Downtown land, all of it, is the “heart” of the downtown, our statement piece and the window to the future of our town.

Whatever is built on this land will impact and generate the image of our town and growth as a town for years to come. If this downtown area is developed just because people are tired of looking at dirt, well that’s a shame.

I do not see how placing a nursing facility in the “heart” of downtown is going to give the right impression. What the developers are purposing does not meet our Downtown Area Specific Plan.

I ask you as a longtime resident of Fountain Hills please let us that speak for the citizens of Fountain Hills vote not in haste just because we are all tired of looking at dirt or because we have a developer with a plan “they feel” is in the best interest of the town. After all let’s be honest, the developer and the seller are all here to make money, it’s a business transaction. And this business transaction once built cannot be undone.

Let the vote be for the people and for the best interest of growth in Fountain Hills, the best interest of Fountain Hills as a whole. Let us say what happens to our jewel of a town, not a developer.

The town has not been presented the whole downtown project that the developer is planning. How can anyone make a decision on half the picture? The town should have waited until the developer was ready to present the whole project for a complete picture, not piecemeal. Now that Morningstar has been approved there are no guarantees that the projected Park Place will ever be built…that’s a whole other topic.

Denise Ham is a member of the Town of Fountain Hills Planning and Zoning Commission.