July 6 – July 19, 2013
www.SanTanSun.com
SRP eliminates power line routes, Fire Station No. 1 to relocate local residents react BY ALISON STANTON
After a series of open houses and meetings that were often well-attended by the public, Salt River Project (SRP) announced that it is reducing the number of proposed routes for the Price Road Corridor 230-kV Project. SRP Project Manager Tom Novy says six of the eight east-west route segments between SRP’s Schrader Substation and the proposed RS-28 substation have been eliminated. The two remaining alternatives for this section of the project are Germann Road and Hunt Highway. Novy says removing the routes from the list of possible choices was part of SRP’s original plan that involved gathering input and analyzing the various segments. “We still went strictly by the criteria to eliminate the routes, but we did accelerate the process,” Novy says, adding that the public reaction had an input on the decision to speed things up. “We all agreed to do it now and not have to wait four and a half more months.” Jane and Al Andersen, who live in the community of Santorini Shores in Ocotillo, have been vocal and active in their opposition to using nearby roads for some of the proposed eastwest routes. The couple says they felt “jubilant” when they heard the news about the route eliminations.
FIRE STATION NO. 1: Artist’s rendering shows the plans for the new location expected in fall of 2014. Submitted photo BY TRACY HOUSE
MANY PROPOSED ROUTES ELIMINATED: Residents of Ocotillo were elated to learn that SRP had eliminated Ocotillo Road and other nearby roads from its proposed list of east-west routes for an upcoming power line project. STSN photo by Ron Lang
“We had just come out of a meeting and were driving home when we received the call to tell us that SRP had just eliminated some routes,” Jane says. SEE SRP PAGE 6
Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort to be renovated
Plans to relocate Chandler’s Fire Station No. 1 were approved at the June 13 City Council meeting as part of the City of Chandler 2013-14 budget. The station will be relocated to land already owned by the city at 1475 E. Pecos Rd., just east of McQueen Road near the water treatment facility. Tom Carlson, assistant fire chief of administration, explains the relocation was originally slated for fiscal year 2017-18 as part of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan. Every five years the agency goes through an accreditation. In 2009, it was determined through a Standard of Response Coverage analysis—which takes an analytical look at the city, where the stations are, the response time and where the risk factors occur—that if an existing station were relocated, the city would only need to build one future fire station in the southeast part of Chandler. Future
plans were to build two fire stations in southeast and east Chandler. “The plan is now to relocate Fire Station No. 1, which helps with call volumes to the southeast and east portions of the city,” Carlson says. He explains refurbishing the existing fire building allows other departments— transportation and development and housing—to move in. Other than electrical or utilities there are no new costs associated with the relocation of Fire Station No. 1, according to Carlson. “The good thing about relocating a station is obviously there are construction costs. We’re going to take the engine and the personnel and all of our already related ongoing costs that are in the city budget and just shift those to the new location,” Carlson says. The entire project is estimated at $5.5 million. The new station will be 14,000 square feet with four bays that will house SEE FIRE STATION PAGE 8
Chandler Christian Community Center: Helping families since 1966
BY ALISON STANTON
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
A landmark hotel in downtown Chandler is set to be remodeled from top to bottom. The Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, which opened in 1913, was purchased in late January by Interwest Capital. Karl Coleman, president of Interwest Capital, says the moment his company acquired the well-known property located in downtown Chandler, a multimillion dollar comprehensive renovation plan was set in motion. “This plan is anticipated to deliver fully renovated guestrooms, meeting space and public areas in time for the hotel’s Centennial Celebration in late November 2013,” Coleman says.
Chandler Christian Community Center is a bustling hub of activity. Founded in 1966, it houses a committed group of staff and valued volunteers that work to change lives by nourishing bodies and minds through a series of targeted programs. Its core services are designed to lend a helping hand to individuals and families when they need assistance in a variety of areas. Trinity Donovan is the chief executive officer at Chandler Christian Community LENDING A HAND: Trinity Donovan in one of Center. Additionally, she has been on the the food bank’s sorting areas. STSN photo by Chandler City Council since 2006 and Lynette Carrington served as vice mayor from 2011-2012. Her dedication to the general public and to
SEE HOTEL RENOVATION PAGE 6
UNDERGOING RENOVATION: The resort’s comprehensive renovation plan includes the lobby. STSN photo by David Karasinski
SEE COMMUNITY CENTER PAGE 9
F E AT U R E STO R I E S
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ICAN recognized for quality programming and services . . . .COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Paul’s Car Care: A one-stop auto repair shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Little league reaching for ‘big league’ greatness . . . . . . . . . . .YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 26 Escape for the day to fun, high-country events . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . .Page 45 Local ‘young adult’ author dives into e-books . . . . . . . . . . . . .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 56
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