AZ ACT lights up the stage P. 26
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Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Industrial mega-site stirs hazmat, traffic worries BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
A BUSINESS .....
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City touts huge job impact of South Mountain Freeway.
REAL ESTATE.... RE5 Phoenix ponders 7 big zoning code changes.
GETOUT............. 44 Ahwatukee singer to perform at vaunted Phoenix jazz club. COMMUNITY ............................ 26 BUSINESS ................................ 33 OPINION ................................. 39 SPORTS ................................... 41 GETOUT ................................... 44 CLASSIFIEDS ........................... 49
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nearly 511,000-square-foot complex of three light industrial buildings along I-10 triggered renewed alarm about traffic and new concerns about potentially hazardous materials in manufacturing on the site during the developer’s presentation at a sparsely attended meeting of the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee April 24. Attorney Carolyn Oberholtzer made the pitch for a zoning change on behalf of Via West for its largely built complex on 50th Street near E. Thistle Landing Drive, just north of Chan-
dler Boulevard, on land the developer leased for 77 years from Kyrene School District. Although it was the VPC’s first in-person meeting since March 2020, when pandemic restrictions forced the panel to meet only virtually, only one citizen appeared to register concerns about traffic. And the panel lacked a quorum to conduct any official business since only seven of its 15 members showed up. Because zoning changes require a developer to go before the VPC twice anyway, panel members were able to let the presentation go forward. It was unclear when Via West will return for
a formal vote by the committee before the zoning request goes to the city Planning Commission and, eventually, City Council. Although Via West could return as soon as this month, Oberholtzer told the panel it might be June or July. Via West wants a minor General Plan amendment and related zoning change for the 28.6-acre site. Because the site is currently zoned Commerce Park/General Commerce Park, the developer wants a Planned Unit Development classification to expand the pool of potential
see CONVERGE page 16
Local 9-year-old leads big run against child cancer BY COTY MIRANDA AFN Contributor
A
9-year-old Ahwatukee girl with a rare bone cancer is leading an awareness run for a Chandler nonprofit that stands by families whose children are struck by the dreaded disease. Elilai Ramarui will hold the lead position in the Children’s Cancer Network’s 13th annual Run to Fight Children’s Cancer May 6 at Riverview Park in Mesa. The nonprofit chose Elilai as this year’s poster child for its work in assisting families with children stricken by cancer and to salute her bravery in her fight against the disease. Children’s Cancer Network was founded in 2004 by Patti and Stephen Luttrell as a result of what they experienced during their son Jeff’s extended cancer battle.
Having experienced many years treatments, relapses, new cancers – and tremendous expense – the Lutrells learned the hardships confronting families blindsided by childhood cancer. “When we started Children’s Cancer Network 20 years ago, we were determined to provide assistance to children at all stages of their cancer journey as well as their family members,” said Patti, who serves as CEO of the nonprofit while her husband is president. “We provide financial assistance, promote
see CANCER page 12 Elilai Ramarui, 9, of Ahwatukee, who suffers from a rare bone cancer, will lead the Children’s Cancer Network’s 13th annual Run to Fight Children’s Cancer on Saturday, May 6, at Riverview Park in Mesa. (Special to AFN)
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Bee Ready Kyrene kindergarten • kyrene.org/ kyrene.org/enroll