Voices Heard On Prop 411

The debate surrounding the construction of the new Ritz-Carlton Hotel and master planned community in Paradise Valley was settled November 4 after voters passed Prop 411. Approving the town council’s decision to issue a special use permit, the ballot measure passed 67 percent to 33 percent, a margin of 2 to 1, according to results.

David Schmid Vice President of Development with Five Star Development, the company developing the project, is excited that the project was approved and that they can move forward after nearly a year in delays. “We’re delighted.” said Schmid. “We knew we had broad support from the town council, planning commission, our neighbors in the area, and the community at large, but we’re still very happy it passed.”

Mayor Vernon Parker said in a video (on Yeson411.com)… “I think the project is a wonderful project because it truly reflects the character of Paradise Valley. In my opinion it is a perfect match.”
“It really captures the spirit of Paradise Valley; the Ritz-Carlton, Five Star, first class operations,” said Parker. “I would never ever promote anything that I did not believe would truly reflect the character of Paradise Valley.”

A group called Preserve Our Paradise (or POP) started Prop 411. They collected 800 signatures, which forced a public vote. POP’s main concern was not that the Ritz-Carlton was going to be built, but that the high-density housing that would accompany the hotel would ruin the “rural character” of the town.

Pami Keenan is the daughter of one of the founders of POP and handles their public relations. She said that POP is disappointed in the outcome of the election, but glad that the people had a voice in the decision.

“POP is greatly disappointed that the fine people of Paradise Valley voted against preserving the unique low-density residential character of our town,” said Keenan. “We fully expected that the citizens of Paradise Valley would opt to maintain the town’s foundation plan of one home per acre.”
“We always have maintained that the people in the best position to make decisions about the town’s future are the town’s citizens themselves,” said Keenan “We look forward to working with town officials, and the teams of the Ritz-Carlton and future developments to ensure that the values of the town’s General Plan are preserved.”

Former Vice-Mayor, Dan Schweiker in a video promoting Prop 411 said that the Ritz-Carlton will have the same lot coverage as the residential lots in Paradise Valley, and that resorts like the Ritz are vital to the town. Schweiker commented “We are community and resorts. What better resort to have than Ritz-Carlton.”

“The resort will help bring money into the town so we can supply our residents with the services they want, be that garbage pickup, water, more police, more fire, whatever it calls for,” said Schweiker. “It is a way for us to supply those services to the town residents without charging them for it.”

The passage of Prop 411 means Five Star Development and the Ritz-Carlton can begin the final planning stages of the project. The 105-acre plot of land will eventually hold the 225-room resort, 100 villas, 46 estate homes and 15 one-acre estates. Final plans for the project still need to be approved and Five Star needs a water certificate through Assured Water Supply to comply with Arizona’s “100 year water supply” law for new developments.

Story Written By:
Ian Rogers – Student At ASU
Walter Cronkite School Of Journalism