Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Community Interest
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Villa de Paz Residents are rallying at the Planning Hearing Officer Decision on Wednesday, November 20th at 10am. The meeting was moved to the City Council Chambers, 200 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 85003 because of the massive turn out of nearly 300 residents at the prior Maryvale Village Planning Meeting, which they won 12 to 1.
Every effort is being made. Fliers, emails, phone calls, and home visits, Villa de Paz residents are organized and on the move. Nothing is being left to chance.
Since the Villa de Paz neighborhood agreed to be annexed by the City of Phoenix 20 years ago, resident's expectations to live in a golf course community is well established. Now mandated stipulations require this area to remain an 18-hole golf course.
Maple Leaf International Properties wants the City of Phoenix to remove these mandated stipulations, so they can build houses on the golf course.
Over the last month, Villa de Paz residents have seen themselves as David trying to slay a corporate Goliath by trying to stop an unneeded, unnecessary, and downright unfathomable housing development from being built in the middle of the 40 year old community.
The question remains: will the City of Phoenix hold up its end of the bargain and dismiss the developer's request for approval of his money making-scheme?
Or will residents have to remind the City of Phoenix of its obligations by fighting all the way to the City Council?
From the sheer will and perseverance with fact and expectation, how could anyone in good conscious vote against the residents of Villa de Paz?
Source: Community Flier
