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Developers urge council to issue Park Place Phase 2–3 permits; dispute over developer’s agreement update persists
Summary
Developers and supporters told council they need permits for Park Place Phase 2–3 to close financing, saying requests to update the developer's agreement add unnecessary delay; council scheduled a special meeting to consider the matter.
Developers with Shea Connolly Development and several downtown business and civic leaders urged the Fountain Hills Town Council on Oct. 7 to issue construction permits for Park Place Phase 2 and 3, saying lender deadlines and prior agreements support immediate permitting.
Cecil Yates, identifying himself as Executive Vice President of Shea Connolly Development, told the council the project has paid substantial taxes and met developer agreement conditions. He said delays in permit issuance and requests to renegotiate or update the developer's agreement were harming financing prospects. "Time kills all deals," Yates said. "Requesting that the developer's agreement be updated, renegotiated, or resolved is not necessary... I'm simply asking tomorrow when we discuss this more, issue the permits as requested."
Public commenters backed the developers. Crystal Kavanaugh said she supported completion of the fenced lot and urged negotiators to stick to agreed-upon meeting terms so the parties could work through issues. Dori Wittrig, longtime resident and nonprofit leader, highlighted developer Bart Shea’s community contributions and urged the council to "stop the posturing" and allow the project to move forward. Beau James said the completed building will be an asset to downtown once finished.
Developers said they obtained permits for earlier buildings before a DA extension deadline and that they have requested permit issuance repeatedly while working with lenders on funding extensions. Several speakers said the town had been advised that the developers have met the developer agreement’s conditions and that additional renegotiation would create new risks to financing.
Council members did not take action on the item that evening; staff noted a special meeting was scheduled for the following day to discuss the permits in more detail. Developers asked the council to issue permits at that special meeting and to limit additional procedural delays.
