LeMarr: The real setback — election-season scare tactics

Recently, mayoral challenger Julie Pace and two council candidates she supports have stirred some confusion and discord by making ominous statements about open space and setbacks in our town.

Please review the facts, and don’t be fooled.

Contrary those scare tactics, thanks to the efforts of Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner along with the majority of our current council, our town continues to be heading in the right direction.

I know our community’s standards and goals for setbacks, open space, and building quite well, having served on the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, General Plan Committee (Chair), council, and two terms as your mayor. I appreciated the opportunity to serve the town I love and I worked diligently to ensure we protected our unique residential character. That’s still my desire.

Last year, after the dangerous looting and rioting in neighboring communities, the Town Council was appropriately responding to citizen safety concerns and code ambiguity by discussing whether three-feet of see-through, high-quality metal fencing (not chain link or “rebar”) could be installed on top of long-allowed three-foot-tall front yard walls on certain busy streets, in addition to Tatum and Lincoln where this has long been allowed.

Town Staff confirmed that this proposal would not have reduced open space.

And it would not have applied to homes along local neighborhood roads. That’s the whole issue.

In the end, no changes were made. And, to be clear, the council did not discuss changing any standards for solid walls, building setbacks, lot sizes, building areas, building heights or any similar subject.

There are important issues citizens should monitor to protect our quality of life. But the issue of “setbacks” as presented by Ms. Pace is not one of them.

It’s a red herring designed to agitate and divide, and should serve as a warning to anyone who cares about keeping our town stable, successful, and in good hands.

I will be voting to re-elect Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner, Vice Mayor Anna Thomasson, and Council Member Paul Dembow this summer — each has shown positive energy, successful teamwork, and commitment to the public rather than a personal political agenda.

Editor’s Note: Scott LeMarr is a former mayor of Paradise Valley.