8 July 21 - Aug. 3, 2007
Community
www.SanTanSun.com
Casino from Page 1
“It’s very, very close to their current location. Chandler residents expressed
So whatever neighborhood impact there is, there’s appreciation to GRIC for the
already that same impact from the current location,” decision and to offi cials and
Tibshraeny comments. “It’s a much better location in neighbors who took the time to
terms of transportation accessibility. They have a full get involved.
diamond interchange at Kyrene and the 202, and they “It’s a positive outcome for all
didn’t have that transportation infrastructure at the parties,” asserts Lorraine Walters,
other site. It makes a lot more sense.” a Sun River resident who worked
According to GRIC spokesperson Alia Maisonet, to coordinate information and
the decision came down to time, given that the input with fellow Chandler
Kyrene Road location is already primed for a faster residents throughout the
development process. process.
“For example, the environmental assessment “The GRIC will build a casino
study is already done, it has infrastructure installed, with freeway access, established
it is already zoned,” Maisonet explains. “It’s really just traffi c patterns, and already
more effi cient to put it there.” zoned for such an establishment.
Another infl uential factor was GRIC’s desire to And, Southeast Chandler
maximize the agricultural use of its land south of Hunt residents united to preserve
NEW SITE: The proposed location for a new Gila River Indian Community casino will be at
Highway. their neighborhoods and learned
Kyrene and the Santan Freeway, instead of in the middle of a S. Chandler neighborhood.
“The Community also kept in mind that they much about their neighbors to
wanted to maintain Gilbert and Hunt Highway as the south. Hopefully, this is the
prime agricultural land,” she says. “I believe it really start of better relations between both parties.”
Sun River resident Lisa Peters. “I am so inspired by the
came out of the planning and zoning meeting. There Frankie Sullivan, another Sun River homeowner,
citizens of Chandler and their commitment to come
was a big voice from the Community that they wanted expressed thankfulness and was glad to learn the
together in pursuit of such a positive goal. Offi cials like
to keep it agricultural, not just for farming and the land’s agricultural history will continue.
Sen. Jay Tibshraeny and Mayor Boyd Dunn worked
water settlement, but culturally speaking.” “When I moved into this development, I specifi cally
tirelessly to foster communication and gather data. I
Gila has been farming the area for centuries, and asked what the land was to be used for and was told
am proud to be a Chandler resident.”
Maisonet explains they have been “fi ghting to get agricultural use,” Sullivan states. “I felt let down
Tibshraeny agrees Southern Chandler citizens
their water back.” Just recently, the Community won when it was possible they would change their minds
stepped up to the plate in letting their voices be heard
the right to connect their pipelines to a water source, and build a casino. It was the same disappointment I
and believes “the neighborhood effort on this was
allowing them to irrigate and farm the area again. would have felt if my own city had changed its plans.
outstanding.”
The Community plans to use a concept called “smart In the end, the best I can offer is a grateful thank you
farming” where crops requiring little tilling – such as to the Gila River Indian Community.”
Lessons learned
alfalfa, cotton, and wheat – will be planted, helping to Because the Sun River development sits across Hunt
Even as Chandler citizens and officials
reduce dust pollution. Highway from the proposed casino site, many of its
communicated concerns about the proposed site
residents followed the events closely, and appreciate
throughout the process, they knew ultimately, as
S. Chandler residents react the outcome.
Following the announcement, many Southern “Thank you to GRIC for doing the right thing,” says See Casino Page 9
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