Burying the Power Lines
Friends played an important role in the passage of Scottsdale's first
successful improvement district. The district was formed to bury power lines
that APS planned to install across and along the Scenic Drive from Dixeletta to
Jomax.
Prior to the formation of the district, Friends suggested the approach of
having a large improvement district (in area) and have all residents in the
district be assessed the same amount. An earlier improvement district on Shea
Boulevard (Scottsdale's first scenic corridor) to bury 69kV power lines had
failed when residents in the district voted it down. In that effort, residents
who lived closer to the route of the lines were expected to pay more than those
who lived further away. Friends argued that having a viable Scenic Drive
benefited all residents in the district equally. Friends
conducted mailings to residents supporting the effort, made a presentation
before the city council, worked with the city on
its mailing to residents (for letters to Herb Drinkwater [Read
More] and supported the effort vocally and in writing, such
as the letter to the editors that appears below.
Letter to the Editor #1
Scottsdale Progress Tribune
March 27, 1996
PRESERVE & IMPROVE THE SCENIC DRIVE
The formation of the 69 kV / 12 kV Improvement District by the City of
Scottsdale is a forward-looking opportunity to improve a large part of our area
for tourists and residents alike.
Scenic areas do not become "ordinary" areas overnight.
They are diminished by solitary, insensitive acts -- a new power line installed,
an established setback ignored, a roadside desert plant needlessly destroyed,
and more. The history of the Cave Creek Road portion of the Desert Foothills
Scenic Drive is an example of this process. It is not too late for the Drive
along Scottsdale Road.
Thirty-three years ago the southern end of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive
was established just north of the sets of thick power lines that cross
Scottsdale Road between Pinnacle Peak and Jomax Roads. To this day, there are no
high tension power lines across the entire length of the Drive from it southern
end to Carefree Highway -- none!
Visitors travel the northern portion of Scottsdale Road on their way to the
Boulders, Heard Museum Annex , El Pedregal and Scottsdale resorts. Tourists
heading for Sedona and Grand Canyon pause along the Drive to take pictures. We
need to clean up the Drive, not clutter its route with 69 Kv power lines. We
enthusiastically support the Improvement District because it will 1) bury new
lines and 2) eliminate the unsightly poles on the west side of the Drive.
Preservation and enhancement in one bold stroke!
For the last eighteen months, area residents have worked hard to enhance of
the Scottsdale Road portion of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. We have
restored signs and plant sites, created new sites, enhanced the old monument
sign and created roadside "Scenic Drive" signs. We’ve designed and
developed plans for a Drive entry sign, a visitor exhibit and a ramada. And, we’ve
sponsored three litter pickup efforts along the Drive. The press, residents,
TerraVita, Centex Homes, Outback Steakhouse, Greater Pinnacle Peak Homeowners
Association, Scottsdale Tourism Development Commission and the Scottsdale City
Council have supported our efforts. The installation of 69 kV power lines
defeats what we are trying to accomplish.
We support the financial partnership of APS, U.S. West, the City of
Scottsdale and property owners. We believe that property owners will recap short
and long-term rewards from their investment in the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive
and a pole-free environment.
The Improvement District, which is widely supported by residents and property
owners, will enhance the entire area. Improving the Drive sets the tone of
future development. It is not cast in stone that the northern end of Scottsdale
Road will eventually look like portions of the road to the south. We need to
draw the line on the gradual destruction of our unique area by burying the power
lines across and along the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive.
What can be done? You should contact members of the Scottsdale City Council
before the May 6th "Objections" meeting and urge their support of the
Desert Foothills Scenic Drive and the Improvement District. Voting
"Yes" might not have been enough. The silent majority needs to speak
out.
Help the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive by volunteering your time or making a
donation. We cannot bring back the Drive as it existed in 1963, but we can
create an unique asset that connects the neighborhoods along Scottsdale Road and
showcases our flora, fauna and history.
Act now! History tells us that to delay is to diminish!
Sincerely,
Les Conklin
LETTER TO THE EDITOR #2
Sonoran News
April 1996
The letter to the editor section of the Sonoran News carried some comments
written by Bill Peterson regarding proposed 69kV/12kV Improvement District. Mr.
Peterson was responding to a letter of mine that appeared in your paper.
A few comments on Mr. Peterson’s letter are in order. I don’t know
anybody who "will pay almost anything" to have the lines buried.
However; as the direct mail queries conducted by the City of Scottsdale have
repeatedly demonstrated, there is a strong majority of property owners who are
willing to reinforce their words with their wallets. It’s reminiscent of a
previous effort.
Thirty-three years ago the residents of Cave Creek took action to prevent
motels and gas stations from encroaching on the most scenic parts of Scottsdale
and Cave Creek Roads. For the most part it worked. Today, the Scottsdale Road
secton of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive links neighborhoods from The
Boulders to Mac Donald’s Ranch without a neon light along the route.
There is only one Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. CityShape 2020 calls for
protection of setbacks for scenic vistas, the linking of neighborhoods, the
preservation of historic landmarks, and the active participation of
neighborhoods in zoning decisions. By working together to create an amenity that
adds value to the whole area, we can influence the tone of development along
Scottsdale Road. Burying power poles and lines is a huge step in the direction
of creating a "new look". Additional steps might include:
- Installation of stucco Drive entry signs at the northern and southern ends
of the Drive
- Use a distinctive color for light posts and light standards along the
Drive, similar to what has been done on Frank
Lloyd Wright Blvd.
- Minimize sign and litter pollution along the Drive
- Minimize commercial development along the Drive
- Create a small visitor exhibit and ramada
- Preserve plants and plant identification signs
- Create programs to educate the community about the history of the Drive
and the Desert Foothills area.
The Improvement District is about the direction of OUR collective property
values, and the development of OUR area.
History shows that its a losing battle to fight NIMBY wars one intersection
at a time. That’s why all property owners within the Improvement District must
support the Drive and Improvement District - even if the new 69 kV lines willl
not be in your "back yard". The Drive, which stretches from Jomax to
Carefree Highway, remains our best opportunity for preserving the character of a
large area.
In the 13 years we’ve lived here, development has moved "slowly"
up Scottsdale Road - bringing shopping centers, new neighbors and loss of desert
habitat ... growth rolling inexorably past Shea, Bell Road, Thunderbird, Cactus
to Pinnacle Peak Road. We’ve seen the rising tide of commercialism consume
large parts of Shea, Bell and Tatum. Will the intersections of Scottsdale Road
at Jomax, Dynamite, Dixiletta, Lone Mountain and Carefree Highway suffer the
same fate? We do not live in a national park and land is going to be sold and
developed. How will it be developed?
APS, existing laws and real estate demand have created a challenge. We can
follow the examples of residents of former beautiful areas and do nothing, save
some money, and live unhappily with the destruction of our environment. Or, we
can make the most of our local heritage, make a commitment, and create something
that differentiates and adds value. There are times when we have to invest our
money to make things happen for the public good. This is one of those times. Mr.
Peterson is correct in taking credit for helping to pick up litter along
Scottsdale Road. Now we need his help to eliminate the litter above it.
Les Conklin
Friends of the Scenic Drive
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