Going over Americana Development’s plans for the proposed Copper Ridge project, we’re left feeling like things could be moving in a positive direction for Fountain Hills.

That location is one of the last pieces of the development puzzle in the downtown area and could offer some needed amenities for our residents. The early concepts are easy on the eyes, too, blending nicely with what’s already in place while still presenting an interesting facade.

Building height is always a concern in Fountain Hills, as locals take a lot of pride in the lovely views around town. The Copper Ridge plan calls for four stories, but the developers feel that the slope of the terrain and additional measures will keep everything within reason.

Finally, whether or not you feel like Fountain Hills needs another retirement-style village and assisted living center, the final phases of the project offers features everyone should be able to benefit from.

The single story commercial retail building and commercial professional/medical office could mean more opportunities for folks to set up shop in Fountain Hills, creating more foot traffic for current and future businesses alike.

We do, however, understand reservations tied to that main portion of the development. Fountain View Village is right around the corner from the site of the Copper Ridge project and MorningStar is just about ready to roll down by Fountain Park. Another retirement village does not exactly mesh with the findings of Vision Fountain Hills, which shows that the majority of participants want to attract families and young professionals to town. While the commercial space could help move things in that direction, the rest of the project seems counterintuitive to those efforts.