by year’s end or the first part of 2010. Construction of the resort and residential property is expected to commence during the first quarter of 2010.
“We’re very excited and enthused about moving forward, and we will keep pushing in that direction,” Mr. Madkour said.
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