Sun City West board declines to add commercial/teaching kitchen to 2026–27 budget; item sent to master plan

President Christine Novello opened discussion on a properties-committee recommendation to include a commercial/teaching kitchen in the 2026–27 capital-improvement budget. Director Chatton moved the board consider adding the facility to the CIP and Director Schlemmer seconded; Chatton said the committee’s intent was primarily teaching use, leaving exact location and final design to staff.

Directors questioned whether the proposal meant a full commercial kitchen or a simpler teaching kitchen, with Director Turner noting that "commercial kitchen and a teaching kitchen are 2 different things," and urging the board to delay until scope was clarified. Director Becknell warned it was premature to pick a facility without a chartered club to drive demand. Director Pyskowski suggested staff check electrical capacity in existing kitchens as a lower-cost test before creating a new facility.

After extended discussion the mover called the question to end debate. The board voted and the motion failed; the kitchen concept will be considered through the master-plan process rather than placed in the FY26–27 budget for immediate consideration.

Why it matters: The vote puts a pause on a proposal some residents and committee members hope would expand teaching and cooking-class options at Sun City West, while sending the idea into the longer-range master-plan process for more detailed definition and cost estimation.

What’s next: The proposal remains on the record and will be available for future master-plan work and committee refinement.