D.R.O. COMMITTEE
(Design Review Overlay)

(Received and Posted May 8, 2007 - Footnote in Red at the bottom of this E-Mail has been added by the GCWS)

DRO Supporters,

As most are aware, I am heading back to Afghanistan.  As a US Military helicopter pilot, it is with great honor that I serve all that I believe to be good and right with America’s defense of freedom.  Thank you for your prayers and support… 

The DRO is undergoing a dramatic series of changes.  In the past, to operate under our ordinance, we have been charged with the collection of signatures of 50% of the owners of commercially-zoned property within the defined area of Gold Canyon.  Those signatures were at one time collected.  Unfortunately, those same signatures were stored at the Apache Land complex and were ultimately lost in the past fire. 

The DRO continued to operate under the premise of the re-collection of the required 50% signatures.  This past February, during a routine review, the Pinal County law staff reviewed the operations of the DRO.  It was determined that the DRO should not review drawings as a group until such time as the 50% of signatures could be collected.  However, the DRO could continue to review drawings, but only as individual board members with their recommendations consolidated and presented to Pinal County Planning and Zoning. 

This past week, the Pinal County law staff further reviewed the ordinance validating the DRO and determined that the current 50% signature interpretation was inaccurate.  (With the passage of legislation such as Prop 207, it is imperative that zoning overlays constitute the intent of the law.)  It was determined that the DRO Guidelines represent an overlay similar to historical preservation overlays.  Under that precedent, the signature requirement for the DRO has changed.  The DRO must now obtain 50% of the signatures from not only the owners of commercially-zoned property, but from 50% of ALL property owners within the area defined as Gold Canyon. 

Although this task appears daunting, don’t be discouraged.  Very rough estimates place the number of property owners within Gold Canyon at approximately 10,000.  That equates to approximately 5,000 signatures. 

You are surely asking yourself, “How the heck are we going to collect 5,000 signatures?”  The only answer is “Together.”  Together, with the help of the community, we can collect the required signatures.  This organization is too important to abandon.  We have a way to make the DRO work and we need to explore every option to accomplish the task. 

Beginning in June, Mr. Tom Wolfe will head the DRO in my absence.  The DRO is blessed with a fantastic group of community-minded board members and an even more committed group of supporters.  We have a huge task before us, but as you look around and see structures as the Chase Bank, Shea Properties, Stan Serwa’s Auto Spa, ask yourself, “Is the DRO making a positive difference?”  I would argue with every bone of my body, “Yes it is!” 

Look for updates from the DRO as together, we face this next challenge.  Thank you for your continued support of the DRO and the community of Gold Canyon. 

Sincerely,
Bryan Martyn
DRO Chair - May 7, 2007          

(A former DRO chair indicated that the required signatures had been obtained and submitted to Pinal County. Apparently they were mis-placed. Gee, perhaps the former County Manager has them!)

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( Received and posted March 13, 2007)
DRO Supporters,

The DRO is undergoing some fairly significant changes.  The county attorney was recently asked to review the current county ordinance relating to the DRO.  After much deliberation, it was determined that the DRO must have the mandated 51% of the commercial property owner's signatures before we can meet as a body.  Although this appears to be a setback, the DRO is committed to providing oversight of the commercial properties within Gold Canyon.  To that end, we have placed added emphasis on the collection of the necessary signatures.  Board member Tom Wolf has worked diligently to define the required signature holders.  It is paramount that we gather the necessary signatures as soon as possible.

As we await the signature process, we will continue to review drawings/plans within Gold Canyon.  The drawings will be delivered to a central location and individual board members will review the drawings and make recommendations.  Those recommendations will be consolidated and submitted to Pinal County Planning and Zoning.  Builders will have the option of accepting or rejecting those recommendations.  It's important to remember that those recommendations generally represent the wishes of the greater Gold Canyon community.

The real disappointment of the recent legal review is the short-term change of community involvement.  Over the past couple years, the DRO has worked diligently to provide a voice for the community.  Until the signatures are gathered, we can not legally gather and discuss the pros/cons of incoming structures.

Keep your faith.  We will gather the required signatures.  The work we are doing is far too important to abandon.  As you look around at the newer structures, take solace in the fact that the DRO, with your community input, has made the buildings something we can all be proud of.

We will continue to keep the community updated on the drawings we review, as well as the progress of the signature collection.  Please feel free to contact me directly if you have comments or suggestions as we work our way though these trying times.

Sincerely, - Bryan Martyn - DRO Chairman

(It is a known fact in Gold Canyon by past DRO chairs that the required signatures had been obtained and submitted to Pinal County. Apparently they were mis-placed. Gee, perhaps the former County Manager has them!)

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DRO Supporters, (received and posted November 27, 2006 - To review the November meeting minutes, click the button above.

DRO Supporters,

The November meeting was very successful. Attached are the minutes. We approved a new office building to be built on the corner of King's Ranch and Jasper. The project was well presented.

On a less happy note, boardmembers Duane Bricker and Sherri Pack were bid farewell. Duane is stepping down because of his hearing and Sherri is moving out of the state. Duane will remain active by continuing to attend the meetings. Nonetheless, both will be missed on the board. From all of us on the board and within the community, "Thanks for your dedication to making our Gold Canyon one of the finest communities in Arizona."

To the entire community, thanks for your continued support of the DRO.

Continue to attend the meetings and feel free to write with your concerns or questions.

Bryan Martyn - DRO Chair

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The Design Review Overlay Zone approved by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors on May 26, 1994 under Section 3329, Paragraph D calls for a seven member design review board comprised of at least one member from the building/construction profession, one member from the architectural profession, two members from the business community within the proposed zone, two members from the community at large, and one member from the real estate profession.

The DRO guidelines are now available, CLICK HERE

The names of the appointees are:

Bryan Martyn - Chairman

Duane Bricker - Deputy Chairman

Michael Schaffer - Business Community

Karen Mann - Business Community

James Koukios - Architectural and Design

Robert Brooks - Building and Construction

Sherri Pack - Real Estate

When additional contact information has been assembled for the committee members, it will be posted on this page.

CLICK HERE FOR MEETING AGENDAS

CLICK HERE FOR MEETING MINUTES

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