Are school restrooms safe?
Buttons galore at HDSOUTH
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
BEST OF THE BEST SECTION
NEWS.................................3 Feral cat feeding ban under scrutiny
SPORTS....................... 16 Coach Q energizing Tigers.
COMMUNITY........................................12 BUSINESS..............................................15 SPORTS.................................................. 16
PUZZLE.................................................. 19 CLASSIFIED.......................................... 19
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
Sunday, October 31, 2021
277-unit Gilbert complex plan draws flack BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
A
developer that wants to build 80 townhomes and 197 apartments at the southwest corner of Higley and Ray roads is meeting opposition from surrounding residents before formally submitting its proposal to the Town for approval. The 12.2-acre infill dirt lot is currently zoned for a shopping center. “There’s more value in the original plan,” said Kaitlyn Miller. “I will fight and rally neighbors to fight this to the end.” She said the proposed project did noth-
ing for the existing residents but took away amenities like retail. Miller was one of about 55 people who tuned into a virtual neighborhood meeting about the proposed housing development Oct. 25 that was hosted by developer Mill Creek Residential and its attorney Ralph Pew. The developer is seeking a rezone and minor General Plan amendment. “It’s a very attractive-looking project,” said Tyler Wilson, managing director of development in the Southwest Region for Mill Creek. Wilson gave an overview of the gated “luxury” development that featured homes
GPS presidents now can shut down speakers
sporting a “very modern farmhouse look” and 40-percent open space. Both the townhomes, attached in seven rows, and apartments would be three stories not exceeding 40 feet tall. The townhouses would each have three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a two-car integrated garage and rent for over $2,700 a month, according to Wilson. The apartments would either be two- or three-bedroom units and rent for over $2,000 a month, he added. Wilson said the target renters for the project included young couples and young
Treats please!
see MILLCREEK page 4
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
T
he Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board gave its president the ability to shut down a public meeting without having to get the votes to do it in order to maintain decorum. The board’s adoption of the policy on a 3-1 vote last Tuesday came at the recommendation of the Arizona School Board Association and with some opposition such as from Steve Walker, who belongs to the 1,600-member Facebook group GPS Education Advocates. “The purpose of a five-member board is to disallow autocratic power,” Walker said during public comments. “This policy would give the president of the board sole power to recess a public board meeting at his or her discretion. “This is an abuse of power. We have seen this abuse of power in surrounding school districts used to muzzle and censor the frustrated citizens of the district speaking out
see GPS page 8
Williams Field High School last week held a trunk or treat event to help fuel its canned food drive for United Food Bank and Sammy Henson and Weezy the French Bulldog greeted trick-or-treaters Bryce Heilman, 6, dressed as a stoplight; Brylieigh Heilman, 5, in construction gear; Brynn Moore, 9, who came as a traffic cone; and Grace, 3, as baseball player with Rick Gutierrez providing a helping hand. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
