Sure, I could share my feelings as to why voters of Kingman would defeat a measure that leaves our best land asset darn near worthless in real terms, but as we found out strict loyalty to a general plan won the day for some backward thinking reason.
So instead I'm going to share a recent election where a community made a decision to enter into a development agreement to provide costs for needed infrastructure in exchange for a repayment of those costs back to the developer over time.
Now I don't know all the details of the agreement that the city of Gilbert entered into, and I'm sure the 'devil' is in those details. And wouldn't you know, you won't have to look far to see that indeed the Devil was in the details... well the Devil incarnate to many folks in our local community and at least how they seem to think it appears.
Please keep in mind that in our own local elections last week, Satan himself was not on the ballot in any way shape or form. The fine voters of Kingman could not accept Satan into the community or cast him out... but at times the rhetoric that came from the Daily Miner, the good old boys, and RAID caused many to think differently.
Take a moment and read the publicity pamphlet that the city of Gilbert produced and pay attention to their Proposition 400.
Also notice that the proposition was passed by the voters 68.8% to 31.2%. You will also see a street bond improvement issue (worth $174 million dollars) was also approved by similar numbers. To me, the city of Gilbert voters have said they accept growth and are looking to grow further and were willing to do something more about it other than waiting a year or more as the solution.
For the last year or so since the talk about a certain developer wanting to bring to Kingman a new retail commercial center began, we have heard that the only thing the developer wants to do is screw Kingman into the ground. Yet at the same time we are seeing growing communities enter into agreements that voters believe will bring the community more benefits than liabilities.
In Kingman we are being told NOT to have talks with certain developers, yet already we are hearing from those same people that Kingman should pass public funding to improve and enhance property for other developers for a project that won't be complete for another 7 years. Hypocrisy anyone??
It appears that Gilbert was asking for better access routes and an easing of traffic snarls, and the developer offered to pay for that up front in return for repayment at a later time. The voters of Gilbert seem to think they are entering into a win-win situation.
Certain interests in Kingman will emphatically stand in the way of a similar solution being reached here locally.
These development agreements are happening all over the state, they are even happening in Mohave County. When will they benefit us here in Kingman??
Here is more information and opinions to share on the issues election in Gilbert...
Proposition 400
Likely mistaken for a sales-tax incentives package, the deal between Gilbert and Vestar Development Co. is anything but a developer giveaway, which could explain why the group that's challenging this deal has been virtually silent during the campaign.
The truth is, Gilbert would reimburse $9.7 million to Vestar for improving streets for Greer Towne Center, which is planned for the southwestern corner of Riggs and Higley roads. Allowing this deal to move forward would put much needed infrastructure in place far sooner than the town could do so and, given rising construction costs, at a far lower price.
Opponents argued that the council did not give the public ample time to comment before casting its vote. Now, the public has had more than enough time to realize that voting yes on Prop. 400 would be in the best financial interests of taxpayers.
Whoah.
Prop. 400 is a Win, Win, Win for Gilbert
Let me see if I have this right…Vestar, the developer of numerous quality projects in our communities, is going to spot the Town of Gilbert a $9.7 million loan to build out both sides of the streets surrounding its Greer Towne Center project at Higley and Riggs roads five years ahead of the town's schedule.
Gilbert will only have to repay the principal (no interest or carrying costs), repayment will be from revenue generated from the development itself, and the developer is willing to wait for 15 to 20 years for repayment of the principal. And - if the developer does not meet the agreed upon benchmarks - the loan is forgiven and the town does not have to repay the principle.
Where's the catch? There is no catch in this development agreement. Vestar just does not want future street construction to threaten the economic viability of its retail center and small businesses, and is willing to pay to avoid it. By bringing a mega-retail center into an underserved area of southern Gilbert two-years ahead of schedule, Vestar will save our taxpayers $5.4 million while generating well over $35 million in new sales taxes and other revenue for vital services in our growing town over the next several years.
There are no incentives or tax dollar giveaways in this development agreement; only a reimbursement for road improvement expenses the town was anticipating to incur years from now. This is a win, win, win for the citizens of Gilbert, the Town of Gilbert and the developer.
Hey now.
Wouldn't it be nice to bring this kind of mentality to little old Kingman??
I hope you all vote to do just that in the next election.
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