The following letter was submitted by Colleen Rose-Scurti, who is a candidate for the Carefree Town Council. We are printing it in the public interest.
Carefree Unity
From Town Council Candidate Colleen Rose-Scurti
I want to thank all residents who continue to support me in my run for Town Council. Whether by spreading the word, putting my campaign sign in your yard or putting editorials in the Sonoran News, it means a lot to me, and I appreciate you.
I strongly encourage you to watch the Town Candidate Forum video, so that you can hear directly what the candidates’ positions and thoughts are for the Town. Links are included at the end of this letter.
Over the weekend, OurCarefree ended their support for me in an email to their subscriber list. You may have seen it and wondered why.
There has been much discussion on the SPA (Special Planning Area) for the NW corner of Tom Darlington and Carefree Highway. After studying the issues and history involved, I stated my position during the Town Candidate Forum. For those who haven’t seen it, I will tell you: I am in favor of keeping the SPA.
But OurCarefree wants the SPA removed from the General Plan. Recently I was told that if I did not support OurCarefree’s position regarding the SPA then they would not support me for Town Council. They would pick someone who did, and they have, Nakisa Azizi. Nakisa wants them to remove the SPA from the General Plan because she favors open space over development. She stated at the Candidate Forum that development should be a last resort. We can raise funds for the Town by Crowdsourcing and residents have money that they can donate to the Town. I don’t believe these are fiscally responsible positions.
So why did I not let OurCarefree intimidate me into changing my position? Because we need a Council with integrity that acts in the best interests of our residents. I am in favor of keeping the SPA for the following reasons:
- I have read the full 68-page agreement. It is very specific on what can and cannot be built.
- I have toured the whole area in question and walked the property.
- I have met with the neighbors who directly border this property. They originally opposed a resort or SPA. However, after much discussion with each other and the Economic Development Director they found a plan they are very happy with. In fact, this is the development they would like to see on that property.
- For those saying they want to be part of the process… they will be. They can be as involved as they want once a developer comes forward with a plan, if they ever do.
- If the SPA process were to be redone, I don’t believe it would be as specific as it currently is. There would be more opportunities for other commercial projects that the closest residents and the neighbors do not want. We have the most control with the current SPA that is in place.
And why is OurCarefree so insistent that the SPA must be removed from the General Plan? They SAY the reason is because of the lack of transparency and that the public involvement process was done during COVID and so there was not as much participation as there would have been at another time. But there was almost 2 years of public input and discussions before the SPA was finalized. More importantly, there will be more public input opportunities BEFORE any developer can build anything under the current SPA. It would need to go through a zoning change with Planning & Zoning and the Town Council. Both of those processes include public input, so to say that the public will not have an opportunity before anything is done is disingenuous.
Because the current SPA is so specific, I have asked those who say they want more input, WHAT would they remove from the current SPA or WHAT would they add? They cannot answer the question, they just say we need to start the process over. But why start a process over if there is nothing you would change?? Honestly, I think the OurCarefree team wants nothing built on the corner. They say otherwise but their answers don’t make sense. Remember, this property is owned by an individual, just like you, who has private property rights. Would ANY of us like to be told what we could or could not do with our own property? I don’t think so.
OurCarefree is always saying that the Town is not transparent, but I wonder how transparent OurCarefree is. They tell you how they want you to vote. They tell you what needs to be added or removed from the General Plan. As a resident, it is our job to do research for things impacting our town and then make the best decision based on our own values etc. We should not let anyone else tell us what is best for us or our Town.
I strongly encourage you to watch the Town Candidate Forum video, so that you can hear directly what the candidates’ positions and thoughts are for the Town. In the interest of transparency, I reached out to several outlets to send out the video, and Carefree Unity and Carefree Truth were both happy to. I also reached out to OurCarefree and received no response, and no video was sent out. How transparent is that? Here is the link for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-nhjaYMMrI Full Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIAgJ1qAE70&t=7s Colleen’s Answers
I also have it on my website at www.colleenforcarefreetowncouncil.com. There is a full video and a second one with just my answers, should you want to review them.
I want to represent you and the Town in the best way possible. I think I have the integrity, character, values and ethics to do the best job. I did not let OurCarefree intimidate me because I am committed to always do what’s right for our Town.
Please reach out with any questions, or concerns. I will be at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, July 2nd and hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Colleen Rose-Scurti
For Carefree Town Council 2024
408-656-6251
Carefree Unity has verified certain statements of fact contained in this letter. However, opinions expressed in published letters are those of the authors. Carefree Unity
Carefree Unity 