Gilbert Sun News 121822

Council OKs controversial extended stay hotel

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Afour-story extended stay hotel with 122 rooms will move forward at the southwest corner of Power and Germann roads after Gilbert residents unsuccessfully tried to stop it.

Town Council last week voted 6-0 to uphold the Planning Commission’s Nov. 2 approval of Woodspring Suites Hotel’s design after Power Ranch resident Joni Joiner filed

an appeal objecting to its color scheme and height.

“So, the reason I appealed this situation was because there’s a maximum height of 45 feet,” Joiner said at the Dec. 13 meeting. “It actually exceeds that on both ends of the building. It’s 45 feet and 4 inches.

“Reason why that’s a concern is because it is already so high in elevation that it’s higher than the apartments and homes around it. They pushed the limit on the building of it. It’s very upsetting to the community that

it’s tucked in behind two smaller businesses and it’s going to be huge.”

Joiner said color was no longer an issue for her as the Planning Commission had stipulated the developer replace the orange exterior color with a neutral tone.

Although the hotel is allowed by right under the current zoning, Joiner said. “It’s not the type of extended stay that we want in our community.”

Gilbert officials unveiled the renovated Town Hall.

teams

championships. From left: ALA Gilbert North

Snowflake in the

4A Conference; Higley Knights head coach Eddy

Conference ; and Highland head coach Brock Farrel celebrates the Hawks’

Town plans to sell Heritage District parcel

or 200 units and 2,000 square feet for coworking or community space.

Gilbert is executing a contract to sell land in the Heritage District to a developer for at least $4.6 million to build a small-scale, pedestrian-oriented mixed-used project.

The South Anchor site, 2.88 vacant acres at the northwest corner of Gilbert and Elliot roads, is considered a key project in the town’s 2018 Redevelopment Plan for the area.

The improved corner will serve as a gateway entrance for the downtown and help strengthen adjacent commercial uses and spur development of nearby vacant parcels on Gilbert Road.

The item was on the Dec.13 consent agenda and approved by council without comment. The buyer is KDG Real Estate LLC, according to Dan Henderson, Economic Development director, who said staff has been negotiating with the developer since March.

On top of the purchase price, KDG has

agreed to contribute $250,000 towards improvements in the Heritage District. The developer also has agreed to several principal provisions, including building a project no less than 320,000 square

feet and no higher than 55 feet, the maximum height allowed in the downtown.

As part of the development, 15,000 gross square feet must go to commercial uses, 344,000 square feet for residential

Additionally, a parking structure to support the development needs to be built with the residential building wrapping around it.

The developer also has agreed to shoulder all the costs for designing and building the eastern half of N. Ash Street, including paving, traffic control, sidewalks and landscaping between W. Elliot Road and W. Bruce Avenue, according to the agreement.

Under the agreement the closing will take place no later than Feb. 28 but can be extended no more than four consecutive periods of 30 days subject to $250,000 extension deposits.

Officials originally asked for and received bid submittals in 2020 for the site but negotiations with the chosen developer didn’t pan out, according to a staff report.

The town hopes to get at least $4.6 million for selling this 2.88-acre site in the Heritage District to a private developer. (Town of Gilbert)

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Gilbert unveils renovated Town Hall

GSN NEWS STAFF

Gilbert’s newly revamped Town Hall is bigger and brighter with new amenities, such as an innovation lab to spark creativity and a tech hub where employees can bring their lap tops to the IT staff.

Council members and invited guests last week got a sneak peak of Municipal Building I ahead of the official opening to the public tomorrow, Dec. 19. The building was closed for 18 months for the nearly $20 million makeover.

“Did you know that Gilbert Municipal Complex was once thought to have a third building and a Civic Center building on this property along with this building?” Mayor Brigette Peterson asked at the Dec. 14 ribbon-cutting ceremony. “When those were not built, an additional strain was placed on this building.

“To say the team faced a few challenges when beginning discussion and planning for the renovation of this building was an understatement, perhaps one of the largest understatements of the decade,” she said.

“They needed to address heat, energy deficiencies, technology and massive-space constraints. What you see behind me is the culmination of countless time and effort to address each of these.”

The 50,000-square-foot Town Hall, which houses the Council Chambers and main administrative offices such as for Town Manager Patrick Banger and Town Attorney Christopher Payne, opened in 1992 and has not had any substantial renovations since.

“For staff, it’s a project long time in coming,” Banger said.

He said the need for renovation was identified over 20 years ago in the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan but planning for the work didn’t begin until 2017.

The renovation will offset the need for a new building in the future, he said.

Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees were allowed inside the building on guided tours. Portions of the building were roped off and the media was asked not to photograph some areas of the building for security reasons.

The redo included replacing the exterior glass, HVAC systems, roofing, flooring, fixtures, furniture and addressing necessary ADA compliance issues.

All offices were pushed to the interior to allow in more natural light into the building. The project added various-sized conference rooms, 50 new workspaces and new hot desks, which are used by different people at different times and allow for hybrid work. Additionally, all employee desks are standing desks, which are more ergonomic.

The mayor has an office and, for the first time, work space has been provided for council members, according to town spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison.

Although most of the fixtures in the building were replaced, not so for the Council Chambers – the dais had a facelift and the audience chairs were re-upholstered, Harrison said, adding that white noise is piped into the building’s open spaces to mask loud sounds.

Town Council will be in its new home starting Jan. 10.

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“It is one of the lowest-rated extended stay,” the nurse said. “We already have a low-budget extended stay in Gilbert and I don’t think we need another.”

She questioned the hotel’s quality, saying the inside walls of Woodspring extended stays are “so poorly built” and backed up her claim with reviews she said she found online. And as a low-budget hotel, “they tend to cut corners” and people with money would not stay there, she claimed.

She also said the hotels are low-staffed, which will be an issue with security.

“That particular business, there’s no supervision,” she said. “That type of hotel, extended stay particularly, on their website does state they do not require a deposit, credit check or credit card upon check-in. Cash is fine. To me, that’s a problem.”

Seven other residents also spoke against the hotel at the meeting, including Jodi Turner, who said the hotel was in an odd spot and should be in an area with other hotels and amenities like restaurants.

About 88 residents submitted comments against the hotel before the Planning Commission meeting in November and an additional 209 were submitted after that meeting. About 30 submitted comments for the meeting last week.

“Nothing positive in my eyes comes out of an extended stay,” said Turner, who has lived in Power Ranch for over 20 years.

“And working in health care being a first responder, I have taken care of patients over the years that have come in from extended stays with prostitution, drugs, drug overdoses (and) gunshots. Why is this coming to my neighborhood?”

Scott Cook said there was no outreach to the community for input and added that if the developer tried to skirt the issue by 4 inches, they wondered what else is it trying to do.

He said being a real estate professional for nearly 20 years, he can say that the proposed hotel would negatively affect home values in Power Ranch and the area.

Resident Mario Chicas, a former DEA agent, said these types of locations are

favored by criminals because they “feel comfortable in places like this” and there’s easy access to freeways.

Chicas, who ran unsuccessfully for council in the August Primary, also alleged makeshift meth labs are set up at these extended stays, saying “in an extended stay people cook in these kitchens. But they don’t cook food.”

Zoning attorney Paul Gilbert said that 98% of the residents’ comments pertain to use and not the design issue that is before the council.

He said the developer wanted to reach out to the community and discuss the concerns and that he emailed Joiner three times offering to meet with her but got no response. He said he even unsuccessfully tried to get Joiner’s phone number from town staff.

Joiner responded that as a private individual, she did not want her phone number given to Gilbert.

“I didn’t feel it was relevant for him to contact me personally,” she said, adding that there was no outreach prior to her appeal and questioned if Gilbert would have attempted to contact her if she had not filed.

Gilbert said the project was before the council with a solid recommendation from planning staff and a recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission, which also acts as the Design Review Board.

“What we are proposing is a hotel in the general commercial district,” Gilbert said. “It’s allowed as a matter of right. So what we are proposing is allowed under the ordinance. Furthermore and impor-

tantly this zoning on the property predates most of the homes that are in the vicinity.

“So they knew or at least had an opportunity to know this property was zoned general commercial and general commercial allows a hotel and they had a full opportunity to apprise themselves of that important fact.”

He pointed out that the proposed hotel is not next to any single-family homes and is surrounded by apartments 35 feet tall, a Chase Bank and an AutoZone. To the east, across Power Road are single-family homes in Queen Creek.

Gilbert said the reason why the hotel is 45 feet high is due to the columns, which give some design variety to the project. The additional 4 inches were allowed because of the sloped roof, he said.

Planner Kristen Devine added more clarity to the disputed height.

“The extra 4 inches is to the top of the ridge on those sloped caps,” she said. “And per land development code definitions we measure heights to the midpoint of anything pitched, which is why they are permitted the extra 4 inches.”

Although Gilbert initially said he wasn’t going to get sucked into disputing the residents’ comments on use, he felt the need to address them for the sake of his client, who in the audience.

He said there is a Woodspring hotel in Chandler and the average rate there is $164 a night, clearly not low-budget.

“We don’t accept cash at all,” he said responding to Joiner’s claim. “You can’t stay at our hotel unless you have a credit card and a valid driver’s license and we

can run a check on you.”

Gilbert noted that town staff found the $15-million hotel complied “with all the ordinance requirements and all the design requirements that your ordinance mandates for a project of this nature.”

“We met your standards and done what we were asked to do,” he said.

Council agreed with Gilbert’s argument.

Mayor Brigette Peterson, who previously sat on the Planning Commission for 14 years, told Joiner that she heard her concerns.

“Four inches is not going to make a difference in my opinion,” Peterson said. “When I look at something like that and it’s within the 45-foot range, it hasn’t gone to 46, it hasn’t gone to 47, it’s within the 45-foot range, I’m not going to look at that as something I would address.”

Councilwoman Kathy Tilque asked if it was possible for police to meet with the hotel owner and neighbors to “establish some type of safety protocol or just ideas like that.”

“We’ve had concerns in other areas of the community and perhaps we can get ahead of this,” she said.

Police Chief Michael Soelberg said the department can look at the hotel’s design and make crime-prevention recommendations and that Council can direct his level of involvement.

Peterson said the project is within the Power Ranch planned area of development and suggested “the owners of the hotel or the managers of the hotel could be part of the Power Ranch pow wow.”

Councilman Scott Anderson, a retired town planning director, reminded the council of its focus for the evening.

“We’ve been given the guidance to address colors, which I heard very little discussion of by anybody who came up to testify,” he said. “And we’ve heard an explanation about the elevation and this is the scope of what we’re tasked to address.

“I understand the concern about the use. However, I hope you all believe as much in property rights as the rest of us do. It’s been zoned for a very long time and its use is an appropriate use in the zone and I’m not going to stray any farther than that.”

The four-story extended stay hotel will be located at Power and Germann roads near homes in Queen Creek and not far from Gilbert neighborhoods. (Town of Gilbert)

State panel urges 23 measures to help kids’ mental health

BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

Stating that “in Arizona, suicide is the leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and ages 15-25,” a special Arizona House task force has signed off on 23 recommendations to address the problem.

But Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, co- chair of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Teen Mental Health, told panel members those recommendations may not be adopted as quickly as they hope.

Telling his colleagues their work over the last three months “is not for nothing,” Grantham said:

“Everybody now is going to have to be patient and be happy with any victories we get out of these recommendations. I’m going to just tell you we’re a divided chamber here and across the yard. We have a new governor.

“There’s going to be a period of time and as we come down here in January and February, where we have to get our feet under ourselves and figure out what’s possible. And the lobbyists will

come out. the special interest will come out, the representatives who have disagreements or agreements will come out and that’s my business. That’s what I volunteered for.

“And I’ll do my best to put as much of this forward as I can with other members’ help because I can’t do it all by my-

self. And I just want you all to know that your work here matters and even something in here is the most important thing to you or this group doesn’t happen this year, it might very well happen next.

“These things take time,” he said, telling panel members to “be patient, pray, watch, encourage” and speak on behalf of whatever measures do come before lawmakers.

The recommendations represent the culmination of hours of hearings by the panel, which comprised educators, a variety of medical and behavioral experts, social workers and others.

Since September, the panel heard from a wide range of experts as well as from teenagers who either attempted suicide

or know teens who completed it. It also heard from parents who lost or nearly lost children to suicide or other selfharm, including drug overdoses.

According to the 2022 report by the Arizona Child Fatality Review Team, 44 of the 863 deaths of people under 18 in Arizona in 2021 were suicides. It said warning signs existed in 68% of those suicides and the majority involved children 15 to 17 years old.

Various experts told the panel that suicides aside, more Arizona youngsters and teens face a variety of pressures –and substance abuse dangers – that have imperiled their mental and emotional well-being.

Pandemic-driven disruptions of their school life the last two years only intensified those pressures, according to a report issued in May by the U.S. Department of Education.

“Many children and students struggle with mental health challenges that impact their full access to and participation in learning, and these challenges are of-

CUSD stepping up mental health services

BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

Chandler Unified School District is stepping up its efforts to address mental-health issues by partnering with three agencies to provide more services to students and staff.

CUSD officials are also meeting with a committee of parents, staff members and practitioners to determine future steps.

“We really wanted some practitioners on there, because some of this isn’t in our area,” said Dr. Craig Gilbert, associate superintendent of pre-K-12. “We want to really make sure that we have intervention all the way to post-vention.”

After putting a request for proposals to mental-health agencies, the district awarded contracts to the Hope Institute of America, LLC; Lighthouse Wellhealth,

and Southwest Behavioral and Health Services.

“We’re trying to bring availability to our community by making sure that, if at all possible, that we have the practitioners to do it,” Gilbert said. “It’s not just in person, but it can also be telehealth.

“That’s a huge piece right there. I think it’s a game changer, especially with the needs that we’ve been finding within our community.”

The district earlier this fall announced plans to spend $5 million to improve addressing mental-health issues.

That includes adding more counselors and social workers to schools in addition to hiring the three agencies. Gilbert said the district still has money to spend.

“We’re just on the front end of spending,” Gilbert said, pointing out some of the counselors the district hired were paid for with state safety grants.

He said officials hope they have enough money to pay their three partners for at least two to three years – if not longer.

“When you look at, for example, the Hope Institute just needs to get started,” he said. “Our belief is once it gets started, it’s going to fund itself, because the goal for the money is really to help our students have the means and the resources.

“The goal is to try and make sure there’s no barriers for families to get support.”

The district started working on improving its mental-health programs after three CUSD students took their lives in a 10-day span in May. Another CUSD student died by suicide at the start of this school year.

A student group, Arizona Students for Mental Health, formed to advocate for improved care. One of the demands was for students to have a voice, asking that

they be allowed to stage a town hall to address students.

There have been no suicides publicized since the one early this school year. That doesn’t mean that everything is fine, Gilbert said.

He said not all parents want how their child died publicized.

“We have to take the approach that whether we’re hearing about it or not, we have to go with the premise that it’s happening and we have to make sure that we have these things in place,” he said.

Dr. Brenda Vargas, director of counseling and social services for the district, has been meeting with the committee of parents, staff and practitioners.

She said the pandemic put a strain on many families. But she said it’s too soon to tell if that added stress has lessened.

State Rep. Travis Grantham,. R-Gilbert, co-chaired a special House committee on teens mental health and warned panel members it may take time for its recommendations to be adopted. (YouTube)

“It’s difficult to really come to a conclusion in regards to trends without doing proper research,” Vargas said. “You know, I don’t think it’s fair for us to make a conclusion based on just this year. We’re only halfway through.”

Gilbert said district staffers are listening to students’ concerns as well.

He said Natasha Davis, CUSD prevention coordinator, has been attending club meetings and talking directly with students.

One of the ways they are responding to students’ concerns is to focus on LGBTQ students, who studies show are much more likely to consider suicide.

“One of the things that Miss Davis is going to be doing is she’s going to be reaching out in order to engage in those groups at the schools when they’re meeting for their clubs,” Gilbert said.

He said the district is currently training staff to start more clubs – such as the Bring Change to Mind at the high-school level and Hope Squad for middle schoolers.

“We’re trying to expand the reach and

seeing what we can do because we know that we hear the voices of the students that are coming, which we really appreciate,” Gilbert said. “But we’re also trying to figure out what voices are we not hearing that we need to reach out to.”

Gilbert said the main issue is deciding where the district’s three partners will need offices. The Hope Institute is new to Arizona and setting up offices for the first time.

Panel approves 4-building storage facility

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Afour-building self-storage facility is coming to 3.5 acres at the southwest corner of Baseline Road and Meadow Drive.

Gilbert Planning Commission on Dec. 7 unanimously approved the site plan, landscaping and other design elements for Superstition Meadows. The commission also acts as the Design Review Board.

“It is a permitted use,” said land-use attorney Tyler Earl. “The developer, they own more than 30 storage facilities in eight states. This is a family owned company that’s been doing this for a very, very long time.

“Their plan now is to own and operate the facility and they really do push the quality and try to make these very nice facilities.”

According to planner Kristen Devine, over 100 residents attended a neighborhood meeting in February and 30 more sent emails afterwards voicing concerns with height, traffic, noise and a 12-foot pedestrian/equestrian easement on the southern boundary of the property.

“There was a concern that the easement at the southern border would become an alley,” said Devine, who referred to it as “a corridor of mischief.”

Because the easement prevents construction, the property owner is proposing an 8-foot-tall partial block fence placed 40 feet from the shared property line to the south. The fence would incorporate a view on the top half into the corridor, according to Devine.

There also is a proposal for a 28-foot landscape buffer with trees to shield the project from homeowners to the south.

She added that the developer responded to the residents’ concerns with other project modifications, changing the building design from an industrial warehouse-style to one that is more residential looking and changing the storage door color to brown from yellow.

She said the height would remain at the proposed 35 feet as the current zoning allows for as high as 45 feet.

“This is probably the nicest looking self storage I’ve ever seen,” Commissioner Lisa Gage said. “I think this will fit in nicely.”

Resident Greg Prince said he appreciated the changes to the project but his remaining concern is one of safety as his backyard is up against the 12-foot easement.

“A question I have is access to (the corridor),” he said. “Because when our homeless buddies set up camp, how do we call police?”

He asked if police would have access, such as a curb cut at the end of the property, so they are able to drive into the easement and if there would be any se-

curity cameras.

“That’s really the only concern,” Prince added. “Instead of a 12-foot alleyway, I got 30 feet or whatever.”

Gage asked if there was a problem with people living on the site now or just setting up tents.

“Just north of that location is a UPS building…they just recently cleaned out,” said David Ybarra, a neighbor of Prince’s.

“There were homeless people so it’s approximately a half mile away. Our concern is if the homeless got in that easement there are we going to be able to see them or be able to report it if we do see somebody there,” he said.

Ybarra suggested putting in more trees

in the landscaped buffer and removing the proposed shrubs so people can’t hide.

Earl said the option for the easement was to leave it at 12 feet or put in the wall as proposed and widen the alleyway “so that’s easier for people to look down.”

“As cars are passing by there would be a very easy opportunity to look back in that area,” he said. “With regard to cameras we can look at it. In fact, it’s still going to be our property back there. While I don’t have a camera plan to commit to right now, I think it’s very much in our interest to make sure that we are looking carefully at that zone.”

Commissioner Lesley Davis said there may be an opportunity to do landscape lighting in the buffer so there would be enough light if cameras were installed.

Chairman Jan Simon said perhaps staff can find out if more policing in the area is possible.

“I could just see that being an encampment back there,” Simon said. “So really trying to figure out how can we work to make sure that the access is there (for police).”

Although the town may require how much shrub must be planted in the buffer, Simon said he liked the suggestion of reducing it.

“If you reduced the amount of shrubs that you have in there and had the trees,” he said, “it would be easier to police it and provide less places for people to sleep or hide so that might be something to look at.”

Commissioners also asked questions, including about traffic, the buffer and lighting.

Commissioner Charles Johnson asked for the trend in self-storage units.

“Do you see that there’s a continued demand in market demand for storage units,” he said. “I know in recent years have been a number of storage units been proposed and it’s just a broader land-use question. Is the market such that we may see more storage unit requests?”

Earl responded that the town will see an increase in self-storage projects.

The Superstition Meadows storage facility would occupy 3.5 acres on the southwest corner of Baseline Road and Meadow Drive. (Town of Gilbert)

Attorney Tyler Earl said the facility’s owners have more than 30 storage sites in eight states. (YouTube)

Neighbor David Ybarra wondered how police could patrol an easement near the site. (YouTube)

ten misunderstood and can lead to behaviors that are inconsistent with school or program expectations,” it said.

“The COVID-19 global pandemic intensified these challenges, accelerating the need to provide school-based mental health support and leverage our accumulated knowledge about how to provide nurturing educational environments to meet the needs of our nation’s youth.”

The House panel was created by outgoing House Speaker Rusty Bowers of Mesa, who asked it to return in December with potential solutions and recommendations to public and private agencies that address teen mental health issues.

Some of its recommendations involve unspecified amounts of additional funding for a state-run Teen Mental Health Grant Program that support school districts and nonprofits “for mental health first aid training, youth resiliency training, substance misuse awareness training” for adults and kids.

It also asked the Legislature to work with the Attorney General’s office to ensure that the millions Arizona will be getting for settlements of opioid-related lawsuits “are utilized appropriately for these specified purposes.”

It also urged the creation of a “community hub of information and support” that would address access to care, depression and mental illness; bullying and social media; and family support and substance abuse.

Some experts who testified before the panel earlier had urged such a hub, but also warned “it is not an easy lift” because it required coordination among a number of websites and social media platforms.

Among other information, the hub would address “different types of bullying, cyberbullying, social media impact and bullying behaviors for parents and students as well as strategies for students to mitigate incidents and timely reporting to school officials.” It also would provide an array of other information related to prevention, treatment and support.

The panel also called for increased financial support for crisis and in-patient services for kids, higher reimbursement rates from insurance companies and the

state Medicaid program for providers because of their specialized training and their need to have longer children’s appointments because parents have to be involved at some point.

It also called for more financial incentives that would encourage more college-bound students to consider careers in mental health programs serving children’s social and mental wellness.

It said school districts should obtain or create an app that assists in threat assessments and enables students to report safety issues or reach out for help on a 24/7 anonymous basis.

It also urged tax credit deductions for inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs “to relieve financial burden for families: and state funding for districts to have at least one staff member who would “work with local coalitions and nonprofits to coordinate youth resiliency and primary prevention lessons and training.”

Co-chair and outgoing Rep. Joanne Osborne, R-Goodyear, conceded that the problem the committee had been tasked to

address “isn’t a one-size fits-all situation.”

“This is an all-hands-on-deck,” Osborne said, and that finding solutions needs the involvement of parents, medical experts and educators, law enforcement and teens themselves.

She pointed to the 400-page report the committee is issuing and ticked off a variety of actions that need to be taken

not just on a governmental level but in homes and schools as well by businesses.

“Those kids need to know you’re back there,” she said, adding:

“Those are the things that we need to be doing. There’s so many great people that are doing it but we need more of them to do it.”

LAND SALE

from page 3

They requested bids again the following year, this time with the clarification that they would not consider projects that are primarily residential or single use, Henderson said.

The town’s vision for a project ncludes a mix of uses, including retail, office, restaurant, entertainment and high-density loft above residential with groundfloor commercial uses.

And because the site is located within the Lacy Tract neighborhood and near Gilbert Elementary School and the Boys and Girls Club, the Town wants the South

Anchor to be a safe, walkable, neighborhood-scale development to serve the community south of the Union Pacific railroad tracks.

The Heritage District is about .3 square miles in size and is historically recognized as the community’s original town site.

Gilbert in 1989 designed the district as a redevelopment area to jumpstart economic development there and in 2013 designated it as an Entertainment District, which includes over 30 restaurants and retail.

Council grants 2-month delay for Ranch vote

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

The developer of The Ranch, a proposed mega light-industrial project, has until February to hammer out a compromise with opponents living in the Morrison Ranch community.

Town Council on Dec. 13 granted the developer’s request for a continuance to Feb. 21 to vote on the application for a major General Plan amendment and rezone for 302 acres at the northwest corner of Power and Warner roads.

“I’m here to speak on behalf of the continuance so we can get this fully vetted,” said Jonathan Bullen, co-founder and CEO of Colmena Group, representing the development team that includes IndiCap and Brimhall Companies.

He said since the last council meeting Nov. 15, which was packed with angry residents, there have been numerous discussions, meetings and interactions with the neighbors, council members

and other interested stakeholders.

“I felt like everybody’s coming together in a spirit of good faith,” Bullen said.

“I think we‘re making progress but we’re not there yet. And so we don’t want to come and present something that is not

fully vetted and ready to be discussed and approved. And based on what we are hearing and the discussion that we are having we’re just not ready to do that.

“We like to follow an adage – we want to measure 10 times and cut once.”

The original proposal called for converting most of the acreage into light industrial uses. The current zoning is 56 acres of industrial, 144 acres of general office and 101 acres of general commercial.

The developer has made tweaks to the project in an attempt to address concerns such as allotting 16 acres for a business park, 30 acres for general commercial uses and adding a landscape buffer on the western edge of the property that faces the Elliot Grove neighborhood.

But that wasn’t enough for the residents. They raised concerns about building height, lack of transition to the surrounding homes, noise and traffic.

Neighbor Ryan Handelsman applauded a delay in a vote on The Ranch, saying neighbors have had productive discussions with the developer. (YouTube)

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Mesa, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Aspen Medical in Mesa, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00.

Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until December 31st 2022. Call (480) 274-3157 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274-3157 NOW!!

Growth doesn’t end quality of life, EV Partnership told

BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

There was one over-arching message coming from the annual PHX East Valley Partnership meeting in Chandler on Dec. 8 –You can have rapid growth and still maintain a high quality of living.

The group of business and other leaders in the region met at the Chandler Center for the Arts to hear how East Valley cities and towns are managing that balance. They also honored an individual and a business with the group’s legacy awards.

Trevor Barger, founder and CEO of Espiritu Loci and a principal with Arizona Strategies, was the keynote speaker at the event, and spoke of growing up in Gilbert when it had only a few thousand resi-

RANCH

Kyle Mieras, Development Services director, told council that staff has not seen the latest draft of the project or had the chance to review it.

Residents who have been at the forefront of the opposition spoke at the meeting in favor of the continuance.

dents and was mostly farms.

He said that as the city continued to grow, his personal quality of life kept improving.

“We must continue our long tradition of a high quality of life while embracing growth,” Barger said.

He argued that with more development, came more parks, outdoor recreation, more restaurants, and more entertainment options. Barger said Arizona cities and towns have done an excellent job managing the growth, which continues to come.

He said even now the state adds about the population of Flagstaff (77,000) each year.

Joining him in making the case were four officials from cities and town that

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Aspen Medical 4540 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa, AZ, 85206

“I think we can all agree that up until the point of the most recent council meeting prior it’s been pretty stressful and tense, arguably toxic,” Ryan Handelsman said. But since then, “we’ve been having an open dialog and communication.”

Brandon Ryff acknowledged Stacy Brimhall and other people from the development team introduced to residents after the November meeting.

“He brought us all to the table,” Ryff said. “He listened, respected us, made meaningful changes.

“He’s got a long family history in Gilbert. I find him to be humble as a person and also proud of his family, which means he isn’t going to let anything bad happen to his community, in my opinion.

“I am currently and conditionally in

support of the revisions expected for The Ranch. With Stacy Brimhall my mind changed about The Ranch. Without him I think it would change in the other direction. He’s been critical to the process and really changed things for the better.”

He also thanked council members Kathy Tilque and Laurin Hendrix, who helped shepherd the communication and he took a dig at Mayor Bridgette Peterson.

He said he wanted to share what changed for him with the project.

“One word that could describe it would be leadership,” Ryff said. “What does this mean, it means caring, listening, communicating, problem solving, bringing people together instead of tearing them apart. High-level leadership you would really expect from a mayor.”

Ryff, Handelsman and a woman were escorted out of a packed council meeting in September by police under Peterson’s order.

The trio was quietly holding up signs at the back of the room that read “Stop Lying” and “Don’t Mesa my Gilbert” during discussions about The Ranch.

Council OKs 2 new apartment projects

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

A10-acre site that was once a Hertz rental car center at the southeast corner of Arizona Avenue and Desert Lane will soon be home to Gilbert’s second Aldi grocery store – this time with an adjacent apartment complex.

Town Council unanimously approved a minor General Plan amendment Dec. 13 for Aldi Commons. The proposal is to build the market on the west half of the property and a high-density multifamily apartment complex on 5.51 acres on the east half. The entire site was zoned general commercial.

The plan was not without opposition.

“We need to either believe that we have a General Plan at some point or we need to abandon all zoning because it’s become a joke,” said Councilman-elect Jim Torgeson, the sole public speaker on the item. “We’re bound to it. Whether it’s

right or wrong in the beginning we are bound to it. And here we are sitting looking at another high-density apartment complex.”

Torgeson noted that this will be the 50th consecutive rezone approved by council. He said the council needs to adhere to the General Plan, the voter-approved blueprint for development in Gilbert, because people rely on it when buying their homes or locating their businesses.

“The mere rezoning of that acreage increases its value exponentially –increases the value for one person, one group of people,” he said. “It doesn’t increase the value to those people surrounding it, those people servicing it. It doesn’t take care of the water needs of high-density housing as opposed to general commercial. It does not take care of police and fire that need to service it. Even the impact fees (paid by developers) are faint compared to the actual needs.

“I for one think it’s a very bad idea to

continue to pound the population as fast as we can, to get as dense as we and as quickly as we can while we face water issues.”

He contended the economy is heading into a free-fall and that surrounding home property values would drop because of the apartments.

“Right now, it’s a very poor idea to add more while we are trying to fix what we have,” he said.

Councilwoman Yung Koprowski said the site is located in the Northwest Corridor, Gilbert’s first and densest employment area that the town is hoping to revitalize. The Urban Land Institute took a look at the corridor a few years ago and one of the recommendations included in more multifamily development to support employees working there.

“For this particular site being in the Northwest Corridor, it’s important to follow the recommendation of that plan,” Koprowski said. “I do believe that this particular use is complementary to some

of the other land uses around it being the light industrial, the commercial and the additional high-density residential.”

“A lot of these zoning cases that are coming before us,” she added, “are only the ones that have gone through a pretty rigorous process and there are probably many more that haven’t come to this point because they know they wouldn’t be approved.”

Mayor Bridgette Peterson said every zoning case is an individual case and “if you’re only looking at the things that are zoning cases that have passed, yes there’s going to be many because they’re passed for different reasons and different locations.

“This is land that’s been abandoned for many years,” she continued. “It sits in the middle of industrial, it sits in the middle of commercial, it sits in a very high-density area in our community.

“It sits in the Northwest Corridor of

our community where we’ve had studies done asking, requesting for multifamily, for the businesses in the area to have places for their employees so that they could live close by. So it’s fulfilling some needs in the area that don’t exist currently.”

Both the planning staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the request.

Aldi was approved for two locations in Gilbert in 2018. The first location opened in 2021 near Pecos Road and Val Vista Drive.

Land-use attorney Wendy Riddell, representing the Aldi discount chain, said the number of residential units is unknown because the project hasn’t been designed yet. The rezone allows for 25 to 50 dwelling units per acre.

According to a staff report, the multifamily development will provide a mix of unit types and will feature high-quality amenities and open space areas throughout. The development also will include a parking garage, leasing office with clubhouse and courtyard pool.

Council last week also approved Mill Creek Residential’s request to rezone 15.39 acres at the southwest corner of Higley and Ray roads to allow for the Madera-Gilbert Project.

The proposal is for general commer cial on 3.8 acres, 276 apartments on 8.66

acres and a shopping center on 2.9 acres. Previously the entire site was zoned for shopping center use.

Echo Love, who also spoke against the proposal at the November Planning Commission meeting, said she repre

Gate community and that she had a petition opposing the rezone.

She raised concerns that the project didn’t fit in with the Gateway Character Area and that there are already two apartment complexes at that corner. She also objected to the height of the multifamily complex and voiced concerns about the anticipated traffic.

Land-use attorney Brennan Ray said Madera-Gilbert complies with the Town’s General Plan and with the Gateway Character Area. He said that there would a third more traffic trips with the current commercial zone than with the proposed rezone.

And Councilman Scott Anderson said there is a severe need in the Valley for quality housing, including multifamily.

“I think this gives the opportunity for those who are coming to Gilbert that wants to enjoy the same quality of life that we all enjoy,” he said. “Perhaps they can’t afford to live in a house. They can still enjoy a quality of life in projects such as this one. This is what we need to con-

STORAGE from page 10

“I would say over the last 10 years you see them a lot more frequently than you used to,” he said.

Some of the drivers include rising housing costs that mean people can afford a smaller home or a smaller rental, according to Earl.

“Those are situations where people still have things and may not necessarily want to purge all of those things,” he said. “There’s also a rise in the amount of people, young people under 30 that are living at home.

“There’s also an increase in multi-generational housing and as we have a pandemic more people working from home utilizing a spare bedroom that was their storage that’s now being utilized for home office.

“I’ll keep it at that but yes I do think that there is an increased demand and as we see an increased need for housing there’s going to be an associated need for storage.”

PARTNERSHIP from page 14

are in different stages of the growth cycle.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke and Gilbert Councilmember Scott Anderson represented communities that have already had their first phase of rapid growth and are now approaching buildout.

Representing the areas going through that first phase of rapid growth were Julia Wheatley, the mayor-elect of Queen Creek, and Bryant Powell, city manager of Apache Junction.

Powell said Apache Junction recently approved the development of 4 square miles of land near the border of nearby cities.

“And so just a year ago, we annexed about 8 miles that meets up with Queen Creek, and about seven years ago in coordination with Queen Creek and Mesa, we established, without any fight, without any type of discomfort, or any type of disorganization, our boundaries,” Powell said.

He said they worked on their general plans together, coordinating where they want their jobs corridors to go. Powell said that helped convince the state that Apache Junction is ready to expand.

The project includes a three-story building with a basement level housing a combination of interior and drive-up units totaling 138,106 square feet.

The three other buildings would be single-story drive-up storages, totaling 11,791 feet.

“We think we’ve gone through extensive changes to get it to a point where it’s attractive building,” Earl said. “I know some of the neighbors didn’t like the use. The use is permitted but we also wanted to do our best on the design front.

“We believe that through the work that we’ve engaged in we do think that it’s created a really nice and attractive product that we’re very proud of.”

This self-storage project didn’t face the same opposition at public meetings that the two-story Town Storage encountered before it was approved in August at the southwest corner of Recker and Pecos roads.

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Wheatley said maintaining a high quality of life helps if people remember how they started and why people initially moved to a community.

“Keep that small-town culture whether you either just moved to Queen Creek, or you’ve been there some time,” she said. “Just keeping it true to what we are out there in Queen Creek.”

For the cities approaching buildout, officials said it’s important to keep promises.

“We work hard at developing neighborhood parks,” Hartke said. “We continue to put money into those, and we make sure that the celebrations that make a community a community happen.”

Anderson said Gilbert still has room to grow and likely won’t reach buildout for another decade.

The PHX East Valley Partnership honored Kevin Olson, a senior partner at Lewis Roca with its individual award, crediting him with being a major player in improving transportation throughout the East Valley. For the business award, the Partnership honored The Boeing Company for its history of contributing to the community.

“Well,” said the new hearing aid user as she drew a deep breath.” my hearing loss cost me three friendships that I know of, a strained relationship with my husband, two grandchildren who think I don’t understand them, boredom at church, and lost interest in attending get-togethers.”

After a reflective

she added: “Sure I invested some money to get these hearing aids... but it doesn’t compare with what it cost before I got them.”

“Did your new hearing aids cost much?” inquired a friend.

EV doc brought cancer facilities to China

BY JOSH ORTEGA GSN Staff Writer

Even in the eye of the storm that was the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Matt Callister still helped bring modern cancer-treatment facilities to Hong Kong.

A senior physician executive at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Callister helped establish that Gilbert facility, where he has spent more than a decade as a radiation oncologist.

In 2017, Callister moved his family in southern China to work with a private Chinese health care company to evelop Western-oriented cancer centers and hospitals.

“It’s a great career opportunity to go abroad and to use the skills and experience that I had in America abroad,” Callister said.

The family lived in Guangzhou for more than three years, including time during the pandemic. He also had the opportunity to work in other cities, including Shanghai and Beijing.

The opportunity came when the company came to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, to learn more about American health care.

Company representatives stayed in touch with him and soon asked him to come to China.

During his time in China, Callister said he learned two big lessons.

One is that regardless of language, culture or background, there’s incredible similarities for the need of compassionate, effective cancer care everywhere, especially in China with such a large population.

The experience also gave him a deeper appreciation of American cancer care.

“It helped me appreciate what makes a difference in so many people’s lives as we try to recreate those similar types of

experiences and opportunities for patients in the Far East as well,” Callister said.

Callister said the U.S. “really stands out” in the ability to provide advanced technology for the accurate diagnosis of cancer through testing and imaging as well as for access to state-of-the-art targeted drugs or immune-based drugs that impact patients’ lives.

“That’s one of the real advantages we have and I think the rest of the world is trying to get access to and contribute to as well,” Callister said. “But U.S. really stands out in really drug development and technology development.”

Callister said his efforts in China focused not on importing innovations, but establishing the infrastructure “where excellent care could thrive.”

Some of that included establishing American-style oncology nursing and advocating for specialists and development of a higher level of patient support through nutrition services, physical ther-

apy, psychology and speech therapy.

Callister focused much of his time on promoting a multidisciplinary style of decision-making, particularly among physicians, when a patient receives a new diagnosis because “cancer care is really a team sport.”

“The decisions aren’t made by one person, but made by a group of peers that are specialists in different areas who can put their experiences together to really point the patient in the most effective path possible for their cancer,” Callister explained.

He helped accomplish all of this inspite of China’s rigid COVID protocols.

Callister helped open the Guangzhou Concord Cancer Center in June 2021

“We were able to move forward to achieve our goals of getting cancer care to a lot of patients,” he said

Through all his work, Callister still managed to enjoy the scenery with his wife Laura and the four kids they took with them.

Since 2004, the couple has raised their eight kids in Mesa and found life in China exhilarating.

“We loved living downtown in large cities, not having a car, relying on public transportation,” Callister said. “And just all the all the diversity as far as food and entertainment.”

Callister’s passion for oncology started at Duke University Medical School.

“When you go to medical school, I think one of the things you discover is this incredible breadth of different specialties and ways in which we use science and technology to help patients,” Callister said.

Through patient interactions, Callister became “deeply impressed” by the tools science has and is developing in the fight against cancer.

“I think the science and the people component just really came together,” Callister said. “And the middle of medical school, I really committed to having a career in cancer.”

Callister graduated in 1997 and proceeded to an internship at the Mayo Clinic Arizona and four more years of training and residency at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In his career, Callister said one of the most important principles about cancer is that it’s not one disease but many diseases and based on both different locations in the body and the genetic abnormalities associated with each tumor.

“I think one of the main themes that’s developed during my career is that with the progress in science and technology, we have been able to increasingly customize or personalize the treatment needed for everyone’s cancer,” Callister said.

Advancements in technology have allowed doctors to use a combina-

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Dr. Matt Callistor, senior physician executive Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, established that renown cancer hospital in Gilbert. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

CANCER

tion of surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatments in a “more refined way that matches the abnormality that’s causing cancer to develop or to progress in a patient,” Callister said.

“Increasingly, things have become much more complex, based on a lot more information and a lot more tools that are available,” he said.

Callister now focuses on administering and leading cancer programs.

“I am an avid supporter of getting our docs the resources to open clinical trials, do research and become experts in their field,” Callister said.

Since returning to his current role, Callister said the teamwork he experienced in China is one of the things he will carry forward in his own career at Banner MD Anderson in Gilbert, convinced that “despite the difference in language, differences in culture, differences in the world that we live, good things can be accomplished anywhere when people cooperate.”

Hanging out one day at the Great Wall of China were Dr. Matt Callister (far right) and some of his family: LeGrand, Autumn, Grace, wife Laura and Josh. (Courtesy of Dr. Matt Callister)

BY MINDY JONES GSN Columnist

he anticipation in the air is palpable when it comes to the real estate market but not for the reasons you might think.

With nearly 12% fewer available homes than just a month ago, the active listing count has dipped down closer to 18,000 and the Valley has returned to a balanced market.

Sitting in a buyers market for less than 30 days has left many industry professionals questioning if we’ll have enough houses for those wanting to move in and

around the Valley in the new year.

TThe decrease in available homes has been met with nearly the same num ber of pending contracts as we saw last month, representing a slight increase in demand as posted interest rates fell and new listings nearly halted.

Days inventory has dropped, builders are slowing production and institutional buyers, who are doing more selling than buying these days, have their lowest market share since July 2020. This recent shift has created a noticeable increase in showings and offers on inventory previously accumulating days on market.

Consumers are having a hard time delineating between the size of the market

and the opportunity that the market brings – and for good reason.

Coming off of two years of explosive growth in the industry which translated into a 30% increase in housing prices, consumers associate the pace of the market with the size of the opportunity, two metrics which don’t always align.

The million-dollar question as we prepare for the ball to drop is which number will pick up speed faster in the new year – the number of buyers or the number of sellers.

Despite continued concerns over low demand and extreme interest rate sensitivity, the benefits of the current market have rapidly crystalized over the last few weeks.

Low inventory has insulated pricing increases that we could not have sustained. Low demand has provided entrance points for buyers who have been pushed out of the market. Low competition has allowed for the resolution of challenges around interest rates with seller contributions. And a slower pace has given greater time for strategic decision mak ing for both buyers and sellers making what we know is a massive life decision.

The key challenges that we see in the current market impact some but not all consumers - investors who bought

homes in 2022 and are looking to turn them for a profit may be challenged by the timing of the market and having leveraged hard money loans feel limited in their options to rent until values return to their 2022 purchase price.

Families in transition that are dependent on a fast sale in order to move forward with a purchase may have to adjust their price expectations to move forward and if given the option, may not have chosen to sell in a buyer’s or even balanced market.

Even rental prices have returned to their 2021 prices – which, while significantly higher than the year prior, are down for 2022 meaning that expectations of short-term rapid escalation have been crushed for investors who were relying on immediate cash flow.

For the majority of the marketplace, however, the current market conditions represent significant opportunity for both buyers and sellers.

Gilbert has made significant gains on the road back to balance with nearly a month’s less supply than we had going into November.

volume of sales has increased after falling dramatically over the last year and there are no signs that these new trends will reverse in the coming year.

While some wait for proof that it’s okay to buy and sell in a market with such a different pace than we’ve gotten used to over the last two years, others are finding the current market to be more accessible than it has been and anticipate they’ll be thankful they signed their closing papers before 2023, when many are anticipating the battle between increased demand and decreased availability will bring the return of price appreciation and compe-

tition.

There are benefits to every real estate market but the sense of urgency has definitely returned as we close out 2022 in a much different place than many anticipated as we rang in the new year just a year ago.

Mindy Jones, a Gilbert Realtor and owner of the Amy Jones Group brokered by EXP Realty, can be reached at 480-2503857, Mindy@AmyJonesGroup.com or AmyJonesGroup.com.

Cultivate Goodness is a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping with needs in our community. We invite members of our community to get involved and wrap arms around those that could use a lift. We believe if everyone puts in their piece, whatever the size, it adds up to be a mountain of good. Go

Former Waldo’s co-owner starts 2 BBQs in Gilbert

BY MELODY BIRKETT GSN Contributor

Clay Caldwell retired in 2013 after owning Waldo’s BBQ for 20 years but he discovered that he couldn’t leave the barbecue business behind.

“I sold Waldo’s BBQ to my partner and soon found out I had more time than money,” said Caldwell, now co-owner of Caldwell County BBQ and Caldwell County Mexi-Q, both in Gilbert, with his wife Susan and son and daughter-in-law, Spencer and Alisha Caldwell.

During several trips to Central Texas, Caldwell “stumbled across Aaron Franklin’s BBQ in downtown Austin” and not long afterward, Caldwell Country BBQ was born.

“My wife and I waited in line for three hours and got a hold of his brisket. I had a come-to-Jesus moment,” he recalled. “It was so outstanding. I said to my wife, ‘I can do this.’ I’ll have to make some changes to the way we thought about

BBQ at Waldo’s. We came home and started experimenting and built our own pit.”

He’s now using 1,000-gallon Texas pits, also called stick burners, with a fire on one end.

“We’re using no electricity and no propane but 100% wood for many hours,” explained Caldwell. “We lay down a very nice arc on the brisket and the pork butt. We’re slowing things down with the authenticity of a real fire for a long time.”

Located near Power and Warner roads, the restaurant is inside a house.

“We discovered this old house that was for rent,” said Caldwell. “It belonged to a machine shop next to where my restaurant is now. The gentleman said he’d throw in with me and I could do my BBQ there. Then he backed out. We were able to buy the acre it sits on. We completely gutted the old family home and refurbished it into a restaurant.”

Taylor Morrison donating homes for MD Anderson use

GSN NEWS STAFF

Taylor Morrison is building and donating an initial six fully furnished homes to the Banner Health Foundation for an eventual 16-home community in Gilbert to support Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Home Away from Home program.

The program provides housing assistance to patients who travel great distances for care at Banner MD Anderson, the Scottsdale homebuilder said in a release.

“Treatment is complex and emotional, but through our donation, we treasure the opportunity to flex our strengths as a homebuilder to build places of sanctuary for patients and their loved ones while

they navigate this challenging time in their lives,” said Taylor Morrison Chairman/CEO Sheryl Palmer.

“For Taylor Morrison to play a role in offering some relief and enabling patients to focus on healing is such a gift.”

The cost of extended lodging during cancer treatment is beyond reach for many patients and their families, Taylor Morrison noted, “especially those traveling far distances to receive care or whose treatment protocol requires weeks to months of daily therapy or close post-surgical monitoring.”

Taylor Morrison’s donated homes will be located on a parcel of land adjacent to the Banner Gateway Medical Center campus, which is home to Banner MD Anderson.

It will begin phase one next summer, with an estimated completion by summer 2024.

Last year, thousands of patients traveled more than 30 miles each way for care at Banner MD Anderson, and 330 came from outside of Arizona.

The new nearby housing will provide lodging for more than 60 patients annually.

The homes will feature floor plans from Taylor Morrison’s newly introduced build-to-rent brand Yardly, specializing in cottage-style, for-rent homes.

Floor plans will offer 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, laundry, and gathering room. Homes will also be pet-friendly, with private backyards and doggy doors.

“We are deeply grateful to Taylor Mor-

rison’s generosity because for many patients, having a place to stay without the financial burden is the difference between receiving care or not,” said Michael Herring, CEO at Banner Gateway Medical Center and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“Hope and healing can be found in something as simple as a safe and comfortable bed and a good night’s rest. With all the concerns and feelings going through a patient’s mind, a home nearby provides such relief and one less thing to worry about.”

With more than 1.5 million patient visits to the Gilbert campus and five extension clinics across the Valley, some 200

GilbertSunNews.com | @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews

Caldwell Country BBQ uses only wood in 1,000-gallon Texas pits, also called stick burners, to cook its meat. (Instagram)

The family-style restaurant features picnic tables outside with a John Deere tractor in front.

He said Waldo’s has a more pork emphasis.

“I was a pig farmer in my first life and brought pork down from the farm in Snowflake in 1993 when we started. I got worn-out with pork so I was glad to make the transition,” he said, noting that Central Texas BBQ is more beef oriented.

“We’re hitting the brisket pretty hard at Caldwell County BBQ,” said Caldwell. “The main thing that elevates it is we’re buying grades of prime brisket which is the best you can get rather than choice or select.”

Preparation includes a dry rub.

“It’s important to have a good dry rub but if you’re saucing the meat before you serve it, in BBQ circles, it’s a sign of failure – you’re trying to cover up mistakes.

“If you went to a high-end steakhouse and it came out with steak sauce all over the steak you’d think, ‘What the heck.’ The same with BBQ if it’s done right.”

Caldwell said the first time he inves-

tigated Texas BBQ restaurants over 20 years ago, several didn’t have BBQ sauce and one didn’t even offer forks. Everyone ate with their fingers.

But he said since then, there’s been more of a push to have a nice BBQ sauce to accompany the meat.

The menu is basic.

“It’s true to what you see in Central Texas,” explained Caldwell. “We don’t have many sides.”

Sides include lemon poppyseed coleslaw (it’s Caldwell wife’s recipe with citrus zest and lemon juice), corn casserole with green chiles, potato salad and pinto beans.

Meanwhile, Caldwell County Mexi-Q just north of downtown Gilbert puts a different spin on BBQ.

Again, the idea comes from Central Texas in what Caldwell calls a hybrid mixing of flavors.

“We call it Mexi-Q,” he said. “The new kids on the block are pushing the envelope on these old BBQ ideas.

“We’re taking our slow-cooked authentic brisket and we’re putting it in

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birrea tacos in a consommé,” Caldwell explained, adding he has a chef with great family recipes.

“We’re also putting the brisket on tostadas and we have what we call a Texas Twinkie or rather Mexi-Q Twinkie, which is a jalapeno wrapped in bacon with cream cheese in the middle. And we’ve got a burrito with pulled pork. It’s just great flavors.”

A third Caldwell County BBQ restaurant is being built next to the Queen Creek Botanical Gardens near Ellsworth and Riggs roads.

That 10,000-square-foot restaurant will feature a lot of picnic tables, ideal for people with kids. It could be another year

TAYLOR

from page 22

clinical trials underway, and a growing team of specialists across disciplines, Banner MD Anderson is poised to become Arizona’s leading clinical cancer research program and the vanguard of a revolution in cancer care.

Tax-deductible donations benefiting

before the restaurant opens.

“We’re going to apply the same high standards at Caldwell, keeping our staff cheerful and keeping the food up to standards,” said Caldwell. “BBQ is a little bit of an art so some days are tougher than others in serving the perfect brisket.”

IF YOU GO

Caldwell County BBQ 18324 E. Nunneley Road 480-892-0512, caldwellcountybbq.com.

Caldwell County Mexi-Q 546 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert 480-813-3727, ccmexiq.com.

the Home Away from Home fund can be made online at give.bannerhealth.com/ tm. From Feb. 6–12, at TPC Scottsdale, WM Phoenix Open attendees can also donate while visiting the Fairway House Presented by Taylor Morrison on the 12th hole.

It’s how we treat you better.

ALA Gilbert North captures 4A title

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Adam Damante knew a touchdown before the half to break the tie between American Leadership Academy – Gilbert North and Snowflake would swing the momentum in favor of the Eagles Friday night at Sun Devil Stadium.

So, the ALA Gilbert senior did what he does best. He rolled right, extending the play after facing pressure from Snowflake’s defensive line, and threw a strike to junior wide receiver Brandon Phelps for the touchdown.

ALA never relinquished the lead from that point on, as the Eagles went on to beat Snowflake 28-14 to capture the 4A state championship.

“Just a sigh of relief because it’s been a long time coming,” said ALA Gilbert

coach Randy Ricedorff, who last won a championship as the coach at Show Low. “It’s been a long time since we’ve held that gold ball up. It’s been a lot of work. But we are so blessed to be at a good place that gives us an opportunity to go do it and we are blessed with great kids. That’s the bottom line.”

Damante’s 8-yard pass to Phelps late in the second quarter was the second touchdown between the two. The duo had become one of the best tandems in the state, regardless of conference.

The first connection between the two went for a 17-yard score. The pass from Damante was high, but Phelps went up, snagged it and got a foot in bounds for the score.

The touchdown from ALA was in response to Snowflake’s 6-yard rushing

Higley wins 5A championship over Cactus

BY JOE McHUGH GSN Staff Writer

Trailing 21-6 midway through the second quarter of the 5A championship game at Sun Devil Stadium last Friday night, Higley needed an answer.

Cactus’ defense was holding the Knights’ high-powered offense to minimal big plays, something they thrived off of all season. But finally, the spark came and never went away.

Higley went on to outscore Cactus 35-0 through the final two-and-a-half quarters to beat Cactus 41-21, securing the school’s first championship in history.

“It’s awesome to be the first to do anything, like this team has had a myriad of firsts,” Higley head coach Eddy Zubey

said. “So, to be able to be the first team, they’re always going to be remembered in the Higley lore to be able to be the first team to win at all, to do it all, so it’s awesome. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to accomplish and I’m just happy that I did.”

The gameplay itself appeared to be heading toward a back-and-forth affair early on as each team would have their moments to shine.

After surrendering an early touchdown to Higley quarterback Jamar Malone, Cactus rallied back and vaulted into the lead. This came off a 51-yard sprint from running back Damian Jiles and pick-six from two-way sophomore Nikko Boncore-Montoya. Senior leader Will Galvan

GilbertSunNews.com @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews Check us out and like Gilbert Sun News on Facebook and follow @GilbertSunNews on Twitter

ALA Gilbert North senior quarterback Adam Damante evades a tackle by Snowflake senior defensive lineman Bryce White in the AIA 4A Conference football state championship game, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Higley sophomore quarterback Jamar Malone II holds their trophy as the Knights celebrate defeating Cactus 41-21, in the AIA 5A Conference football state championship game, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Highland beats Pinnacle for second straight 6A championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Highland coaches made it their mission to refocus their players and get back to their brand of football Saturday when they faced a 2614 deficit to Pinnacle in the 6A Conference championship game.

The Hawks still had plenty of time, about 8 minutes total on the clock. They just had to find a way to get their offense going after it had become stagnant throughout most of the second half.

Junior running back Eli Kerby was the answer.

Kerby took a handoff from quarterback Kalen Fisher and outran the defense for a 66-yard touchdown. It was the start of Highland’s rally that ended with the Hawks beating Pinnacle 37-26 to win their second straight 6A championship.

“The great part about our coaching staff is nobody panics,” Highland coach Brock Farrel said. “Pinnacle did a great job and if you start losing your mind on the kids they don’t execute. Almost like going back to your first love, dance with who brought you there and find a way to finish.

“It feels great.”

Highland and Pinnacle traded blows in the first half before the Pioneers took over all momentum.

Kody Cullimore was the first to find the end zone for the Hawks on a 1-yard rush. Chance Cauthen then scored from 8 yards out in response to a 55-yard touchdown from Pinnacle quarterback Wyatt Horton to tight end Duce Robinson. Horton then connected with wideout Myles Libman on passes of 51, 23 and 7 yards.

Then, Kerby took off for the touchdown.

“I knew it would work because on film they jump to the jet sweep,” Kerby said.

“I knew all I had to do was outrun the safety. If I got caught, that would’ve been embarrassing. I’m just glad I was able to spark our team again, add a little momentum and hype to our sideline.”

Highland’s defense, the strength of the team all season, began to flex its muscle after it was pushed back on its heels by Pinnacle’s air attack. The Highland secondary started to lockdown Pinnacle’s wideouts, and the defensive line started to get pressure on Horton.

After scoring on four of their first seven drives, Pinnacle punted and threw three straight interceptions to end the game. The second came after Fisher connected with Joseph Walter to give Highland the lead.

Horton’s pass to Robinson went over his head and into the hands of Highland defensive back Cole Crandall who returned it 62 yards for a touchdown to officially put the game out of reach.

He added one more interception at the end of the game.

“I knew that was it, that was game,” Crandall said before explaining what he saw on the play. “I saw Duce, amazing receiver, go on a slant. It was overthrown barely, hit his fingertips and went right into me. Started running, got some amazing blocks and took it to the house.”

This year’s Highland team differs from the two that advanced to the 6A state title in the past.

The previous two teams had an identity on offense with quarterback Gage Dayley leading the way. Dayley, who graduated in 2022, now is an assistant coach in the box for the Hawks.

Replacing him was difficult. Joseph Walter got the nod, but the offense struggled. Fisher, a transfer from Hamilton, was given the go-ahead despite his

touchdown from Jett McCray. The Lobos offense had some momentum early, but ALA’s defense hunkered down and shut down Snowflake’s potent rushing attack.

“Sometimes it looked really easy for them, then other times I don’t know what the difference was, but we got different results,” Ricedorff said. “They’re just resilient. They’ve gotten better all year, we’ve gone through a ton of adversity where a ton of guys have contributed at different times. It’s just great we got the right guys in the right place when it mattered most.”

The momentum from the touchdown from Damante to Phelps in the second quarter carried over. Damante connected with wideout Tyton Slade late in the

third to give ALA a two-score lead. In the fourth, Slade rushed in another touchdown from 4 yards out on an end-around.

Damante, an NAU commit, found himself as one of the lead blockers on Slade’s touchdown. Something he said was willing to do for his team.

“I’m a little blocker here and there,” said Damante, who was 31-of-43 for 252 yards and three touchdowns. “You’ve gotta do it for your brothers, and it’s a brotherhood around here. If you want to win this game you’ve gotta do a little extra … it’s my last game in high school so I’ve gotta keep going.

“Finally, finally we got it. My senior year, we got it.”

ALA senior defensive end Casey Steka-

tee entered the game to take the final snap in victory formation. The moment was special for ALA, as Stekatee was lost to a season ending knee injury the first week of the season.

The win for ALA came with a new 4A record for Phelps, who broke the conference record for most touchdowns in a season. Previously at 27, he now holds it at 28.

“I just do it for my teammates,” said Phelps, who was double covered most of the game and finished with seven catches for 33 yards and the two touchdowns. “I’m nothing without them. I’m nothing without Adam throwing me the ball. I’m nothing without the line blocking for Adam.”

From the hard work and dedication each player and coach had for the program to be successful to the overall chemistry of the team, it all had to come together for ALA to emerge with the state championship trophy.

It was even more special they were able to share it with junior Travis Finch, who spent the last six days in the hospital battling cancer but managed to join his team on the sideline at Sun Devil Stadium.

“He’s truly fighting for his life,” Ricedorff said. “He just wants to be a part of something. As we go through life and we face challenges, we gotta know that we are never alone.”

Highland senior safety Cole Crandall runs the ball back after an interception in the AIA 6A Conference football state championship game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Brock Purdy thrives, beats Tom Brady in first career start

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

There isn’t a moment that ever seems too big for Brock Purdy. When he was at Perry, he calmly led the team to the semifinals and a state championship appearance. When offers from schools didn’t surface most of his career, he stayed patient.

At Iowa State when he was thrust into action, he calmly played his best and never relinquished the job again. This past Sunday, he showed again the type of special player he is, beating the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers 35-7, accounting for three total touchdowns in the process.

“I’m just excited that we won,” Purdy said. “Just to do what it takes to win — defense played great, offense did their thing. To come out and win in a crucial part of the season, especially going into a Thursday night game coming up, it’s very exciting.”

It was the second win Purdy managed to get under center for the 49ers, and

the first one in which he was the starter throughout.

He was called into action a week prior when starter Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a foot injury that will likely sideline him until late in the postseason or for the remainder of the year. And

with Trey Lance lost to a season-ending knee injury, the 49ers quickly became Purdy’s team.

After beating the Buccaneers, Purdy met Brady at midfield.

“It was surreal just standing there like, man, that’s Tom Brady talking to guys

and dapping guys up,” Purdy said. “For him to have respect for what I did, it was pretty cool.”

Purdy completed 16-of-21 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns and ran in another in the win. It was one of the best rookie debuts in NFL history, and it came after he was drafted with the final pick in last year’s draft, which is dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant” by media.

But he’s irrelevant no more.

“Proud. Honored. Emotional,” Purdy’s father, Shawn, said. “It’s so new it doesn’t seem real. It’s like a dream, it’s like an out-of-body experience. That was a very emotional time.”

Purdy’s historic start sent shockwaves throughout the nation. But in Arizona, it came as no surprise.

Those who have followed Purdy’s career knew what he was capable of. Shawn said the support from Arizona has been overwhelming to them, but Brock has remained calm, cool and collected throughout. Shawn and Carrie were in

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Perry alum Brock Purdy made the most of an opportunity yet again as he led the San Francisco 49ers to a win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first-ever NFL start. (Terrell Lloyd/49ers.com)

punched in another score with just over five minutes left in the half.

The Knights composed themselves, halting a red-hot Cobra offense, and took advantage of the ensuing punt which gave them positive field position.

Malone and his tail back Daxen Hall marched the offense down the field with Hall getting the endzone nod. After yet another stop by the defense, Malone found receiver Kaden Milner for a 23yard touchdown. All of a sudden, the game was down to just one point, as the score was 21-20 Cactus leading into the half.

“We knew towards the beginning of the second quarter, we’re going to have to pick it up,” Malone said. “And to be honest, we just made a couple of simple errors. As soon as we fixed those, I felt like we were clicking.”

Clicking they were, as once the half turned, it was all Higley.

The Knights started the half with an 11-play touchdown drive, where Malone and Hall chunked the offense down the

field, yet again finished off by a 1-yard score. The Knights’ next turn with the ball went similarly, with Malone locating a wide-open Carter Hancock for a 33yard score.

The score would continue as such, despite many Cactus efforts to move the ball down the field.

The Cobras were eventually rattled towards the end of the game, gaining many unsportsmanlike penalties through the frustration. Galvan, the true senior leader, was the shining light to his teammates.

“I told them that we can’t lose like that,” Galvan said. “If they won fair and square, then I told them we have to lose fair and square.”

Malone walked in for a game sealing score late in the fourth quarter. The Knight’s 35 unanswered points to secure their lone state championship trophy is something the players will remember for their entire lives.

“It’s just awesome; Something you dream about,” Hancock said. “So just very happy about it.”

young age. Not only did the Hawks start to put up points, but a portion of those were also from Fisher to Walter, who began to flourish at wideout.

The change is something Farrel credits for the team’s success. Along with their defense, which he said will always be their strong suit.

And with a large majority of talent returning to Highland next season, the Hawks are on the brink of a dynasty.

“We kinda had to figure out our identity on offense,” Farrel said. “Struggled

through some wins and even some losses. It’s a different type of rewarding from this year to last year.

“Everybody says, ‘Where you gonna be next year?’ About the same. We don’t go away, ever. That’s just who we are.”

attendance for the game. It’s a trip they had planned for months to see Brady. But their focus quickly changed when their son was thrust into the starting role.

“The Arizona community has always been so good to Brock,” Shawn said. “Across the country there’s a lot of support as well. But your home state rallying behind you, it’s so touching and we’re so grateful. We don’t take it for granted, it’s so cool.”

Videos from Sunday showed Purdy greeting his parents in the tunnel as he and the rest of the 49ers walked out.

On several occasions Fox cameras panned to where the Purdys sat with other family, including younger brother and current Nebraska quarterback, Chubba.

Purdy met his family once more after the game. He said it was special to see his family staring down at him from the railing. They have supported him through all the ups and downs in his career.

“The emotions on their face,” Purdy said. “Just the way they looked down at me from up on the railing, it just means

a lot cause … just throughout my whole life, the ups and downs of playing quarterback in general — high school, college — they’re the people at home who believe in you and they always see the best in you.

“They’ve always been telling me, ‘You’re good enough, we know you can do it.’ So, to see them after that performance meant a lot to me.”

Purdy earned Player of the Game honors for his performance. Most importantly, he showed he has what it takes to be a quarterback in the NFL. As a result, fans at Levi’s Stadium broke out into a “Purdy” chant.

It was a surreal moment that solidified what became obvious throughout the game: The 49ers are Purdy’s for the immediate future.

“There might’ve been some chants,” Purdy said when asked if he had ever had that experience at Perry or Iowa State.

“But I think today, that was wild to hear the whole stadium saying it like that.”

Employment General

Safeway Inc. hiring

Data Engineer IV in Phoenix, AZ. May telecommute. Reports to Phoenix, AZ. Must have legal right to work in U.S. EOE. Subj. to backg. check.

Email resume to TA.Perm.Project @albertsons.com , Attn: S. Taylor.

Safeway Inc. hiring HRIS Manager III in Phoenix, AZ. Less than 15% trvl to domestic sites for off-site mtgs, confrncs, or training. Must have legal right to work in U.S. EOE. Subj. to backg. check.

Email resume to TA.Perm.Project@ albertsons.com Attn: R. Castaneda.

Employment General

IntraEdge has multiple openings for Sr. Programmer Analyst in Chandler, AZ. Reqs US Bachelor degree/foreign (3 or 4 yr degree) equiv in Commerce/BusAdm/STEM field.

Analyze/resolve/test/monitor/report on IT related projects using skills in HTML,CSS,C#,.Net,Unix,API. Email resume to jobs@intraedge.com w/ ref no 2023-21 directly on resume & ref ad in EVT

Employment General

HUMAC, Inc has openings for the following positions in Phoenix, AZ and/or client sites throughout the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. IT Engineer reqs US Masters/equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to design/dev/test systems/apps using Java/J2EE/HTML/CSS/Unix/Windows. IT Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) to test/maintain/monitor systems/programs using SQL/Oracle/Java/Hadoop/Unix. Send resume to jobs@humacinc.com with ref #2023-19 for IT Eng; 2023-21 for IT Analyst & ref this ad

Employment General

IntraEdge has multiple openings for Software Engineer (SE) positions in Chandler, AZ.

SE candidates req US Masters degree/foreign equiv or bachelors degree + 5 yrs exp, w/ skills in Java,J2EE,JSP,SQL,JavaScript,Oracle to analyze/dsgn/dev/implement/test systems & applics. Email resume to jobs@intraedge.com w/ ref no 2023-19 directly on resume/cover & ref ad in EVT

Employment General

Obituaries

Bank of the West seeks Sr Software Engineer I in T empe, AZ responsible for design, development , modification, testing, adaption, and/or implementation & post-implementation support of software solutions. Req’s Bachelor’s or foreign education equivalent in CS, Computer Eng or IT plus 7 years’ experie nce performing requirement gathering, designing , developing & maintaining enterprise data warehousing solutions for financial and/or other institutions. Submit resume to Lucia.LaPoint@bankofthewest.com & reference job code: SSE1GC

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE

The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinances at the January 9, 2023, City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street.

1. ANX22-01048 "Sossaman Road Right-ofWay De-Annexation" (District 6) Ordinance de-annexing public right-of-way to Maricopa County located within the 4200 to 4400 blocks of South Sossaman Road (1,2+ acres), subject to approval by the Maricopa County board of Supervisors. The de-annexation of public right-of-way is allowed pursuant to A.R.S. § 9-471.03. In 2021, 101+ acres of land were annexed into the City, including the determined that it needs an additional 32 feet of rightof-way in the area, specifically for Sossaman Road, This de-annexation is to accommodate Maricopa County's right-of-way requirements.

Dated at Mesa, Arizona, this 18th day of December 2022.

Holly Moseley, City Clerk

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Dec 18, 2022

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