Paul Maryniak, AFN Executive Editor
The Ahwatukee Board of Management and the owner of an adjacent strip mall at 48th Street and E. Warner Road obtained a continuance of a Zoning Hearing Board hearing on a request for a temporary use permit that would allow the market to continue operating between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sundays and the HOA to stage its annual Chili Cook-Off in March.
ABM General Manager Robert Blakesley told AFN that he and the shopping center owner jointly sought the delay so they could meet Thursday, July 13, in an effort to resolve the strip mall owner’s complaint about farmers market patrons who park at the shopping center. The complaint also involves people who attend other big events sponsored by ABM, particularly the Chili Cook-Off in March.
“In the past we’ve had different issues over the years and we’ve always been able to come to an agreement to mutual satisfaction so I’m not anticipating anything different at this point,” Blakesley said.
Blakesley added that he had not yet heard back from city officials, and so the hearing would likely commence at 9 a.m. today, July 6, and then presumably end quickly with a continuance.
In scheduling a meeting next Thursday, Blakesley and the strip mall owner apparently are ignoring city Councilman Sal DiCiccio’s offer to facilitate a meeting to discuss moving the farmers market to one of three nearby sites. A spokeswoman for the group that runs the market indicated last week that she would follow ABM’s lead since they have been working on the parking issue together for nearly two months.
