6/17/2007 8:44:00 PM Editorial: Reneging shows lack of integrity
Out here in the West, when people give their word - even if it isn't in writing - it's their bond.
Not so, it seems, when it comes to the Old Stage Stop country store at Williamson Valley and Outer Loop roads.
When the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors approved the conditional zoning map change to allow the store in January 2005, it did so over the objections of many local residents who wanted to keep the area rural and residential.
The two bodies limited the development to the country store and gasoline pumps as outlined in the letter of intent from the applicant, John Hunt and Old Stage Properties LLC.
And Bill Riviere, speaking on behalf of Hunt properties, verbally promised to provide a community meeting room at the store.
That promise was one of the key contingencies that appeased the opposition to the store.
But after the appeasement helped the store become a reality, a real estate office has occupied the area where locals expected a meeting room.
And on May 9, Old Stage Properties LLC applied to the county for a zoning change to legitimize the presence of the real estate office, as well as other businesses, banks or similar uses.
This one clearly does not pass the smell test. Locals would be most unwise to trust anything the developer says in the future unless it's in extremely clear writing.
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, June 18, 2007
Article comment by:
bigdogs
This memory loss on the part of the developer should come as no suprise to anyone. I was at the meeting where this was touted as a promise by Mr. Riviere. Obviously neither he nor the Hunts intended to keep their word. At least the store doesn't seem to be getting the volume of business they had planned on, so lots of locals vote with their money. I have personally never been in the store or purchased their over-priced fuel.
