DC Ranch Net.com
July | August 2011 • Vol. 3, No. 7
Community Poll: How do you use the paths and trails?
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Ranch Association ready for statutes detailed in Planned Communities Act By Ranch News
Spotlight On: Best Practices Series
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Marketplace News
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Arts & Culture
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This year’s legislative session saw a lot of activity in a short amount of time and resulted in a number of changes both big and small to the Arizona Revised Statutes that govern community associations. Known as the Planned Communities Act, the laws go into effect July 19. One of the new laws pertains to participation in association meetings. “Residents can now attend any committee meeting and participate in discussions during board meetings. I think residents will feel more empowered and included in association business,” said Ranch Association Board President Shawn Seaton. Other laws pertain to flags being flown.
Around Scottsdale
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By City of Scottsdale
Ranch Association launches series to answer frequently-asked questions Recently-promoted preschool director studied at Northern Arizona University
Family & Healthy Lifestyles 6 Keep your knees healthy and find time to unlock body’s healing potential
MSC Spotlight
MSC’s Walk, Run & Roll to engage families in time-honored Tour de Scottsdale
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Education 9 Special back-to-school section prepares families for academic year
Phoenix Art Museum is first stop on U.S. tour of Mexican modern art collection
Citizens police academy accepting applications; Loop 101 undergoing sound-proofing
Community Connections DC Ranch family appreciates ‘legendary’ community spirit
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Philanthropy 17 Tour headlining brother duo knows philanthropy is ‘Key’
Around the Ranch
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Memorial Day Carnival, Summer Sizzle, and Daddy-Daughter Dance create collective memories
Featured Events Wednesday, July 13
Crime Prevention Meet & Greet Desert Camp Community Center 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15
Child Care Expo
The Homestead Community Center 5 p.m. See Events Pg. 13
Rubin & Schumin sky | Page 14
“The Board had recently enacted a flagpole policy allowing flags to be flown on a resident’s property with certain appearance restrictions; this new law allows us to decrease the height of the flagpole but also allows for up to two flags on a pole from a specific list of valid flags,” said Seaton. The new laws affecting signage allow residents to be more expressive and display political signage for a specific fixed amount of time around an election. Some of the laws address concerns that the Ranch Association had previously met. P lanne d Com m uni t i es Act | Page 18
“The Association had already implemented real estate signage changes and allows for any commercial sign to be used for sales, leasing or rentals within the resident’s property. These new laws are not difficult for the Association to implement and we hope they continue to strengthen the relationship between the DC Ranch Association and residents,” said Seaton.
Scottsdale’s Plan refines existing document Scottsdale’s 2011 General Plan Update proposes to retain the same land-use mix the community voted for ten years ago: 42 percent devoted to natural or developed open space and 47 percent for neighborhoods. Long Range Planning Manager Erin Perreault said that other communitydriven ideals defined in the 2001 General Plan also remain intact. They include the plan’s four dominant themes: Sonoran Desert, Resort Community, Arts and Culture, Health and Research as well as our guiding principles. “This is an update that refines and builds upon the existing plan,” Perreault explained. “It’s a plan that also focuses on the city as a whole, not on specific areas. The plan’s topics, such as open spaces, economics and neighborhood vitality, are specific, but the General Plan, in itself, is not. The General Plan provides guidance. It’s designed to be
Important Dates & Public Hearings
broad and flexible so it can adapt to a changing community.” Scottsdale has changed since voters ratified the 2001 General Plan. The early plan concentrated on growth. But now that the community is approaching build-out—the maximum develop-
Aug. 24 Remote Planning Commission: Review and discuss the Update— no action. Sept. 21 Planning Commission: Review and discuss the Update—forward the Commission’s recommendations to the City Council.
S cot t sdale ’s Pl an | Page 18
City of Scottsdale officials host meetings at which the General Plan is discussed. This fall the Planning Commission, which meets publicly, will review and discuss the General Plan Update and forward its recommendations to the City Council.
Photo: Courtesy City of Scottsdale
Get Connected
Oct. 25 City Council: Vote on whether to adopt the update General Plan. If Council decides not to adopt the updated plan, the 2001 existing General Plan will remain in effect. If adopted, the Update moves forward to voters. Spring 2012 – Election: Voters decide whether to ratify the Update. If it’s not ratified, the existing General Plan remains in effect until there is an affirmative vote on a new one.
Photo: Courtesy Ranch Association
In this Issue
A publication of the DC Ranch Community Council
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