On Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. the Town Council will be considering a resolution to enter into a development agreement between the Town of Fountain Hills and the Americana Development & Building Co., LLC to allow the development of “Copper Ridge,” a senior living facility consisting of 132 independent living units, 60 assisted living units, 52 memory care units, approximately 42,000 square feet of commercial/retail in two buildings, a two-acre park (for residents only), and associated amenities located on a 12.24 acre commercial property on the northeast corner of Avenue of the Fountains and Westby Drive.

In addition, it will be voting on the concept plan for such. If built, this will be the third such community within an approximate 1.5 square mile area in the core of our downtown, resulting in a total of approximately 580 senior independent, assisted living and memory care units. As you have been reading over the past several weeks in The Fountain Hills Times; one of the major outcomes from Vision Fountain Hills is that a majority of residents want Fountain Hills to be a community of mixed ages and family friendly.

Putting a third senior community in our downtown will not attract the commercial/economic development desired, the energy and vitality of a balanced demographic and the synergy to attract younger individuals and families to our community. In addition, it does not meet the use (true mixed use) for this parcel as specified for the “West Side District” (page 17) in our current Strategic and Downtown Area Specific Plans.

We are relying on our elected officials to use these adopted strategic plans to evaluate any proposed development. We urge you to contact your Council members and attend the Aug. 18 meeting to ask questions and learn more about this development.