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CO M M U N I T Y P. 20| A RO U N D A F P. 23 | O P I N I O N P. 27| B U S I N ESS P. 29 | G E TO U T P. 32 | S P O RTS P. 35 | C L A SS I F I E D P. 36
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Wednesday, March 18. 2020
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Chaos and cancellations in virus’ wake BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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PROF HONORED
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AWARD WINNER
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ears over the coronavirus struck virtually every facet of Ahwatukee with breathtaking speed last week as officials shuttered schools, residents stormed supermarkets, some churches canceled services and business owners and nonprofits worried about their immediate and long-term future. From Little League to pre-Primary Election campaigning, the impact was profound as some of the community’s premier events were
Libby Goff on Sunday helped man a sanitized petition drive by Save Our Schools to get a school funding measure on the November ballot. (Chris Mortenson/AFN Photographer)
HOA board sued over Club West course BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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PRIDE ON ICE
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see VIRUS page 4
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newly formed nonprofit filed suit Monday against the Club West Community Association board, asking Superior Court to nullify its revision of land-use regulations governing the golf course. The dramatic legal move by the Club West Conservancy – made up of several dozen Club West homeowners – came as four investors prepared to unveil a new plan at the board’s scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. tomorrow, March 19, to sell part of the course for homes. The investors, who call themselves The Edge Team, had been scheduled to close March 17 on their agreement to buy the course from owner Wilson Gee but abruptly asked for an
extension hours before the Conservancy filed its suit. Gee said the length of the extension still has to be worked out. Edge Team spokesman Matt Shearer did not respond to a request for comment. Club West HOA board President Mike Hinz also did not respond to an AFN question on whether he would still go through with the March 19 meeting, given concerns about the virus and warnings by the governor and Centers for Disease Control to avoid gatherings of more than 50 people. That meeting was canceled, a resident said. The Edge Team’s presentation at the board’s meeting in January drew at least 200 homeowners. Multiple sources said the Edge Team pre-
pared a plan that would involve the construction of a number of single and two-story homes but not nearly as many as the 164 that it said were needed to finance a shortened 18hole golf course, new clubhouse and 18-hole putting course. Opposition by a number of homeowners to that plan ultimately persuaded Taylor Morrison to pull out of its agreement with the investors to build the houses and it is unclear whether they have found a new homebuilder. This time around, the Edge Team has been reportedly working on a plan for around 50 to 60 houses with the remainder of the course turned into a preserve. The Conservancy’s lawsuit takes aim at the
see WEST page 4