COMMUNITY
“This isn’t yard waste: It’s tires, jet skis, furniture. They’re killing the wildlife. I’m no Mr. Green, but this is our environment.” RICH VITIELLO, PINAL COUNTY SUPERVISOR
Our dedicated administration and highly- qualified teachers provide excellent education in Maricopa, Arizona. Our teachers and students enjoy: • Full-day kindergarten • Small class sizes • Quality programs • Spanish, PE, and culinary classes
Legal dumper weighs in Homestead resident Andrew Harrison owns a Maricopa-based junk removal company. He’s gone to Hidden Valley to do cleanups. He’s frustrated by the growing mess and lack of affordable, legal disposal options. “It just makes me mad,” Harrison said. Harrison, who regularly documents dumpsites and posts cleanup videos online, recalled finding discarded Amazon boxes and even detailed medical records in one recent case. In another, a discarded hot tub came with a note from someone upset about the cost of legal disposal. “That was dumped about a mile from the landfill,” said Harrison. “People don’t realize how cheap the landfill is for a small load: $46 for up to a ton. That’s not bad,” he said. Bulk pickup services can start as low as $75, and platforms like Facebook Marketplace or estate sales can help items find new homes without going to waste. Pinal County Supervisor Rich Vitiello, who championed expanding cleanup days and recently helped on a clean-up day himself, echoed Davis’s frustration. “People are driving out of Maricopa to dump their garbage. It’s wrong,” he said. “This isn’t yard waste: it’s tires, jet skis, furniture. They’re killing the wildlife. I’m no Mr. Green, but this is our environment.” Larger fears loom It’s not just about trash filling the desert. The broader issue, residents say, is tied to the impending threat of rapid development. With plans for tens of thousands of new homes already approved in Hidden Valley, some fear the rural character of the area is under siege. “We’re fighting for our lives,” said Davis,
referencing opposition to discussed dense housing. “We want to show the county we take pride in our community. We’re not country bumpkins you can push around.” Although Hidden Valley is not incorporated into the city, development is spreading that way. Much of Hidden Valley will eventually be annexed into the city. Here’s a quick rundown of the developments that have recently broken ground: Palomino Ranch is a 634-home subdivision situated on 184 acres on the north side of Papago Road, between White and Amarillo Valley Roads. Sunset Canyon, a 1,519-home subdivision, was approved Dec. 5. It is one block south at the future intersection of State Route 347 and Val Vista Road. LGI Homes has started construction on Verida, a 544-home first phase of a subdivision spanning 158 acres at the southeast corner of Papago and Green Roads. Meanwhile, two phases of Ashton Woods’s Amarillo Creek are mostly built out. More subdivisions will follow. Although none of these are part of Maricopa today, new homeowners sign what is called a pre-annexation agreement, first approved by Maricopa City Council in 2022. All these communities will be annexed into the city once a planned fire station is built near Papago Road and John Wayne Parkway. Construction starts once enough cash is raised from the South Maricopa Fire Association. Amarillo Creek homeowners have been paying into the fund since 2023. For now, public shaming’s the best tool When first contacted by phone for this interview, Davis didn’t answer. After listening to a voicemail message from reporters, she returned the call.
“I had to make sure you weren’t a developer first,” she said. “We’re getting so many calls and mail [from developers] asking to buy our homes. You wouldn’t believe it.” Residents like Davis, along with allies such as James Cochran and Austin Nelson, are wary of new developments, which would step on their rural way of life. When asked for examples of those eager to develop areas of Hidden Valley, Davis named the former Maricopa mayor and current Economic Growth Officer Christian Price, whom she said advocates for development in her neighborhood. When asked about those comments and future southward expansion, Price balked. “While Hidden Valley is in our overall land use plan and part of our general plan and someday COULD be part of Maricopa, presently they are in the county,” said Price via email. Davis recognizes the expansion is coming. She says she is pushing for smarter, more balanced growth. She wants to see a community meeting hall with enough space for local rodeo events and expanded recreational infrastructure under the county’s Open Trails initiative. “We’re not against growth,” said Vitiello, the county supervisor who lives in Cobblestone Farms, “but we need smart growth that respects the land and lifestyle out here.” While some cleanup efforts have led to swift county responses, including the removal of septic waste and tire piles, others rely on community vigilance, word of mouth and public pressure. “If we can find a name or address, we can at least publicly shame them,” Davis said. “Just stop. Enough is enough.”
As the Mobile Elementary District Superintendent, I’m proud of the great people and the excellent education we provide.We work hard to offer the guidance and support our children need to succeed.
Teri Romero-Dominguez M.Ed. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
Bus service in the city of Maricopa and Hidden Valley
42798 S. 99th Ave • (520) 900-2325 • MobileESD.org
InMaricopa.com | May 2025
May 2025 | InMaricopa.com
42
43
Powered by FlippingBook