Agriptopia development ramps up PAGE 20
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS......................................
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furious
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GPS players ready to rumble
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rad Smith wants to put a neon rooftop sign reading “Gilbert” atop his threestory red brick building known as Bldg 313 in the Heritage District. “The desire to have a Gilbert sign just goes back to our love of historical small towns,” Smith recently told the town Planning Commission. “My wife serves on a board of historic theaters and we go tour those theaters mostly in small towns and they have beautiful signs outside.” Although that may be so, Planning Commissioners voted 5-2, to recommend Town Council not approve a text amendment to the land development code, allowing for up
to three rooftop signs in the historic downtown along Gilbert Road. Council will have final say on Oct. 17. Both the Redevelopment Commission and staff supported the proposal allowing for signs on top of buildings three stories and taller along Gilbert Road in downtown. A maximum of three rooftop signs no larger than 200-square-feet each, could be permitted in the Heritage District, one each in the north, central and south segments. “We believe this is the most appropriate area for rooftop signs due to the neon that is already existing and the existing Heritage District design guidelines that emphasize signs that are highly graphic in form, expressive and individualized to create a distinctive character and include exposed neon
Gilbert preschool probed over roaming toddlers
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Sweet! Candytopia a sugar high
COMMUNITY...................... 14 BUSINESS............................ 20 OPINION...............................23 SPORTS.................................24 GETOUT................................27 CLASSIFIED.........................32
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Gilbert preschool is under investigation by a state licensing agency after seven toddlers wandered off its campus last week and some were nearly hit by cars on a busy street. Passersby were able to corral and safely capture the tiny tots who went on a juant Oct. 4, from Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool on Val Vista Drive near Raleigh Bay Drive. Spokesman Chris Minnick said Arizona Department of Health Services, which licenses child-care facilities, was still investigating Little Sunshine and could not say when a report will be made available. Two of those toddlers who escaped are 2-year-old twin
see
PRESCHOOL page 5
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lighting,” Planner Sydney Bethel said. She said the proposed signs are unique and would add to the distinctive sense of place already fostered within the Heritage District. Bethel added the signs would be noncommercial. Recalling the town can’t regulate a sign’s message. According to a staff report, many historic areas around the country are restoring their historic neon signage because they reflect bygone times and serve as unique attractors to their vibrant village centers. But the proposal didn’t sit well with residents who live in the district. “The town is introducing blight in a des-
Scary times ahead
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
GETOUT..........................
Sunday, OCTOBER 13, 2019
Gilbert to consider downtown rooftop signs BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
Cooley Station homeowners
SPORTS.............................
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How local schools performed PAGE 8
see SIGNS page 4
William and Maggie Brimie turned out last weekend to help Jay and Tanya Ortiz turn their Val Vista Lakes house into one scary Halloween attraction. For details, turn to page 14. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)
Tim Boyles US Air Force Veteran Weichert Realtors Courtney Valleywide Independently Owned & Operated tim.viewhomesinphoenixaz.com