Public Statement by Councilwoman Debra Stark Regarding ST. JOE'S REZONE COMPROMISE.
"Councilwoman Stark supports a St. Joseph's senior living facility compromise that could accommodate a one-story with fewer beds and potentially a PUD rezoning. She mentions that stakeholders may wish to view the newer senior facility, Shadow Mountain Memory Care* in Council District 3, which is one story, 72 beds and PUD ** zoned for possible insights."
*Shadow Mountain Memory Care, built in 2021, is located down the street from our neighborhood at 10030 N. 32nd St. More information click here.
** A PUD denotes Planned Urban Development. Shadow Mountain is zoned PUD and St. Joes could likely utilize PUD zoning to accommodate one story and 60 bed facility.
We have a new neighborhood video supporting the compromise. Click image below to view video
Click Here NOW -SIGN the Petition and support the compromise. We are nearing 800 signatures but want over 1,000!
"The obligation to ‘love our neighbor’ has an individual dimension, but it also requires a broader social commitment to the common good.”
click here...FROM CATHOLIC BISHOPS LETTER ON SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT GUIDELINES
Who we are and who we are not
1. Are we opposed to senior living care?
Absolutely not! We welcome senior living options that meet the Church's revenue goals, the needs of St. Joseph senior community as well as the well-being of the surrounding residential community - for today and for generations to come.
THERE IS MIDDLE GROUND: Our neighborhood is now zoned for up to 2.5 to 3 dwelling units per acre (i.e. 3 homes per acre) and the proposal is for up to 17 dwelling units per acre (i.e. 17 apartments per acre or high density).
THAT IS 500 % Increase in density !
WE SPECIFICALLY OPPOSE the HIGH DENSITY R-3 Zoning - compromise exists
COMPROMISE: We have neighborhood support for a one story, 60 beds and incorporating the facility INTO the community with walking paths, community gardens and large shade tree canopies to encourage neighborhood intergenerational interaction and meet the Phoenix shade goal of 25% by 2030.
These one story, medium-size, for-profit assisted living and memory care FACILITIES EXIST IN PHOENIX and throughout the state! YES THEY DO!!
WHAT WE DO NOT WANT IS AN 8 FOOT WALL AROUND THE PROPERTY THAT THE DEVELOPER IS PROPOSING.
The Church has been firmly opposed to decreasing the SIZE AND DENSITY of the facility citing, "we have to have two stories and130 beds to achieve economies of scale. This has to be market driven."
As Catholics and other practicing faiths, we know sustainable development cannot be primarily market driven as we are learning these hard lessons now in terms of our warming planet.
This will be a 99 year lease for the Church, they will not build, own or manage it (who else envisions unforeseen land mines here? St. Joes has NO experience in overseeing 130 vulnerable elderly on their property or stewarding for-profit corporations in keeping with the Church's mandated Moral Code).
WE WANT TO LEND OUR CONSIDERABLE EXPERTISES! WE ARE ONE COMMUNITY STRONGER AND WISER TOGETHER!
2. Are we opposed to Catholics?
No, many of us opposing are practicing Catholics who believe that compromise is the key. Click here to hear what St. Joe's parishioners say who also say NO to the rezone..
Channel 3 TV Coverage OF FEB 13 REZONING MEETING!
CLICK PHOTO BELOW TO SEE TV COVERAGE!
click the link here for more information on what happens when private equity firms run senior homes.
RISKS TO NEIGHBORS AND NO BENEFIT: There are significant DATA-SUPPORTED health and safety risks to our community including:
- Strain on severely under-resourced Phoenix Fire First Responders putting surrounding neighbors at significant risk,
- Influx of 24/7 rotating shifts of hundreds of trades and workers weekly NOT from our neighborhood,
- Decreased Property Values by 10% or more. See Data, University of Georgia Study.
- Significant noise and light pollution - 114 industrial air conditioning units running continually.
- Higher crime with this influx of outside workers as we experienced during the Church rebuild. Dumpsters and commercial property apt to attract transient populations,
- Increase in traffic on smaller residential streets used by bikers, children and pedestrians.
- Risk for our elderly. University of Chicago study showing senior care centers run by private equity firms have a 10 % higher mortality rate.
Once rezoned, developers won't need our input for future development or repurposing of the facility.
CLICK HERE: NEIGHBORHOOD RISKS AND CONCERNS
This rezone opposition has nothing to do with religion as some of us opposing are Catholics.
Few if any will be able to afford the $60,000-$110,000 annual price tag not covered by insurance.
What happens when their limited savings run out? Remember - FOR- PROFIT PRIVATE EQUITY WILL RUN THIS.
And private equity running a care facility has dismal health and safety outcomes Click here for study. Dreams can suddenly become living nightmares.
St. Matthew 22:37-40, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
MEETING POSTPONED CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS.
DO THIS TO STOP THE REZONE
1. Sign the Petition Above, ATTEND THE MEETING ALL MEETINGS!
2. IMPORTANT IMPORTANT!!!!!!
Cut and Paste Email Below
CLICK HERE: SAMPLE EMAIL TO CUT AND PASTE
EMAIL: sarah.stockham@phoenix.gov and council.district.3@phoenix.gov
***************************************
Click here for FULL FEB 13th MEETING FULL VIDEO HERE
**************************************************
THE FACTS
In this STRICTLY FOR-PROFIT venture, here are the players.
The Church will lease the land (while also engaging in profit sharing) and potential for-profit partners include:
1. Cushman Wakefield (assets of $9.4 Billion)
2. Cogir/Cadence Living (Montreal based, assets $3.2 Billion)
3. Shea Connelly Development
4. Potential Asian Investor, Button Capital/Button Invest, with offices in Shanghai, China 上海 .
----------------------------------------------------
SPREADING THE WORD SO THE CHURCH WILL LISTEN AND MEET IN THE MIDDLE!
WE ARE SPREADING THE WORD - Nearly 7,000 VISTORS AND over 11,000 page views TO THIS WEBSITE! AWESOME COMMUNITY ACTIVISM! (NOTE: Developer only sent out notice letters to 183 homes as required by law!
Neighbors will be at INCREASED RISK if this facility exists. Why?
-
-Over 86 % of Phoenix Fire 911 calls are medical related and high users of first responders are assisted living facilities where average age is over 85 years old and high medical needs .
-Phoenix Fire has received national news coverage about their staggeringly high response times - over NINE MINUTES which is nearly twice the national average of 5 minutes- and DEEMED "CRISIS" by United Phoenix Fire Fighters. -
-A dangerous mix of severely strained resources of first responders and a concentrated population of elderly with chronic medical conditions spells disaster for rest of neighborhood when real emergency hits!
-
-We are at increased danger if this facility exists given depleted emergency infrastructure that cannot support it.
Click here for FIRST RESPONDER CRISIS information.
MEETINGS UPDATES:
WE HAVE ASKED THE DEVELOPER AND CHURCH TO REPLY TO OUR 11-Page DOCUMENT OF CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. BOTH DEVELOPER AND THE CHURCH HAVE FLATLY REFUSED.
TO BE CLEAR, BEYOND SOME SUPERFICIAL "CHANGES," including adding pavers and cool coating on hardscape, the DEVELOPER WILL NOT DECREASE THE MASSIVE SIZE OF THIS BUILD CITING BY DECREASING THE SIZE HE COULD NOT "CASH FLOW IT" AND THEY WOULD NOT ACHIEVE "ECONOMIES OF SCALE".
How can I get involved? THANKS! We are entirely volunteer led, and need all hands on deck.
Here's how you can help!
1. ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING. We will inform you.
2. SIGN this form to make your voice heard.
3. ALSO IMPORTANT TO EMAIL the City. CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE EMAIL
Adrian Zambrano (Village Planner) adrian.zambrano@phoenix.gov
Debra Stark council.district.3@phoenix.gov
What has happened so far? The rezoning process is multi-step, we are at Step 8 of 13. First meeting on September 28 was very well attended with 80 people and residents voiced unanimous opposition against the rezone.
What's Next?
- Step 1: Applicant Due Diligence
- Step 2: Rezoning Pre-Application Meeting
- Step 3: Submitting Rezoning/Special Permit Application
- Step 4: Notifying and Sending First Neighborhood Notification Letter
- Step 5: City Review of Application
- Step 6: Neighborhood Meeting
- Step 7: Rezoning Post-Application Meeting
- Step 8: Notifying and Sending Second Neighborhood Notification Letter
- Step 9: Posting Sign on Property
- Step 10: Citizen Participation Report
- Step 11: Village Planning Committee (VPC) Meeting APRIL 10th MEETIJNG IS POSTPONED. CHECK BACK. THIS IS A CRUCIAL MEETING TO ATTEND.
- Step 12: Planning Commission (PC) Action - Public Hearing
- Step 13: City Council (CC) Action - Public Hearing
Visit the FILES tab for entire rezoning guide from the City of Phoenix.
IMPORTANT DATES:
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT AS MANY NEIGHBORS AS POSSIBLE ATTEND THE NEXT VPC, PC AND CC MEETINGS.
GET THE WORD OUT! HAND OUT FLYERS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD (let us know if you want flyers and we can drop them off!). Email the City and City Council and VOLUNTEER WITH US!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONTACT US
EMAIL SayNoRezone@gmail.com to request regular updates and to get involved
CITY LIAISON: sarah.stockham@phoenix.gov