Town of Paradise Valley Independent Responses: June 16, 2016

*What do you believe to be the biggest threat to the quality of life in the Town of Paradise Valley? (Please explain your answer)

 I believe the biggest threat we face is the prospect of losing our community’s unique residential character. There are a few factors we must face that contribute to address threat:

• Public safety and protecting the well-being of our citizens

• Ensuring responsible resort development that is consistent with the character of the community

• Protecting our views and hillsides through rigorous enforcement of our hillside ordinances

• Ensuring fiscal responsibility and preventing a property tax from ever being enacted

If we can address these four issues in a responsible manner, we can ensure that the exceptional quality of life we’ve created in Paradise Valley continues for future generations. My experience as a Planning Commissioner, including working on the Hillside Code Quality of Life initiative, provides me with the experience and perspective to do just that.  

*As an elected leader, what steps would you take to resolve that issue?

Our Town government has done an exceptional job over the years of preserving what makes Paradise Valley special, but there’s still more work to be done. We must be diligent in ensuring that we provide our police and fire departments with the resources they need to keep us safe. We must make sure we hold developers accountable for creation of only the highest quality resort and residential development.

Specific to the hillsides, with nothing but the most challenging lots left to be developed, we must make sure we’re prepared to thoroughly understand the best way to engineer the sites, mitigate drainage and flooding challenges in the most effective way, minimize cutting into Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain.

And as a Town Council member, I and my colleagues must remain committed to our Town’s principles of fiscal responsibility and limited government, so that we ensure our town never requires a property tax increase. If we can accomplish all of these goals, we will ensure that Paradise Valley continues to enjoy the exceptional quality of life that makes it such a great place to live.