Burning Down the House: Open Outdoor Fires and You

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Community Interest / Fire Safety
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A neighbor was burning yard waste in their back yard, which affected my breathing and I was forced inside my house. This episode brought up the question: are Phoenix residents allowed to burn their trash?

Here is what Maricopa County allows residents to burn without a permit: 

• Cooking for immediate human consumption.
• Warmth for human beings.
• Recreational purposes (small fire pit or container) use clean dry wood or charcoal.
• Branding of animals.
• Orchard heaters for frost protection in farming or nursery operations
• Wood burning chimineas and outdoor fire pits

Household and yard waste are not on this list.

If you would like to avoid a class one misdemeanor, criminal offense, then please see the Maricopa County FAQ.

Next time you burn waste the fire department might be called to your back yard and the firefighters could lose precious time to save someone from a real fire.

Source: Maricopa County

Exclusive! Mass Deflection: Government Sponsored Eco-Terrorism Our Politicians Ignore

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Photographer, DL Mullan
Geoengineering / Community Interest 
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Blue skies over Phoenix, AZ can be the most beautiful sight in the entire world. 

Then the planes come...

These lines are chemicals placed into the sky to block out the radiance of the sun.

The chemicals used are heavy metals amongst other poisons.

Our majestic sapphire skies are gone.

Stolen by people and companies that hide behind the government's secrecy and are ruining our weather, air, and way of life.

Why are Phoenix residents putting up with this type of eco-terrorism?

Maybe it's time to start asking questions of our leaders and demanding this aerial assault cease.

If you want more information, please read the VDP Gazette's article: Geoengineeing: One Arizonan's Battle Against Being Poisoned and see how dangerous this program is.

These photos are not for distribution at this time. Please do not share, but we would sure appreciate a link to our story. Thank you.

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Addendum

The spraying began again. Streaks can be seen in the moonilght against the aquamarine sky. When will this ever stop?

Additional information: U.S. Patents that Show the Government's Involvement in Weaponized Weather Modification, Geoengineeing: One Arizonan's Battle Against Being Poisoned, 

Villa de Paz Bulk Trash Dates

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Community Interest
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Villa de Paz, it's that time of the year again. Bulk Trash pick up begins right after the new year.

Next Placement Begins On	Saturday, January 04, 2014
Next Collection Begins Week Of	Monday, January 13, 2014
Nearest Transfer Station	27th Avenue Solid Waste Management Facility

Source: City of Phoenix

VDP Resident Letter to City Council Representatives

Writer, Ken Becht

Community Interest / News
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This letter was sent via email November 26, 2013* to the City of Phoenix's District 5 Councilmen: Daniel Valenzuela, but this statement is not just for one member of the City Council. Information contained herein needs to be read by all members representing the people of Phoenix, AZ.


Mr. Valenzuela,

I am a resident of Villa de Paz.

First of all, I was NEVER notified by mail of Mr. Walter G. Chomichuk's attempt to buy the VIlla de Paz golf course. Once I did learn of it, I began knocking on doors in our neighborhood and found that every 3rd person had not been notified by mail, either. The statements by Mr. Welker and Lazarus are just not true. Mr. Welker told me in an email that he sent out over 1,000 flyers. When questioned further, he said he did not do it himself and couldn't guarantee that. Mr. Lazarus has vacillated about the number sent out from 1,000 to 1,300 etc. He stated in an email that "ALL the residents of the one square area of Villa de Paz had been notified" which is just not true. He didn't know how many homes were impacted by this attempted purchase, as of the Maryvale Village Planning Committee 12-1 decision in OUR FAVOR, at the Hope Center. We had to advise him of the correct number.

I am a graduate of San Diego State University where I graduated with Honors & Distinction in Political Science in 1975. I spent 4 years in the USAF, held a Top Secret Clearance, volunteered and did one tour in Vietnam (69/70). Every member of my family has served their country. My father was in the 10th Mountain Division in WWII. My oldest brother was in the 82nd Airborne Division. My 2nd oldest was a Marine. My younger brother was in Army Intelligence. I was a Phoenix Police Officer for 8 years. I have written and published two books. I am a licensed Realtor in the state of Arizona and have been, going on 12 years.

Could you please answer the following questions for me.

1. When and where were you FIRST informed that the Villa de Paz golf course was under contract? When did it go under contract and for how much?

2. When did you have your first meeting and/or communication with the applicant and/or his representatives concerning the purchase of this golf course?

3. When did you first learn that Mr. Chomichuk was intending to put 350 homes and develop 200 condominiums on the Villa de Paz golf course? (This golf course HAS BEEN A GOLF COURSE FOR 48 YEARS. A golf course that will be an official HISTORICAL SITE in two years when it turns 50 years old.)

4. When and where were the first small meetings that you had with the community where this issue came up? Who was present at those meetings? Mr. Lazarus? Mr. Welker? Mr. Mattox? Who from your office was present?

5. Why have you not come to any of the officially scheduled meetings where the applicant and the residents of Villa de Paz were both scheduled to make their case? The Mall meeting at 75th Ave & Thomas, October 9th, 2013 and the following scheduled Block Watch meeting.

6. Why did you originally decide to attend a meeting that Mr. Lazarus had scheduled after Mr. Lazarus REFUSED to show up for his scheduled presentation at the Block Watch Meeting 10/10/13? He did not "officially" (by first class mail), notify the Villa de Paz neighborhood. Yet you refused to attend any other earlier meetings sponsored by sanctioned groups? You decided to show up for the applicant's controlled meeting but not the others? Why?

7. Knowing that have now known the desires of the Canadian Investor, Mr. Chomichuk and his team, for quite a long time now, why have you not come out against this? You have known both sides arguments on this issue. You are the City Councilman for District 5, not for Manitoba, Canada. You are the City Councilman for District 5, not Mr. Welker who does not even live in Phoenix. You are not the City Councilman for former Vice Mayor and former District 5 City Councilman Claude Mattox. Mr. Mattox has moved out of Villa de Paz. Mr Mattox bought his home on the Villa de Paz golf course with his wife Sherri Fagan Mattox in 1986. He lived on that golf course for 27 years! Mattox sold his house on August 5, 2013!!!!

The first inklings of the golf course being under contract came out in September but only because a resident learned of it and began to make it known throughout our neighborhood. He began knocking on doors and gathered HUNDREDS of signatures on a petition. I too have gathered more signatures. I too now have HUNDREDS of names, addresses, emails and phone numbers of our friends and neighbors who are OUTRAGED about what is happening. I and we, are gaining more phone numbers, addresses, and emails everyday.( We are also getting people from outside Villa de Paz to help us and join our fight.) They are asking WHY you are not out there protecting them. They are asking how come you have not LED this fight to save the golf course. They are asking how come you aren't trying to stop the introduction of 1,100 more cars in a one mile square neighborhood? They are asking how come you ostensibly don't care about the HUGE losses they will take on their homes. Many of these folks have all their money in their homes.

8. They are asking why you are not supporting the folks that helped get you elected. Everyone knows what the developer wants to do to our community. They have said unless they can build out 350 homes with many 2 story up to 30 feet tall on this golf course, they will pull out. There is no compromise. This is a golf course. It has been a golf course for 48years. The buyer knew when he bought it he had to keep it a golf course. It must be sold as a golf course. No one is against private property rights but his agreement when he bought it was it was a golf course. When they built it they built it as a golf course, not a subdivision. Build around it as you may but you can't destroy the golf course because you are allegedly losing money. I say allegedly because no proof has been presented to validate their claims. Most businesses lose money over the first few years. We have a responsible source that says they in fact made money for 5 years. Regardless, they bought it as a golf course and need to sell it as a golf course. I in fact have a VERY INTERESTED party interested in buying the golf course and keeping it a golf course.

9. They are asking why you are ostensibly supporting a Canadian Investor, who per the Manitoba Securities Commission of Canada has plead GUILTY to two charges of their Securities Act. (You can pull this information on the Manitoba Security Commission website. It is public information)

He was selling securities without a license: "acting as a salesman of or on behalf of Worldwide Golf Resources in connection with trading securities".....

He was: "trading in securities of Worldwide Golf Resources Inc in the course of a primary distribution to the public before receipt for both a preliminary prospectus and prospectus had been obtained from the Director of the Manitoba Securities Commission contrary to section 37(1) of the Act."

I have emails and have had personal conversations with the Senior Chief Investigator of the Manitoba Securities Commission. He has told me that unlike our clearly defined differences between civil and criminal law, Mr. Chomichuk "could have gone to jail" on these charges. Mr. Chomichuk plead guilty and paid two separate $5,000.00 fines, one for each charge.

10. Were you ever told about Mr. Chomichuk's pleadings of guilty to Manitoba Security Act charges?

I am asking you, as a resident of Villa de Paz, to JUST DO THE RIGHT THING and make a public statement that you officially support the residents of Villa de Paz. I have personally talked to elderly folks at their door that were weeping over this. Some have lived here for over 40 years. They moved here like all of us because of the special OASIS that is Villa de Paz. The golf course winds throughout this community and positively effects ALL that live here, not just those on the golf course. They all bought here because of that fact. People have recently put in thousands of dollars into their homes right before they learned of this foreign investor seeking to destroy a community. A community that you represent. How can you not be outraged? Where is your passion for these fine people whose lives will be forever ruined. Their quality of life will be wiped out. Their home values will plummet. I know that as a Realtor. This is a THEFT of your constituents life savings. None of these people will be compensated by this foreign investor for their losses....not one red cent.

The Wildlife will be destroyed. The Canadian Geese that fly in V formation are protected under the Migratory Bird Act of 1918. You should have already learned about that but if not I will happily give you that information. We also have HAWKS, TURTLES & many other species that nest and live on this golf course that impact everyone in this community. They too will be gone. And all this for what? So a multi-millionaire foreign developer can make millions off the backs of hard working American citizens and tax payers of Villa de Paz.

This is not about generating some tax revenue from 350 houses and 200 condominiums. This is EXPLOITATION of our neighbors and your constituents by Walter G. Chomichuk. Mr. Chomichuk just happens to be director and or partner of numerous LLPs & LLCs. One of which is an HOA company. They have said that the 350 homes will in fact have an HOA. The 200 Condominiums will also have an HOA. And who do you think will control that. At $100.00 a month for 550 homes is $55,000.00 a month or $650,000.00 a year. He also is involved with a Street Maintenance Company interestingly enough.

The fact there will be 1,100 more vehicles in a one mile square neighborhood called Villa de Paz alone should make you come out against this destruction of a neighborhood and a community. As a former police officer who has arrested men for rape, this is exactly is what is going on here....the rape of Villa de Paz! Good people don't stand by idly and let that happen.

This has been a golf course for 48 years. It was not built as a subdivision but a golf course. That was the original intent as is verified by all the marketing material available along with the Master Plan for Villa de Paz. The owner bought the course knowing this was to be a golf course and to remain a golf course. Their statements they are losing money is not backed up by any evidence. Most all businesses lose money the first few years. They have lied before so why are we to accept this as fact. We have responsible inside people that have stated this course didn't lose money for years while they were there. THIS WAS BUILT AS A GOLF COURSE & not a SUBDIVISION.

There are 1,445 people here that will remember if you step up and support them or if you don't support them. You talked about families, community and neighborhood in your campaign. Your chief of staff and others speaking for you in your office have told many of us that if you learned that the residents of Villa de Paz don't want this to happen to them you would be out front and support them, as you well should. Well, it is clear the residents don't want this. There were over 250 people at the Hope Center where the Maryvale Planning Commission Committee voted 12-1 in our favor. We filled the PHO hearing at the City Council and that was on a Wednesday at 10am when most people have to work. This is not about sticking a finger in the wind to see which way the wind blows. You represent the CITIZENS of DISTRICT 5 and VILLA de PAZ and should be leading this fight. To lay back and posture that you don't want to "influence the process?" Your job representing the people of District 5 & Villa de Paz is to "influence" the process for your constituents.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS don't want this! Let us know you have our back! You told us you are going to run for Council again in two years. 1445 people will not forget how you are dealing with this Mr. Valenzuela. You need to do the RIGHT THING and LEAD! If you do that, you will have this neighborhood and a VITAL, POLITICALLY ACTIVE community behind you...If not? The people out here are strong unit, please understand that. They will not forget that a foreign investor with guilty pleadings in the Manitoba Securities Commission, ripped out the HEART & SOULS of thousands of people who not only live here but enjoy playing the Villa de Paz golf course.

We are asking you to NOW make a public statement that you support us. We are waiting, watching and are expecting you to DO THE RIGHT THING.

*As of this publication, Mr. Daniel Valenzuela has neither responded to this letter nor made any public statement supporting the residents of Villa de Paz against a foreign developer.

Fireplace and Woodburning Harms Valley Residents' Health

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Community Interest / Medicine

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People with respiratory issues have a hard time breathing this time of the year. Not because of the cooler temperatures, but because of the burning activities of Valley residents. 

Imagine if you had asthma, emphysema, or worse, then looked at the smog lacing the metro area's sky. It's not fun to be unable to breathe. It's even worse when someone has to visit the hospital for an emergency intervention.

Here is a snippet from Phoenix's AirNow:

We are closing on some worst days for pollution historically. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day see some of the worst pollution that is entirely preventable here in the Valley. Festive fireplace and fire pit activity on these nights and days leave a blanket of smoke over the Phoenix metropolitan area that gets trapped by inversions. Unfortunately, these levels of pollution are so extreme that Health Watches and High Pollution Advisories are issued, triggering No Burn restrictions from Maricopa County. We can reverse this trend, but we need your help.

For more, visit: http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/Holiday%20Burning.pdf. Check back tomorrow for more. Until then, have a good day! -J.Paul

Give more than material gifts this holiday season. Give the gift of breathing. Limit your festive burning activities and let others enjoy the holidays as well.

Source: Airnow Phoenix

Villa de Paz Wildlife

Photographer At-Large, Karen Kopchick
Community Interest
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Villa de Paz's beautiful wildlife! Made possible by the green, open space of the golf community: 

Taking a dip!

Enjoying the day!

Out for a stroll! 

Isn't this view better than cookie cutter housing? The residents sure do believe so!

Or this image wouldn't be their rallying cry:

Residents of Villa de Paz at Phoenix Officer Hearing Decision

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Community Interest
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The City of Phoenix Council Chambers were not ready for the citizenry of Villa de Paz to storm the castle. Here are pictures of residents going into the chambers as well as filling the chambers to capacity. One thing about this neighborhood is their sense of community.

Visit their efforts to save their golf course on Facebook. 

Source: Villa de Paz Residents

Reclaiming Open Space for Higher Standards of Living

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Community Interest / Environment

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Thanks to the economic downturn and shortsightedness, golf courses are being neglected so that owners may rake in development money. 

Luckily, municipalities are not falling for the bait and switch: run down a property into disrepair to sell it off for track housing. There's a new sheriff in town and it is called: cooperation and foresight.

"At the same time many golf courses are falling into disrepair, city officials, developers, and residents nationwide are working to tackle the challenge of how to protect open space in an economical and environmentally conscious way." 

That's right, people are saying no to paving over a tree so they can put in a parking lot with cookie cutter houses. Imagine that.

"When undertaken with a thoughtful eye toward the needs of the larger community and with a genuine respect for the natural environment, golf course repurposing can serve as an opportunity to create amenities that will serve the community long into the future. Rather than shortsightedly replicating conventional residential subdivisions, we encourage stakeholders to see the former courses as opportunities for innovative, sustainable development."

Since golf courses are built the way they are, residential golf courses are great for repurposing the land into a multi-use recreational facility for communities. Hiking, biking, amphitheaters, farmer's markets, the sky is the limit for creative and justifiable ways to use this sacred open, green space.

"Local governments need not fear onerous management costs as precedents abound for contracting all or part of the operational responsibilities. Suitably-sized and located developments can both subsidize new facilities and benefit from their subsequently increased property values."

There are huge economic benefits, even boosts, to managing an open space correctly. Housing development seems to be not one of those options. It is amazing what a repurposed golf course could provide in a community: 

"The establishment of a public farm could serve not only as a source of local food but could also provide educational opportunities for students and other community members. A municipal-scale composting facility could prevent huge amounts of waste from being landfilled while also adding to the municipality’s coffers through the sale of nutrient-rich compost, top soil and mulch. With stormwater management requirements becoming ever more stringent, repurposed golf courses could provide areas for rain gardens offering localized treatment options for adjacent developments and stormwater credits, while also potentially qualifying for conservation easements and wetland credits."

So housing as a default mechanism for defunct golf courses is definitely ending as a streak. Cities and their residents want more for the limited open/green space at their disposal.  It just takes leadership on behalf of the City Councils to realize that community, family, thought and caring come before corporate profits and those economic, environmental, and social benefits are rewarded.

Source: LandThink

Phoenix Planning Officer Decision Becomes Wait and See

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Community Interest

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After all the hard work, presentations, speeches, coordination and planning, the City of Phoenix has deferred its Hearing Officer Decision for another 10 days. Since the Thanksgiving holiday is next week, 10 days is almost going to feel like three weeks, with a decision coming as late as December 6th.

Even with the meeting being held during a weekday morning, the residents of Villa de Paz were still able to fill the City Council Chambers. This community is keen and passionate about saving their way of life.

Until the Phoenix Hearing Officer makes a decision, the residents are asking everyone to flood the City Councilpersons' phones and emails with support for keeping their golf course intact. Here is the City Council contact information:

Councilwoman Williams 602-262-7444 council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Councilman Waring 602-262-7445 council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Councilman Gates 602-262-7441 council.district.3@phoenix,gov
Councilman Valenzuela 602-262-7446 council.district.5@phoenix.gov
CouncilmanDiCiccio 602-262-7491 council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Councilman Nowakowski 602-262-7492 council.district.7@phoenix.gov

 
Support a community that values: their neighbors, family, and faith. Save the golf course today. 

Villa de Paz Resident Speaks Out about Development

Writer, Karen Kopchick

Community Interest

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I'm writing to you to voice my opinion regarding the need for the Villa de Paz Golf Course stipulation to remain intact.  We have been residing in Villa de Paz since my special needs/cognitively disabled daughter was in kindergarten (Villa de Paz Elementary was crowded back then) for whom just graduated high school on mine and my husband's 27th anniversary 5/22/13.

Have our homes not suffered enough of a loss of property value due to the economic collapse of housing?

My daughter gets around in this neighborhood pretty good.  She is unable to ride a normal bike and therefore has a 3 wheeled version.  I'm afraid that if it is made to handle more people/houses that she will possibly get lost in her own neighborhood and have more traffic to deal with.  Special people are known for not acclimating to change very well so please help maintain our neighborhood for her as well as the other residents of this awesome neighborhood.

 

pic of me and my daughter

I'm from Memphis, Tennesse and bought specifically here due to the green space.  I also bought specifically here to avoid HOA's for which we had bad experiences with while residing in Kissimmee, Florida for four long awful, terrible years, and the cost of living is that of New York City.

As well, there was some concern expressed at the meeting at The Hope Center regarding construction causing dust/dirt debris and therefore exposing us to Valley Fever.  The neighbor across the street, who is no longer with us, had this fungal infection and battled it for years and it was a contributing factor to his death.  They also have a special needs son residing there.  I also have 2 beautiful dogs and it would devastate me for my 2 family members to be stricken with Valley Fever.  

I have no pet insurance and their medical bills are usually MORE expensive than ours. Their treatment would be so expensive that I would probably have to euthanize them due to being unable to afford treatment.  I can't even afford my copay right now due to the deplorable conditions of our insurance in this country.

When the City of Phoenix annexed this neighborhood 20 years ago, a stipulation was set in place that the golf course land can ONLY be used as an 18 hole golf course.  

Please help the City of Phoenix keep their word and do not allow the greedy developers to change the rules for their benefit.

Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

Residents Picket Golf Course for Redress

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Community Interest

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On November 12, 2013, residents of the golf community, Villa de Paz, picketed the neighborhood's golf course's club house. Not for better pay or cheaper tee prices, but to keep the golf course apart of their community as a golf course. 

Confused yet?

A Canadian developer is hell bent on turning the residents beloved golf course community into a cash cow of HOA fees with new housing and possible condominiums by destroying their golf course in order to do it.

Does that explain the uproar?

The residents, who are eager to keep their community as it is, decided that picketing was a good option to bring attention to their cause. Attention they got. The efforts of the neighborhood to combat the false promises and deceptive practices of the developer's public relations team has become a force to be reckoned with. 

In a short time, the residents have banded together to win the Maryvale Village Planning Committee's vote against the development 12 to 1. With 150 speaking on behalf of keeping their golf course intact.

Now the residents have to face the Phoenix City Planning Hearing Office on November 20th, 2013 at 10am. Calvin Goode Building , 251 West Washington Street, 85003. 10th Floor, East Conference Room. 

As the developer continues to push residents and place his needs over the community's interests, Villa de Paz residents keep building a stronger case to maintain their living standards. The push back has become fever pitched. 

The golf course can be sold as a golf course, but development money has outweighed the sanctity of the community's culture and way of life. Sanctity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness reigns supreme. Villa de Paz residents only want what every American wants: to live in peace. 

Hopefully the City of Phoenix Planning Office and Planning Commission will realize that burdening a small community with overflow traffic, extra students at the local elementary school, more crime, destruction of a green zone and its ecosystem full of wild life, and increasing light pollution, not to mention the clamoring before dawn and health concerns associated with construction in a desert environment so close to private homes, is not a viable outcome, then will the developer understand that money is really no object because some communities cannot be bought.

There is no amount of money in the world that Villa de Paz residents would sell out their community, neighbors, or culture for.

Don't you wish every community was like this one?

12-1 Villa de Paz Residents WIN First Round

Writer, Jeff O'Toole
Community Interest

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When the Villa de Paz neighborhood agreed to be annexed by the City of Phoenix 20 years ago, they mandated stipulations requiring the 18-hole golf course land could only be used as a golf course. Now Welker Development Resources is trying to get the City of Phoenix to remove these stipulations, so they can build housing on the golf course instead.

Villa de Paz residents have been engaged in a battle with the developer over the last month trying to stop a housing development from being built in the middle of their 40yr old community. Last night at the Hope Center in Villa de Paz at 6:00pm, the Maryvale Village Planning Commission voted on the proposal to remove the golf course stipulation. Over 200 residents attended this meeting. Of the 151 people that filled out cards marking if they approved or opposed, 150-1 marked opposed. You will find attached two pictures of each side of the gym that was filled during the meeting.

The Commission heard presentations from the developer and the opposing neighborhood residents and voted 12-1 OPPOSED to removing the golf course stipulation. This is a key win for the neighborhood. From here the fight goes to the Planning Hearing Officer next Wednesday at 10:00am and ultimately to City Council on February 5th.

Here is a video of the actual vote. (At this point, the meeting has lasted 3.5 hrs and several residents have had to leave).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGn9t4Q8AQE

Please contact me directly for specific details on this story at 843-261-4757.

Thank you for your interest.