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TheFoothillsFocus.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ................. 5
Desert Foothills Land Trust call for artists for annual exhibit
FEATURES ........ 22 Paradise Valley author hosts book signing in Desert Ridge
YOUTH ............. 28 Musical Theatre of Anthem presents ‘Seussical’
OPINION ................... 10 BUSINESS ................. 18 FEATURES ................ 22 YOUTH ...................... 28 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 29 Zone I
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Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix
Anthem Area Edition
26
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Anthem Skate Park gets a last-minute addition BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Wrier
T
he Anthem Skate Park is getting a last-minute $40,000 upgrade of a small security booth on-site, in addition to the large-scale expansion and renovation of the amenity. This addition was recently recommended by the Skate Park Committee after conversations about improving safety in the park, said Aaron Baker, Anthem Community Council executive director. “There’s been a lot of discussion re-
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A last-minute addition to the Anthem Skate Park is a small security booth to enforce rules at the park. (File photo)
T-Mobile tower squashed by Desert Hills residents BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer
D
esert Hills residents disputed a proposed 65-foot-tall T-Mobile tower near Desert Hills Drive in a highly requested meeting with Bill Gates, Board of Supervisors chairman, on Feb. 2. The tower, which would be located just southeast of Desert Hills Drive and Seventh Avenue, was proposed April 23, 2021. According to Maricopa County planner Sean Watkins, cell towers can be built in that area, but the proposed tower does not meet
two aspects of the zoning — maximum diameter of the antenna and distance from property lines. The applicant is requesting a special use permit to build the cell tower despite the criteria. Residents near the proposed tower said the permit should not be granted. Watkins said he has received comments against the tower from 107 parties, 71 of which were from those who signed the petition. Keith Paffrath, who organized the meeting with Gates and lives close to the tower, said there are several issues. Some of the main concerns brought up during the meet-
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ing were regarding general unsightliness, a decrease in property values, possible health risks and opening the door to allowing more cellphone towers in the future. Paffrath said the height was negotiated down from 80 feet to 65 feet and it was agreed to be painted brown to �it in more but, ultimately, residents won’t be pleased unless it is zero feet. “We don’t want any cell tower. I don’t care how tall it is, I don’t care what color it is. We have no interest in it at all,” said one of the
see
T-MOBILE page 8
