Few other areas are booming in Arizona more than the Desert Ridge area in North Phoenix. Few locales are more desirable in the state than North Scottsdale.
What do both have in common? Transfer stations for recycling and waste. It’s not the sexiest part of any city or neighborhood, but they are necessary infrastructure to reduce rates, pollution and the distance trucks have to travel to provide a basic necessity.
Funny, but we don’t recall a single person ever saying Desert Ridge or North Scottsdale have been hurt by such uses, which range between 5-10 acres. Indeed, property values there have surged over the many years.
Apparently, however, those in the growing and impressive part of Northern Peoria view themselves exceptions to such infrastructure necessities. That’s odd, because Northern Peoria sees itself as a rival to North Scottsdale. And it should. With beautiful communities like Vistancia, improved freeway access via the Loop 303 and terrific natural terrain and hiking trails it does remind one of Scottsdale.
But when communities grow, like this part of Peoria now is, key albeit unglamorous parts of community service become necessary. Indeed, the City of Scottsdale itself owns the North Scottsdale transfer station because it realizes the pivotal nature it plays in keeping service high and rates low for its customers.
Like the proposal in Peoria (actually in adjoining Maricopa County) Scottsdale’s sits near a freeway and even closer to desirable neighborhoods than the one in Peoria does. With all due respect to the Happy Valley area being discussed, the Scottsdale Ranch, McCormick Ranch and Casa del Cieolo neighborhoods that abut the Scottsdale Corporate yard are as nice if not nicer than their peers in the West Valley. Scottsdale’s transfer station is even surrounded by gymnastics studios, dentist offices, two schools and even a police and fire station. As proposed the one in Peoria would abut a new gas station, storage facility and area that has long had heavy industrial use and mining. Simply put and based on the Scottsdale example (in addition to Desert Ridge and many others) the sky will fall scenario simply doesn’t hold water.
Further to the south, a transfer station was fought but eventually approved near Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. The sky didn’t fall and that city’s infrastructure is now enhanced. Eliminating such depots doesn’t eliminate traffic or need. It just means recycling and garbage trucks are traveling longer distances, polluting and costing more.
It’s understandable that people would have concerns about such proposed uses, but the history of them when done right in the Valley shows they can be belied. Fight for enhancements. Fight for concessions. Fight for something that works and has benefits for all. That’s the way the process is supposed to work.
But if North Peoria really wants to stand with its peers in North Phoenix and North Scottsdale, it means understanding all the facets of a thriving community too. Including new investments and tax revenue at a time with counties and cities will be facing Depression-era like challenges to generate revenues and cut costs, including for recycling and waste service.