Red Mountain Ranch News & Events

In what appeared to be a record turnout, homeowner-neighbors of the Red Mountain Ranch community attended a meeting sponsored by Welker Development Resources regarding the rezoning of Parcel 7B.

The meeting was required by the City of Mesa Planning Division as part of the process to seek a zoning modification to the existing parcel which is currently zoned as a driving range.

Welker Development Resources has been hired by Shelby Futch, owner of the Red Mountain Ranch Country Club, to seek the rezoning change which will allow Futch to build out the driving range with 41 custom homes. No timeline has been set for such development but City Council approval would clear any hurdles for that occur.

Here is the beginning of a series of videos of the meeting which are all available on our YouTube account. (We do appologize for the jumpy quality of the video.)

Here is the latest email from Cannon Randall:

Ladies and Gentlemen of Red Mountain Ranch: 23 August 2009

Every resident of RMR will soon be in receipt of a letter from our RMR Owners Association Board. That letter reviews the RMRCC owner’s application to amend the Development Master Plan and rezone the open space, now included as the golf course driving range, for residential development. The letter also requests the comment and opinion of residents. More of our neighbors will now be better informed of this possible development. As this is discussed across your fences, or on morning walks, please strongly encourage your friends to write our Association at rmroa@msn.com, and voice their opposition. And, if you have not previously written our Association expressing opposition, please do so. You may also forward your letter to rmrdrivingrange@cox.net , and to our City Council Representative, Ms. Dina Higgins at councilmember.higgins@mesaaz.gov.

A Web site is now available for you to learn of new or developing information about this rezoning issue. Please go to: www.redmountainfirst.org. The Red Mountain First organization was successful in their effort to stop a commercial rezoning at the intersection of Recker and Thomas, and have made their web site available to us to pass along information to those who are in opposition to this rezoning proposal. We thank Red Mountain First for the use of their Web site.

The Planning and Zoning Board Hearing (16 September) and City Council Meeting (the middle of October) are the most important battles we face. We have inquired as to the possibility of a postponement to the City Council review of this rezoning issue. This, to accommodate the high number of “winter” residents of RMR, that they may voice their opposition in person, to our elected representatives, prior to any City Council deliberations beginning on this rezoning question. This has yet to be resolved.

OUR FIRST SKIRMISH….IT IS IMPORTANT: On Tuesday, the 25th of August,

6:30 pm at Red Mountain Elementary School, the developers will conduct a citizens meeting for residents. This meeting is required by City Government. Only one residents meeting has been scheduled. Please attend…..Remind your neighbors to attend…..voice your opinion…..get every answer you deserve. This is the FIRST STEP IN STOPPING this assault on individual homeowners and families; on our community; and on the open space and ambiance of our neighborhood, which for 25 years, all have enjoyed. Our District Representative on the City Council, Ms. Dina Higgins will be attending.

Our thanks to all who can attend the residents meeting; to all who have written letters to our Association; to all who have offered support; and to all who have volunteered.

Very sincerely,

Cannon Randall

In response to both homeowner requests and the letter issued by Welker Development Resources regarding Parcel 7B, the Board of Directors of the Red Mountain Ranch Owners Association has issued the following letter. According to the letter the directors have taken a “neutral position” as it continues to evaluate all option and make use of legal counsel.

Here is a copy of that letter.

Where the Driving Range Rezoning Stands Today

Ladies and Gentlemen of Red Mountain Ranch,

Our current e-mail list is almost exclusively country club members, totaling just over 700 addresses. In response to our 25 July letter to you, our HOA has received just less than 200 replies voicing opposition. If we are to move our HOA Board from its current “neutral” position, which is a requirement of the by-laws they must operate within, and advice of their legal counsel: We MUST achieve an opposing response from a majority of the homeowners that make up our community, about 850 opposing inputs will be required.(The HOA e-mail address: rmroa@msn.com) Yes, our HOA is an important piece of this effort, City Government gives serious consideration to the opinion they offer. However, this proposal can be defeated by your inputs to the City Planning and Zoning Hearing and/or The City Council as the process moves forward, even if our HOA Board is unable to offer an opposing position.

The RMRCC owner must count on a combination of resident apathy, absence, or our inability to communicate the potential downside impacts that may come with this development proposal to all residents. If the owner succeeds…..there will be 41 homes eventually built on the driving range. If he fails……and the integrity of our Community Development Master Plan (DMP) continues to protect this open space……the property will remain as it is; a community open space amenity: It will be a driving range, nothing more.

THE DOWN SIDE: The potential negative impacts of this development, to every individual and family who reside in RMR, are many and glaring:

1. The fact that 7% of community open space, an amenity in existence for 25 years, and now protected by the DMP….which the owner is also attempting to amend simultaneously with the rezoning request, will be lost forever.
2. The current views, green space, and the community atmosphere we now enjoy, will be replaced by 41 homes, and will be lost forever.
3. The driving range, an amenity of very significant value to golf members, will be lost forever.
4. The golf course is the centerpiece of our community, designed by a renowned architect, and has been a primary factor in the decision of many who have chosen RMR as a residence and place to enjoy that amenity. Will this significant degradation to the golf course leave our RMR community….as an 18 hole “Pay for Play” community, not at all unlike Painted Mountain? You decide.
5. The potential impact on property values: No one can quantify this, but with this many “real” negative impacts, in company with the assorted other “potentially” negative impacts, where do you think it will lead us? You decide.

What are the growing numbers of residents who oppose this abomination doing to stop it:

1. We are continuing our dialog with our HOA Board with the hope of expanding our ability to communicate with every resident in the community.
2. We are expanding our e-mail address list, and solicit your support in expanding it further, to assure that every household is aware of every potential downside risk this rezoning and amendment to our community DMP will bring.
3. We have gained the support of Red Mountain First, the citizens group that stopped the commercial development of property at Thomas and Recker.
4. We are developing a Website to enhance communications that will also allow residents to file petitions to City Government electronically.
5. We have asked City Planning Officials to require the owner to expand the official 1000’ notification requirement to include more of our community. (Amending the DMP will impact on every family in our community…..not just those adjacent to the proposed rezoning area.)
6. We have continued our dialog with City Planning officials and our HOA to assure that every restriction or covenant in the Community’s CC and R documents are strictly adhered to.

YOU CAN HELP STOP THIS:

1. Go to rmrdrivingrange@cox.net and volunteer to help.
2. If you haven’t written the HOA and expressed your opposition, DO IT NOW! (Even if we don’t reach the majority threshold necessary for our HOA to move to an “opposing position”, your letter will reach City Government, and be heard.)
3. Speak with your friends and neighbors; explain the negative consequences of this proposal, and especially that: THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE WINNER IF THIS DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE APPROVED, AND IT WILL CLEARLY NOT BE YOU, OR YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!
4. Relay the above e-mail addresses to those you know oppose this proposal, especially those residents who are not club members, so they may receive the same information you will be receiving.
5. ATTEND THE RESIDENTS MEETING: The Meeting is scheduled for 25 August, 6:30PM, at the RMR Elementary School Cafeteria. During this meeting the owner will tell us of his plans for the development of the 12+ acre block of our community open space. Ask questions, make your opinion known, and tell the owner that you want this proposal withdrawn now! DON’T MISS THIS MEETING, IT’S THE FIRST STEP.
6. Take 10 minutes next Saturday….knock on a couple of doors, spread the word…..we need your help if this is to be stopped.

We will continue to update everyone on our address list as this process continues. Circle these dates: Residents Meeting 25 August; Planning and Zoning Board Hearing 16 September; the City Council Hearing is as yet to be announced, but approximately 15 October.

BUT FIRST….CONTACT OUR HOA…..VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION

(The Associations e-mail address: rmroa@msn.com) 

Very sincerely
Cannon Randall
rmrdrivingrange@cox.net

In accordance with the City of Mesa Planning Division Department, Welker Development Resources has issued the following letter to homeowners who own property at or within 1,000 feet of the proposed development of Parcel 7B.

Click here to read the letter.