Villa de Paz Triumphant in the Face of Adversity

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Community Interest

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After a disappointing ruling by the Phoenix Hearing Officer back in December, Villa de Paz residents did not falter but instead circled the wagons for a huge comeback. That rallying cry forged the outcome seen today.

In a letter to Phoenix's Planning and Development Department, Maple Leaf International Properties via their lawyers, Lazarus, Silvyn and Bangs, officially withdrew their application for rezoning of the Villa de Paz golf course effective January 7, 2014.

Great news for a community that has come together against the odds and triumphed over the Goliath of big business.

One night of celebration will fade into the next phase of this community's commitment to keep their golf course intact. In the coming weeks, Villa de Paz residents will know what they will face in the ever dramatic battle for their golf course, wildlife, and way of life.

Thank you, AZ State Senator Steve Gallardo for your outreach and support of our beautiful community as well as those members of the Phoenix City Council who see value in maintaining family, faith, and community.

Man of the Year Bows to the Bird of Prey

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
News / Community Interest
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Man of the Year... magazines do it. Newspapers do it. Even some comedic rags do it.

Image by: Hillebrand, Steve

Instead of exalting the same tired, old, and affluent elites or their ignorant propaganda pawns every year without fail like other publications, the Villa de Paz Gazette (VDPG) wants to do something different. VDPG this year wants to Award the 2013 Man of the Year to: the Bald Eagle.

Wildlife is the cornerstone of our beloved golf course community. The Bald Eagle is not only a symbol of our national pride but also a resident here in our area. High up in the trees, somewhere looking down at us, is the Bald Eagle.

According to Habimap from Arizona Game and Fish, Villa de Paz is host and home to a variety of special status species, species of greatest conservation needs, and breeding birds, including but not limited to our national treasure:

"Haliaeetus leucocephalus"    "Bald Eagle - Winter Population"     

"Haliaeetus leucocephalus"    "Bald Eagle - Sonoran Desert Population"   

So next time you are taking a walk or playing a round of golf, look up. The eyes that might be staring back at you could very well be a Bald Eagle.

Source: HabiMap, WeforAnimals

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

Residents Set to Rally at Planning Hearing

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

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?