 Commercial Development in WV
by richard on 1/26/2009 1:30:53 PM
Message Commercial Development in WV was posted by richard, on 1/26/2009 1:30:53 PM. I would like to commend Scott Daravanis for his foresight in his article, “New highway would harm local businesses” appearing in the Dec. 20, 2008 Courier (http://prescottdailycourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=62662&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=73&S=41). He projects that when the new highway, east of Chino Valley with a bridge over the headwaters of the Verde River, is constructed, if ever, many local businesses would relocate to the new highway and abandon their current location. He suggests this would devastate the tri-cities area.
I would propose a far more likely, but similar, scary scenario looms in our future. The County is already buying right of way for converting Williamson Valley Road to a 5-lane expressway, similar to Pioneer Parkway, from Iron Springs Road to Outer Loop Road. Even in these troubled times, the County is moving forward to provide speedy access to enable ranchers north of Outer Loop Road to convert their ranches into subdivisions, with attendant new tax base.
Like Scott, I predict that, after the construction is completed, Williamson Valley Road will be lined with strip malls, gas stations, and numerous businesses. With existing homes perched next to this expressway, what will happen to citizen’s property values and the rural lifestyle that exists now in the Valley? It will disappear. No longer will you be able to cross the road with your horse or on foot.
Since at least 1995, in survey after survey, the majority of citizens of the Valley have said they oppose making Williamson Valley Road an expressway. In the Williamson Valley primary election precincts for District One Supervisor, citizens
voted two to one against the incumbent Supervisor. Why? That Supervisor is the one pushing for the expressway.
Like Scott’s vision for local businesses with the new highway, most of the citizens in the Valley know that their future also looks grim. Gone will be the reason they moved here in the first place. Any reasonable person knows the road needs improving and that there will be growth north of Prescott, but why destroy a community along the way? There are other ways to accommodate the growth. What is needed is for the County to hire an experienced highway planner to look at the overall transportation needs north of the City.
Wake up folks! Stop this madness.
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