By Cyndy Cole | Arizona Daily Sun
Italian and American developers have proposed 800 to 1,700 housing units, millions of feet in commercial space, a dude ranch and a five-star hotel in Tusayan.
But nearly two years after plans were approved by the Tusayan Town Council, there is no date for a groundbreaking.
The plans require Stilo Development Group and its subsidiaries to provide an approved source for the project’s water, and to date that hasn’t happened.
Instead, the developer is now closing its bid with the Arizona Corporation Commission to become a utility.
“We understand a lot of folks in the town were hoping that this development would get going right away, but it’s a very complex development as you know,” said Andy Jacobs, speaking on behalf of developers.
He would not disclose any future ideas for water sources.
The project is surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest, and Jacobs said developers plan to ask for access to all three of its parcels across Forest Service land.
Councilman Al Montoya, who supported the project, which came with the promise of land for the town for housing, said he was “disappointed.”
“It’s public knowledge that they haven’t performed, and we’re waiting to hear from them and see what’s going on,” he said.
Councilman Bill Fitzgerald, who had opposed the development, said he hopes the Council can negotiate to gain immediately about half of the land it sought for homes independent of whatever happens with plans for condos and dude ranching.
“We’re trying to get 20 acres they promised us up-front, rather than waiting for them,” Fitzgerald said.
That is a possibility, Jacobs said.
Park Superintendent Concerned
Stilo Group plans to build high-end boutiques, condos, shopping areas, a spa and also to donate 40 acres of land to the Tusayan Town Council for local residents.
Water has been the biggest question after a contentious election that formed a town and a council, which subsequently approved the development in 2011.
The superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park has warned of harm to springs in the Grand Canyon in the case of large-scale groundwater pumping. For that reason, conservation groups have also taken an interest in the case, with some filing comments with the state in opposition to one branch of the development, Tusayan Ventures, becoming a water utility.
State regulators have asked Tusayan Ventures repeatedly where it will get water; the business has failed to answer. “It’s very premature to file an application before we even have access to the water pipelines and things like that,” Jacobs said.
Discussions between the town and the developer have mostly occurred in secret sessions closed to the public.
Tusayan’s attorney, Bill Sims characterized the subject of the talks as a contract extension of sorts.
The city has no plans to form a utility or become a water provider for the development, he said.
“Our agreement requires them to solve it,” he said.
