No moves vs. resort plans

There will be no referendum opposing Paradise Valley’s approval of redeveloping the long-shuttered Mountain Shadows resort.

It has been more than 30 days since the Town Council approved several documents inducing the specialuse permits and development agreements, clearing the path toward the property’s revitalization.

Town Attorney Andrew Miller said the deadline to file a referendum petition was May 20.

Mayor Scott LeMarr said a failed referendum opposing a special-use permit approved by the council five years ago to build a Ritz-Carlton might have dissuaded residents this time around. The development of the Ritz-Carlton has since stalled. “I'm not surprised that no referendum materialized because past history demonstrates that it would be a costly campaign that would fail,” he said.

Agreements between the town and owners MTS Land LLC and MTS Golf LLC include plans to bring at least a 100-room boutique resort to the 68acre property and to retain its golf course and driving range, which have remained open.

Over the past year, the at-times contentious permitting process has seen numerous changes, constant negotiations, an ongoing bankruptcy case to reorganize the resort owners’ assets and finally an approval on April 18.

The resort owner and the two surrounding homeowners associations are still in negotiations to complete their respective private agreements.

Also, the possibility remains of a lawsuit between the town and the property’s neighbors. On the day of the approval, attorney Thomas Irvine of Polsinelli Shughart submitted a letter to the town stating members of the Mountain Shadows Estates East Home Owners Association would incur diminished property values if the permit application governing a small portion of the Mountain Shadows property, Lot 68, were passed. However, Miller said the HOA has not followed up on the claim.