Sneak Peeks: March 2016

Posted By Les Conklin on Mar 6, 2016

The cover of the July/August 2006 issue of The Peak featured a wolf at Southwest Wildlife. The photograph was taken by Denniis Liddell.

A Friend Faces a Challenge

Southwest Wildlife and GPPA have been friends for more than two decades. Southwest has contributed numerous wildlife articles and photographs and The Peak has gladly published them. Our friendship goes even deeper than that. Southwest Wildlife was an exhibitor and supporter of Friends of the Scenic Drive and Cookout at the Ranch from the beginning.

Our friend is facing a challenge to its very existence. Last week, the Republic’s Laurie Roberts wrote an excellent piece about the problem that Southwest is having with a neighbor. Yesterday, Southwest posted the following message on its website.

“NEWS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE

2.27.16

We fight every day to save animals, but we need your help to fight this attack on our mission. Arizona Republic columnist Laurie Roberts captured the essence of the issue beautifully. Please read what she wrote by clicking HERE. If you can, please share this article on your social media as well. There is also a petition in support of Southwest Wildlife. Please take the time to read and sign it, by clicking HERE.

We were here long before this one neighbor sought to urbanize our area and shut us down. The animals were here long before any of us. If you want to support us please email Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Chucri at chucris@mail.maricopa.gov. Thank him for his supportive comments in the Republic article, and what he is doing to stand up for our cause.

In appreciation,

Linda Searles
Founder
Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center”

ge 14 Revised ASLD Request 19-ZN-2014

One of the many animals that Southwest helps is Leo. Unfortunately, there is nothing Leo is able to do to help Southwest. That’s the work of humans who care about our natural environment. Personally, I am going to do what Linda Searles has asked above. I hope you’ll consider doing the same thing.

A special thank you to Dennis Liddell for telling me about the current situation at Southwest Wildlife AND for the great wolf photo.

Read “Leo’s Story”

Kudos to the Citizens of Scottsdale and GPPA-Friends of the Scenic Drive

The excerpt hi-lighted to the right and quoted below is from the Arizona State Land Department’s revised proposal submitted to the City of Scottsdale in February 2016. What does it mean? It means the state has dropped the idea of placing new commercial zoning on the east side of Scottsdale Road between Happy Valley and Jomax Road, which is the southernmost section of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive.

“Since sound planning principles favor siting commercial land uses along arterial roads to provide ease of access, this rezoning proposal originally sought 40 acres of PCC zoning on Scottsdale Road between Jomax and Happy Valley roads. ASLD deemed this location suitable due to the long-running existence of commercial uses in the area under ASLD Special Land Use Permits and the presence of two high-voltage transmission corridors. As discussed below, this proposal has been removed from this case due to comments received during the public outreach process.”

The City of Scottsdale is expected to move forward with the consideration of the revised request. GPPA-Friends of the Scenic Drive will be following that progress in the weeks ahead.