For better or worse, growth controls scrapped

EDITORIAL

By Matt Brabb
Mogollon Connection Editor
The era of restrained growth in Payson is over. Perhaps for good reason; but make no mistake, when this recession finally ends, changes have been made to local codes that will make development a far easier proposition than it was in years past.

And apparently the residents of Payson are fine with that. When the Payson Town Council met last Thursday, they approved the change to the Unified Development Code to allow for taller buildings, they scrapped the 250-units-per-year limit on new construction, and they approved the first new major development in town in years. A mere two Payson residents spoke out against the changes.

Not that there was any real chance that the changes would fail to be made. Two years ago the voters of Payson made a decisive choice when they elected pro-growth Mayor Kenny Evans, and Councilors Rick Croy and Michael Hughes. Along with incumbent Councilor John Wilson, they formed a four member pro-growth team that made the results of this past election for the most part irrelevant for the next two years.

To be fair, it’s not like Payson doesn’t need a kick-start. Some 150 storefronts are now vacant in town. People need the jobs that new industry will provide. The possibility of a four-year college coming to town would bring a much needed cultural infusion, as well as good, high-paying jobs to the community.

With the addition of CC Cragin water (formerly Blue Ridge), Payson will double its current water supply, making additional development feasible. Because of this, some claim that water is no longer a limiting factor for growth.

That is not altogether true. Though Payson will indeed have twice the water resources in six years that it has today (when the Cragin Pipeline is complete), it is expected that the population will eventually double as well.

The Evans administration has done exactly what it was elected to do. It is laying out the red carpet for prospective businesses to come to town. Along with Councilor Mike Vogel and Town Manager Debra Galbraith, Evans has formed a team to facilitate the relocation of potential employers to Payson. In fact, though Vogel was recently defeated in his re-election bid, a plan to keep him on the town payroll in the capacity of “ombudsman” to help recruit new business to town is in the works.

The council reversed the 250 units-per-year restriction on new construction despite the fact that in the coming year over 800 permits could have been approved. When the ordinance was passed during the previous administration of Bob Edwards, a clause was included to allow for permits to accumulate during years when growth was slow, as it has been in the last two years due to the recession. That did not satisfy the Evans administration.

Mayor Evans made it clear that he thought the limitations on growth made during the Edwards administration were flawed.

“Why have it if it’s not doing anything?” he asked, when questioned. “Making this change won’t make it any more difficult to control growth in the future.”

Still, Mayor Evans wasn’t elected to control growth, nor were the majority of the current council members. Town leadership will continue to entice developers and potential businesses. For better or worse, the foundation has been laid, change is coming.