This blog has been created as a means to keep the Citizens of Buckeye informed. As a result of ever changing times, it is imperative that one stays informed on issue's which concern each and every tax payer within the town of Buckeye.
It is the intent of this blog to be a place which informs the citizens of Buckeye on important issue's only without bashing anyone.
We have been contacted by business owners who do business in town along Monroe about the Council approving yet another brilliant idea that will ultimately have a negative financial impact on these businesses. The Council approved with six Aye's and one Nay (Councilman Garza) to turn the downtown in to a East/West bound single lane road. In addition the road will be re-striped and paved.
The business owners of downtown are furious because the town did not have the common decency to even include them on the decision process. As usual it was full steam ahead without any concern for the businesses and how it make affect their everyday business.
Sources tell us that if the town does not reverse their decision, this could very well end up as a legal battle. I am sure if this would be the case the town would not fair very well since, they never contacted businesses to notify them of such nor allowed them to participate in any forums.
It is predicted the proposed changes to Monroe would be just like Western Ave. in Avondale which is now a ghost town or something like Fremont St. in Tombstone which has no businesses like Monroe.
We fully support the downtown businesses and will assist them in any way we can to insure their businesses will thrive not die!.
As a follow up to the previous from August 25, 2009 regarding the planned QT Truck Stop for Miller Rd. Below you will see a picture of the proposed plan to build out a 2nd motel (Best Western), Mexican Restaurant and the QT Truck Stop.Below is an up date:
All 6 council men and women have been contacted by e-mail and phone with the following reasonable request: "Hope that this e-mail finds you well and in good spirits as the summer is coming to and end pretty soon.The reason form y communication is to ask what your position is regarding the proposed "Quick Trip Truck Stop" that is being planned and submitted for approvals of the Town. Please see attached a copy of a draft of a traffic study by the developer. My questions for you are the following:
1. How will this project affect the communities on Miller Road?
2. How does this project fall in harmony with the work the We Are Buckeye People just completed? How does it fall in harmony with the 5 year strategic plan for the Town?
As a town representative we would like to know your opinion on this matter and would appreciate your response."
As of Saturday, September 5, 2009, Only one has responded the question, one other said he needed more time and all the rest have not been heard form.
The following is the current summary on the response form our Town representatives:
Brian McAchran, District 1- Responded!! Thank YOU!!!
To answer your questions, at this time, I have no position on the proposed “Quick Trip”. The project is being dealt with by town staff, which I have complete faith in. If, or when, the project is approved by town staff, the project will then be presented to the development board for its approval. During the presentation to the development board, there will be a public hearing for input of concerns, and the developer will be in attendance to answer questions/concerns about the project. If, or when, the project is approved by the development board, the project will be presented to the Buckeye Town Council. During this presentation, there will be another public hearing for input of concerns, and again, the developer will be in attendance to answer questions. At this time, with all the information in place, the council will approve, or disapprove of the project.
At this time, the project is in its infancy and it would not be prudent for me to form a position on the project prior to the final form being known.
With that said, my only position with this project, along with any other project on North Miller Road, is traffic issues. These are issues that Buckeye has been working on for some time and there are several solutions being realized.
Robert Garza, District 2 - No response (AWOL)
Elaine May, District 3 - Against! (Firm!) - "This is the time to call and complain against this project!"
David Hardesty, District 4 - No response (AWOL)
Robert Doster, District 5 - No Response (AWOL)
Dave Rioux, District 6 - No response (AWOL)
We thank Vice Mayor May! Thank you Brian McAchran! We Thank them for their availability and willingness to interact and discuss the concerns brought before them.
Thank you for serving the residents of the Town of Buckeye!
We will continue to wait and wait and wait for their responses but as you can see, we don't have a very responsive group of leaders. Our Towns "public servants" are out some where...hope they are doing OK!
Elections have consequences.
Do something!Get Involved!
Go to the Town's web site and fill out the community complaint form and let your voice be heard or call your council representative and let them know what you want!
Tell them in a very simple and clear way:
"We do not want another truck stop!!!!" Jorge Buckeye Citizen jfcfabb@gmail.com
A great shout out of gratitude goes to all the volunteers and participants who joined together to review the information that the We Are Buckeye group has been working on. Several of us here at Citizens For A Better Buckeye were educated by the type of questions, concerns and needs exist in the different districts. There much to be done and in the very near future we will dedicate a blog just to highlight the notes we took at the various district meetings we participated for your review.
The purpose of this blog is to echo the concerns of the residents of the various communities that are connected to the Miller Road artery. An anonymous resident sent us a letter of concern regarding the plans to build a second truck stop right next to the Love’s truck stop and gas station. (Click here) (Coming Soon).
As we look deeper into this situation the concern we now have increases daily.
We met with Buckeye Mayor, Jackie Meck on August 19, 2009 and he was not reserved about his disapproval for the idea of a second truck stop on Miller Road and the possibility of a second motel.
“If they do not plan for a three to four story motel then we will not approve it.”
“I inherited that pathetic mess and I am not going to make it worse.”
“We are going to ask them for many requirements and traffic studies that are very expensive before we approve it.”
We also met with Mr. Steve Cleveland, Town Manager, we asked him the same question but he stuck to the text book response;
“the Town is aware of the plans and they are under review.”
and would not comment on his position the project.
In a follow up e-mail we thanked the mayor by expressing our gratitude for "watching our backs on this" (the town manager was included), the mayor responded by mentioning the following:
"Thank you for the letter.
Staff is considering the traffic problem and how to solve it."
We immediately called the Director of Community Development (several times) which resulted in a voice-mail message. After my persistence, my number was deferred to the owner of the property. I have been in communications with Mr. Pat Mahoney. He has provided us with a draft copy of the traffic study for this project. Once I saw it. I was shocked and had to take 48 hours to collect my thoughts and calm my deep my frustration. If you want to view the Traffic Report be prepared to be upset
-----> (Click here ) (Coming Soon)
Mr. Pat Mahoney add the following statement:
"We feel very strongly that QT's use will have a very beneficial effect to the immediate residential and commercial area; not only due to the manner by which they will cause every other commercial user to "raise the bar" in terms of their level of service to their customers; but also because of the significant amount of street improvements that will serve to help mitigate the traffic problems already existing in this area today."
Please take a look at the proposed plans in the document provided by Mr. Mahoney. Do you believe that two way lanes with center dividers will make Miller Road safer than it already is with double the amount of trucks? This development is so much larger than just another truck stop. There are plans for another motel, a Mexican restaurant, some retail and the huge truck stop. APS employees have confirmed that there is a request to begin the electrical grid to start building the Motel. It is amazing but how do you get moving on a project with out the approval of the town? This project has activity in motion already and its picking up speed. We take issue with this development and planned businesses located on Miller Road.
Below are the issues we contend with the developer and the Town of Buckeye:
Issue # 1
Why on MIller Road? Why not Jack Rabbit Trail? Why not Sun Valley Parkway? Why not by the SR8 junction with the I-10? Why Miller Road where we already have a TRUCK STOP???? Does not make sense!!!
Issue #2
Traffic safety will not be guaranteed by the amount of traffic of truck this stop will generate. We do not need more truck traffic in this intersection.
Issue # 3
By allowing the proposed construction project to be approved and built, how much tax revenue will it bring in to make up the $200,000,000 deficit the town is in? By banking on this tax revenue, will other revenues be impacted in a negative way? Most probably yes!
Issue # 4
How does this development fall in line with the 5 year strategic plan the We Are Buckeye group is driving down our throats? Can the Town follow its own plan?
Issues # 5
How will this development affect the residential properties in the near by communities? Currently residential properties in along the Miller Road corridor are valued between $50,000 to 150,000. These homes have lost value between 60 to 70% of their original sales price. How will this truck stop help regain some property value for residents? Also consider a decrease in property value also affects the potential for tax property revenues. Property taxes also affect school revenue.
Issue #6
Truck stop crime will be more prevalent in our Town. Here is an example of what can become of our town:
Violent Crimes:
Here is sample of what we can see added to our rich culture!
What a great image we will have for everyone to see as they get off the freeway and drive down to the old town!!!
What can we do?
Plenty!!
Call, e-mail and write letters to the following people and let them know what you think about the impending development that will affect us all in a negative way!
