The Governor Speaks
New Information About Winkelman's Announcement

From E-Brief Monthly, January 2007, an electronic newsletter published by the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association

     Last month, the state announced that it would speedily sell for development 1,713 acres that Scottsdale residents have voted to preserve. Governor Napolitano has refined the state's position and apparently indicated that at least 3,543 acres of the planned preserve is fair game for developers. Because this land is adjacent to Pima, Scottsdale, and Dynamite roads (all designated as scenic corridors by the city), its development will have an enormous impact on tourism and our community's quality of life.

     Below you'll find an updated map showing all the land that is at risk based on Governor Napolitano's January speech, an estimate of how many houses and car trips will result from development,  photographs showing the potential impact, and a statement from the executive director of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, and more! You'll even find a copy of Governor Napolitano's State of the State speech. There's a link at the bottom of this page, along with telephone number, etc. that you can use to communicate with Governor Napolitano's office to let her know that you support Scottsdale's preservation vision. We've only got one shot to do it right!

Map of Scottsdale's Planned McDowell Preserve (Click on to enlarge)
(North of Pinnacle Peak Road only)

 How Many Houses, Car Trips?

     After Winkelman's announcement, but before Governor Napolitano's speech, we asked the city to estimate the number of houses that would be built on the 1,713 acres. Very preliminary calculations indicate approximately from 663 to 793 housing units could be built based on the existing zoning for which SunCor was recently awarded a planning permit. According to the city, the estimate does not take into consideration manmade obstacles, the power lines and natural barriers, including the numerous washes, which could further reduce the yield of housing units on the land. This housing yield would result in an estimated 7,293 to 8,723 car trips per day. Remember, this "yield" of houses and car trips is only for 1,713 acres and probably the beginning of a bigger sell-off. Urban sprawl has moved inexorably from the south and southwest toward the northeast during the last five decades.

Impact on Desert Foothills Scenic Drive and Scenic Corridors

     From a preserve perspective, the acres adjacent to Scottsdale, Pima and Dynamite roads provide a buffer from the built environment and wildlife habitats and recreational areas. They also provide access points to the preserve from various parts of the city and adjacent communities.

     From the perspective of a tourist or resident driving along these roads, these acres showcase the Sonoran Desert and the unique natural beauty of this area. This is why scenic corridors, which were described as "linear preserves," were included in the original planning of the preserve. If these special roadsides are developed, all of us will be looking at ordinary suburban roof tops as we drive along these scenic corridors. We will have lost one of the natural strengths that differentiates our area from other destination communities. 

     Developers are anxious to develop luxury houses along these roads because of the proximity they will have to the preserve (the dark blue areas). They will be able to demand very high prices for homes that are near and/or backup to the preserve. If developers are successful, not only will a unique opportunity to protect our special roads be lost but the preserve and its natural wildlife and recreational buffers will also shrink. It is important to remember that Shea Boulevard was designated as Scottsdale's first "scenic corridor." If the land is no acquired and preserved, time has a way of extracting a toll.

Scenic Corridor (Scenic Drive) Losses

     From Left to Right:

     #1. Desert View Scenic Drive Exhibit (east side of Scottsdale Road, south of Jomax). Scenic Drive will be 50 years old, making it historic, in six years. Will tourists be looking at un-historic roof tops?

     #2. Wash Scenic Drive Exhibit (same location).

     #3. View of saguaros and Pinnacle Peak from Dynamite Boulevard scenic corridor (south side of Dynamite, west of Pima Road). More roof  tops?

     #4. View of desert and Pinnacle Peak from Pima Road scenic corridor (east side of Pima, south of Dixileta). More roof tops?

Scenic Corridor "Gains"

#1. Left. New homes and increased traffic require new infrastructure and supporting construction. This is a picture of the SW corner of the intersection of two scenic corridors, Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Boulevard. Will this scenes be replicated along other scenic corridors?

#2. Right. View to the west from Scottsdale Road (Desert Foothills Scenic Drive and Scottsdale scenic corridor) of home under construction in new luxury development.  Will this scene be replicated?

Carla's Memo Regarding Governor's State of the State Address

     Carla (no legal last name) is the executive director of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and a driving force behind the creation of Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The memo below was e-mailed to preserve supporters on January 8th, following Governor Napolitano's speech. The editor of this newsletter just spoke to Carla (Jan. 17th). She emphasized the importance of all of the groups interested in preservation standing together on this issue. Carla said, "The minute we begin placing greater importance on one piece of land over another is the minute we begin losing all the land." Carla is absolutely right. One of the reasons that the McDowell Sonoran Preserve effort has been so successful is that McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission and the Scottsdale City Council have always insisted on respecting the recommended preserve boundary. There have been several instances when property owners have sought to have their land excluded from the preserve. Their requests were denied and the integrity of preserve was protected. Once one exception is made it becomes much easier for exceptions to become the rule.

E-Brief Monthly, January 2007