Committee sends striker bill for floor debate in the House
By Phil Riske| Senior Reporter/Writer
(STATE CAPITOL) — Since the Legislature last year made it easier for San Tan Valley (STV) residents to vote on whether they want to form a city government, volunteers have been circulating petitions for an election on incorporation, which could be held in November.
Once the lines are drawn for the proposed new community, it still needs a majority of people within those boundaries who show up to vote to support the plan.
Since last year’s legislative session, there have been squabbles over the proposed incorporation boundary lines, and two developers don’t want to be included in the incorporation map, prompting Rep. Kelly Townsend (R-16) to submit a striker amendment (S1084) to deal with existing issues on the House floor.
The House Local and International Affairs Committee approved the measure on a 4-2 vote.
Rep, Isela Blanc (D-26) strongly opposed the bill, adding she only received it Monday. She complained proponents of the bill are causing the Legislature to “go back and forth and back and forth” on STV incorporation.
“They want to undo things because a homebuilder doesn’t want in,” Blanc said. “That is irresponsible.”
Townsend said she thinks a simple solution would be to amend the boundary map, but such runs the possibility of creating county islands, which are illegal.
“I want to see a vote . . . there is no conspiracy from San Tan Valley, no one is trying to pull a fast one,” Townsend said.
Spencer Kamps, who represents Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, testified against the measure, but said he supports STV incorporation.
Related: Shea Homes says it denied permission to incorporate to ‘preserve choice’
“I’m not undermining those who want to vote, but I want discussions and things to follow proper procedures” to avoid problems stakeholders experienced with Maricopa incorporation. He said the incorporation map doesn’t have to be nullified just because [builders] don’t want certain communities in the incorporated city.
Some area residents have been pushing incorporation for years. But they were blocked by a law — one that does not apply in all counties — that gives cities of up to 5,000 residents the right to veto new towns within three miles. For larger cities, that veto right extends out six miles.
As signed by the governor, the new law creates a very specific exemption.
First, it requires that the proposed incorporated area have at least 15,000 residents. San Tan Valley meets the criteria with an estimated population exceeding 100,000.
Second, it requires the proposed new city must be larger than the one that normally would have the right to object.
