SEPTEMBER 15-28, 2018 | www.SanTanSun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler and our neighboring communities
Gilbert OKs massive complex despite Chandler complaints BY CECILIA CHAN Staff
Ginger Rowley recalled buying a house in 1995 that backed up to land zoned commercial. The lot was later rezoned for multifamily units — and that is when the nightmare began, according to Rowley. “I had noise all night along,” she said, adding she also smelled cigarette and marijuana smoke from the apartment dwellers. She finally sold her house in 2004 and moved to the Paseo Trail neighborhood in
Chandler. “I live a half mile from the airport,” she said. “The noise never bothers us.” But a 356-unit apartment complex of two- and three-story buildings, proposed north of her neighborhood will, Rowley and other Chandler residents told Gilbert Town Council Sept. 6. Nevertheless, Gilbert Town Council unanimously approved a rezoning for the complex — leaving Chandler residents unhappy despite concessions made by the developer in an attempt to ease their concerns. The Town Council rezoned 19.6 acres
at Germann Road and Mustang Drive from business park to multifamily, making way for a project that Chandler residents asserted would drive down their property values and bring in more cars and more children, which would impact already crowded schools. “Just because you are Chandler residents doesn’t mean we don’t listen,” Vice Mayor Brigette Peterson told them. Peterson, who previously met with residents to discuss their concerns, said because they got involved, the Liv at Gilbert Crossroads project is now a better one.
With that, she threw her support to the rezoning. Ed Bull, a land-use and zoning attorney representing the parcel’s owner Rockefeller Group, told the council the 19.6-acre site is not viable for commercial development because it is too deep, too big and lacks good visibility from Germann Road. Rockefeller has tried since 2009 to attract business park developers to the site without success. Bull added the rezoning got the backing of the town’s planning staff and See
COMPLEX on page 6
Artwalk end draws mixed reaction here BY COLLEEN SPARKS Managing Editor
Downtown Chandler’s art walk is ending, at least for now, while new entertainment aimed at attracting different crowds will be added to this busy part of the city. The changes are happening under the leadership of Mary Murphy-Bessler, who became executive director of the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership in April. Murphy-Bessler told downtown business owners in an email that the ArtWalk needed a break. “Over the past several years Downtown Chandler has hosted a monthly third Friday ArtWalk series,” she wrote. “Through the years this event has experienced a decrease in attendance. The DCCP will be ‘taking a break’ in producing the event. “For the upcoming year, the DCCP will put its efforts towards developing downtown promotional campaigns and events,” she continued. “This is not to say we will never have an ArtWalk again but more to give us time to test market new event concepts and see where the general interest of the community lies.” Murphy-Bessler said the “ChandLore” event — featuring actors from See
ARTWALK on page 8
Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer
For a 10-year-old boy Kameron Sherman of Chandler, front, has had a lot to deal with. He’s confronting a second round of cancer but he draws his strength from the support of his family, which includes his parents, Bryce and Debbie Sherman and older brother Logan. Friends and relatives are also rallying around the family to help pay staggering medical bills.
Chandler boy fighting rare type of cancer again BY COLLEEN SPARKS Managing Editor
The community is rallying around a 10-year-old Chandler boy who is fighting cancer for the second time. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover costs to treat Kameron Sherman, a fifth-grader at Basha Elementary School, who must undergo extensive chemotherapy and radiation. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer. He was originally told he had that same type of cancer in March 2017, and after 54 weeks of chemotherapy and six
WE BUY HOUSES. SELL US YOUR HOUSE!! aAny Reason aAny Condition aAny Situation Job Transfer • Loss of Job • Divorce • Behind on Payments • Going into Foreclosure • Unwanted Inheritance • Problem Tenants • Landlords • Expired Listing
FAST/CASH 480.382.7641
www.azcashhomes.com
weeks of radiation, he was declared cancer-free, according to his mother, Debbie Sherman. Then, just weeks ago, Kameron started experiencing double vision that would come and go. An MRI revealed the cancer had returned, this time at the base of his skull, Debbie said. “It’s one of the most helpless things you can watch your child go through,” she said. “I think overall this has been a devastating 17, 18 months for our family. We’ve had to trudge through a lot of darkness.” However, relatives, friends and neighbors have helped the family “see the
light,” Debbie added. “All through this we’ve seen the light, from friends and community,” she said. “Neighbors put together gold ribbon yard stakes with his name on them to show support. It’s really refreshing to know that there’s still a small-town community feel in a big, metropolitan community.” The GoFundMe campaign, as of Sept. 10, had raised $36,925 of its $150,000 goal, and Debbie said she and her family are grateful for everyone’s donations. “We’re not about the money,” she said. “But money is one less stressor that
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Meet the CUSD board candidates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . Page 12 Chandler business provides princesses for girls . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . .Page 31 Perry High badminton swinging high . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 39 Girl Scouts now get STEM badges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . Page 42 Mariachi festival coming to Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 53 Food trucks are back in Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 68
See
CANCER on page 10
More Community . . . . .01-30 Business . . . . . . . . 31-38 Sports . . . . . . . . . 39-40 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Neighbors. . . . . . .42-52 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . 53-61 Faith. . . . . . . . . . . 62-63 Classifieds. . . . . . 64-67 Where to Eat . . . 68-70