Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
Double-click any word or phrase in the story to search this site.
June 26, 2008 - 10:26PM
Referendum sought on Gilbert mixed-use project
Chris Markham, Tribune
Gilbert residents are looking to overturn the Town Council's approval last month for a 65-acre mixed-use development planned near their 400-home neighborhood.
Karla and Chad Kreikamp launched a petition drive just three days after the council approved a zoning change and general plan amendment needed for the Roosevelt Square project to move forward.
 |
The Kreikamp group submitted 1,005 signatures to the town clerk on Thursday afternoon. They had until 5 p.m. today to submit at least 788 valid signatures, Town Clerk Cathy Templeton said.
Roosevelt Square, planned by Aspen Group at the southwest corner of Germann Road and Val Vista Drive, has raised the neighborhood's ire.
Residents supporting the referendum drive said the project, including plans for around 250 single-family homes, just doesn't fit with their low-density subdivision.
Nearly 60 residents from the Spectrum subdivision turned out at council meeting in late May to voice their opposition. The council narrowly approved the zoning change and general plan amendment in a 3-2 vote that night.
The two dissenters, Linda Abbott and Don Skousen, based their votes on the project's small lot sizes. Most residential lots are planned for around 3,000 square feet.
"It's the lot sizes we're most concerned about," said Karla Kreikamp, chairwoman of the political group formed to push a referendum.
The town clerk's office will review the signatures on the petitions before sending them to the Maricopa County Recorder for further review. If the petitions are deemed valid, the council then has to decide when to schedule an election.
Kreikamp said there's a core group of about 30 residents working on the referendum.
One of those, Todd Ness, said gathering the signatures was relatively easy. "We didn't have anybody really say no," he said.
News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: