2024 March InMaricopa Magazine - 20th Anniversary.

GOVERNMENT

Is economic growth the goal? You decide BY RICK HORST, CITY MANAGER Although today we live in a fractious political environment, there is one area of widespread agreement among people and groups across the political spectrum: Economic growth is good. However, economic growth implies growth.

BRIEF

Permits Jan. 8 to Feb. 9

33 RESIDENTIAL SOLAR 11 RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOLS 109 SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS Permits Issued

RESIDENTIAL D.R. Horton to construct 3 homes in Tortosa, 3 in Sorrento and 19 in The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado. K. Hovnanian Homes to construct 16 homes in Rancho Mirage. Beazer Homes Holdings to construct 2 homes in Rancho Mirage. Meritage Homes of Arizona to construct 30 homes in Rancho Mirage, 7 homes in Province and 4 homes in The Trails at Tortosa. Lennar Arizona to construct 10 homes in Anderson Farms. Richmond American Homes to construct 13 homes in The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado. Gehan Homes to construct 2 homes in The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado.

COMMERCIAL Shaun Ridge to construct a clubhouse for $689,000 and a pool house for $36,000 at Overland Apartments . JW Congregation Support to construct a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall east of Honeycutt and Gunsmoke Roads for $855,000. Stonegate BFC to construct Home Depot for $20.3 million. Hiro Investment a conditional use permit for a proposed stealth cell tower at The Duke at Rancho El Dorado . Shaun Ridge multiple permits for Waterman Senior Apartments and Overland Apartments .

C RITICS POINT TO THE PROBLEMS economic growth entails. Among the most popular negatives pushed by growth doubters are traffic and traffic congestion. So, who’s correct? The growth supporters or the growth doubters? Or is there a middle ground? Growth-supporters argue boosting the size of the economy is necessary in a city increasing in population and desiring a higher standard of living for its residents. With more people, more jobs are needed, additional products and services must be provided and consequently more spending will occur. While growth-doubters may acknowledge these benefits from faster economic growth, they say it isn’t enough when our roads are so congested.

We are qualified to improve our city incrementally. But we are not qualified to decide how many people should live in our city. Do we, the “collective,” know what the correct amount of development is for Maricopa? Let’s have the humility to admit we don’t — because we can’t know all the indirect consequences of not letting people live where they want to live, build where they want to build and open businesses where they want to open businesses. Growth will create needs and growth will fulfill those needs, whether it be for the individual, family, business or community.

Most within our community relate traffic congestion to State Route 347. This makes sense as nearly 80% of our population travels north to work each day. This is compounded by additional trips seeking medical and retail services. The answer is a two-pronged approach. Certainly, the continued work to improve SR 347 is one of them. And because of the work done to date, the Arizona Department of Transportation now lists SR 347 as a statewide top three objective. The second prong consists of creating fewer reasons for you to have to travel north. Economic growth will bring more jobs, more medical and other services, and more retail venues to our community. Creating jobs and lessening the demand for the long morning commute is a shared vision and one that can and is becoming a reality.

520-316-6811 Office of the City Manager 39700 W. Civic Center Plaza