Sheryl Strobeck

Sheryl Strobeck

Sheryl Strobeck and her husband Jim Christensen didn’t end up in Tusayan the way most people have, but she knows one thing: she doesn’t want to leave. “We came here on our honeymoon in 2004 and ran out of money,” Strobeck said with a laugh. “We did karaoke with our last five dollars and got jobs. The Holiday Inn was our first job, and we’ve been here ever since.”

Strobeck said the Camper Village Temporary Housing development on the south end of the campground represents a welcome change from employee-only housing in Tusayan.

“I’m really excited! People will start to see that there’s actually progress,” Strobeck said. “People are dying for places… You can’t get housing until you get a job, and if you’re looking for a job, what do you do in the meantime? It’s just gonna be nice to see some new stuff here.”

Strobeck said there are others like her who would like to retire in Tusayan.

“We want to stay because we’ve invested eight years, nine years,” Strobeck said. “We don’t want to have to start over again.”

Kathryn Kanallakan

Kathryn Kanallakan

Kathryn Kanallakan is no stranger to housing developments. This Tusayan native has witnessed firsthand how a housing development can change a town. Her parents, who purchased property and lived in Valle, were one of the many people who purchased a brand new house only to find that after their house was built, no infrastructure was installed.

“They said the roads were going to be paved, and power was going to be up, and it never happened,” Kanallakan said. “My parents spent all this money to have a house built, but then there was no power and no water.”

Naturally, when Kanallakan heard about Tusayan’s Camper Village Temporary Housing development, she had plenty of questions to ask to make sure that what happened to her parents did not happen again.

“I’m glad that this time they made stipulations so that people don’t end up in the same situation that my parents did,” Kanallakan said. “I’m glad to see that this [infrastructure] is going be completed before any of the houses are built.”

With this reassurance, Kanallakan is eager to see the development of Camper Village and welcoming the possibility to renting a seasonal home.

Larry Hostetler

Larry Hostetler

Larry Hostetler has lived in Tusayan and worked for local contractor RobbCo for the last year, and said the projects he’s working on have made him excited for the future of Tusayan. RobbCo has been involved with construction projects at the IMAX, the Town of Tusayan, FAA, ADOT and Stilo.

“For us to be involved in Tusayan, in the town, and in the growth of the town, it’s a perfect thing,” Hostetler said. “Getting housing here is vital. It’s also going to help the town grow.”

Hostetler said his vision for the future of Tusayan is a vibrant economy led by the people who live here.

“People that can buy property, maybe retire, or they can start of business,” Hostetler said. “It’s time for this town to grow, not necessarily into a Sedona, but that type of tourist atmosphere up here, and attract all kinds of people.”

Hostetler said his excitement has led him to become more involved in the town’s activities. He attends almost every town council meeting, and currently is running for the Tusayan Fire District Board.

Janet Rosener

Janet Rosener

Janet Rosener has lived in Tusayan and worked for IMAX for the last 12 years, and she feels her beloved town “is only getting better.”

Rosener, like many, would like to retire in Tusayan but employee-only housing has made that an impossible dream.

“You can’t make long term plans here,” Rosener said. “It’s like, what are you gonna do when you retire? Leave here? You have to find somewhere else to live.”

With the development of Camper Village Temporary Housing, what was thought to be impossible for Rosener is now more attainable than ever.

“I’m gonna be one of the first ones buying a modular,” Rosener said. “Now I don’t have a problem looking ten years down the road and seeing myself still here living in this town, watching the growth, and being a part of it.”

Ground broke in October on Camper Village

Construction work began on a new housing neighborhood at Camper Village in October, paving the way for the first phase of a long-term development planned for Tusayan by Stilo Development Group USA.

The new neighborhood will be located at the south end of Camper Village, which currently serves visiting RV’s and camping visitors, and slated for up to 46 manufactured homes and realizes the goal of creating housing alternatives that are independent of one’s employment

Mayor Greg Bryan and a majority of the Town Council required Stilo to provide immediate interim housing as a part of the broader development agreement while it moves forward on permanent housing and other uses at the Kotzin and Ten-X Ranch properties it owns in Tusayan.

Stilo representative Tom De Paolo said the Camper Village interim housing idea originally was proposed to Coconino County before Tusayan incorporated, bought died there and was resurrected in the  development agreement. He said it’s faced an uphill battle ever since.

“This project had been scheduled to begin sooner, but was delayed by legal objections raised by a few members of the community, county approvals for floodway compliance and a few state hoops that RobbCo had to jump through, which they almost miraculously were able to do,” Stilo representative Tom De Paolo said.

The work that has begun at Camper Village primarily is focused on infrastructure needs including water, sewer and power. Once the infrastructure is in place, homes can be installed at the site.

Local contractor RobbCo Construction is handling the work to ready the site for housing. Robb Baldosky, President of RobbCo, said the best-case scenario would have the first homes in the next 30-60 days.

“We’re going to have all new infrastructure – water, sewer, electric, everything,” Baldosky said. “By the end of November people should be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner in their home.”

One of the homes at Blue Ribbon in Flagstaff

Once infrastructure is in place, homes can be installed. That’s where Bob Hanson comes in. Hanson, President of Blue Ribbon Homes in Flagstaff, will be Stilo’s preferred dealer on new manufactured homes at Camper Village. As part of the development agreement with the town, Stilo is obligated to install up to 12 new homes at the site for rent and/or ownership depending on demand and need.

De Paolo said the idea is to provide affordable housing to Tusayan residents by allowing them to purchase a unit from Blue Ribbon without a markup price.   Basic models have monthly ownership payments that in many cases will be lower than what residents currently pay to rent.

“We are keeping our promise to the residents we have worked with here for years,” De Paolo said. “This isn’t about profit; it’s about providing affordability and allowing residents to plan for their future in Tusayan. The economic engines of the commercial development are the proposed hotels, restaurants, shops and visitor amenities and the residents who make those facilities viable are the gasoline in those engines and there is no need to profit from the fruits of their labor.  Without them these commercial enterprises will fail and there is ample profit opportunity within those visitor uses to insure long-term, residential affordability.”

De Paolo said once environmental studies are finished and infrastructure is built to the Kotzin and Ten-X Ranch properties, Stilo will assist in helping residents move units to a permanent location, should they decide to purchase property there.

Tusayan Mayor Greg Bryan said the Camper Village project represents a milestone of progress for the community.

“I am excited to see the infrastructure being installed at Camper Village, which will enable new housing units to hopefully be put in place in the near future,” Bryan said. “Housing has long been my primary focus in incorporation and the building of our town. I am glad to see this visual progress being made.”

Anyone interested in the interim housing at Camper Village can call Sandi Angat, Stilo’s Community Outreach Coordinator, for more information. She can be reached to schedule an appointment at 928-266-2604 or via email at sandraangat@gmail.com. Stilo’s office is located between the Ponderosa Room and Sophie’s Mexican Kitchen, and includes more information about housing options and long-term development plans.

Information about the project also can be found at www.tusayansfuture.com.

Is Camper Village housing right for you?

If you are interested in the new housing available at Camper Village, there are three easy steps you can take:

1. Call or visit Stilo – Stop by Stilo’s office or make an appointment with Stilo’s representative, Sandi Angat. Sandi can walk through rent vs. ownership, potential costs and types of housing available. Sandi is the first person to set you on the path to a new living situation.
2. Meet Blue Ribbon – If you know you want housing, but not sure if you qualify for ownership opportunities, Sandi will set up an appointment for you and Blue Ribbon Homes. Bob Hanson with Blue Ribbon is Stilo’s manufactured home dealer, and can walk you through house options, pricing, sizes, floor plans, and timing. Most importantly, Bob can discuss various financing options with you.
3. Move in! – If you are tired of employee housing, homes at Camper Village are priced for affordability. Enjoy the privacy of a new home without dealing with the problems of employee housing.

Over the summer, residents of Tusayan received a survey in the mail asking their opinion on the upcoming Stilo development plans. The survey asked questions like “Which type of housing do residents prefer?” and “What types of amenities are people most interested in seeing?”

The results of the survey showed that Tusayan residents prefer all different types of housing and amenities. Apartments and manufactured homes were among the most popular housing options. An equal level of interest was shown by residents regarding the option to rent or buy future housing.

As for the preferred amenities, residents showed an interest in adding a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a pharmacy, and a Laundromat to their growing town.

Stilo Representative Tom De Paolo said the feedback is invaluable as Stilo moves forward in its partnership with the town.

“The results of the survey proved to be very interesting and confirmed what Stilo initially thought about the potential for Tusayan to be a vibrant, diverse community,” De Paolo said. “The development of both short-term and long-term housing in Tusayan is such an exciting advancement not only for the town, which for the first time will have true, affordable housing options independent of the workplace and employment. Stilo hopes to encourage people in the community open their small own businesses in the proposed commercial spaces cementing their residential and economic roots in the community.”

Stilo Development USA's Tusayan properties (Ten-X is brown, Kotzin is red)

The Camper Village interim housing development is an exciting step for residents of Tusayan who have been vocal about the need for new independent housing. But it’s just the first step to long-term development plans by Stilo Development Group USA approved by the Tusayan Town Council last year.

Below is a look at what’s next, and what Stilo hopes to develop long term in Tusayan:

1. Environmental Study

Two properties owned by Stilo, Kotzin and Ten-X Ranch, are located inside Tusayan’s town boundaries, but surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest. In order to bring roads and infrastructure through the forest to its properties, Stilo must submit its plans to the U.S. Forest Service for environmental review.

Stilo has hired Westland Resources, an environmental engineering firm, to prepare studies for submittal to the Forest Service. Included in the proposal will be traffic, ecological, cultural and water studies.

The Forest Service will review the Stilo proposal for access to the Kotzin and Ten-X Ranch properties, which could take 1-2 years before a final decision is made to approve the plan.

2. Infrastructure / Water

Upon approval of forest access, Stilo must bring roads, electricity, sewer and water to the Kotzin and Ten-X Ranch properties before housing and commercial development can begin. Stilo currently is in the preliminary planning stages to eventually bring water to its properties.

Sewer and electric permits will need to be approved by the Town of Tusayan. Fire coverage could be handled by the Tusayan Fire District if Stilo and the District agree to work together to move the project forward. Likewise, sewer services could be handled by the South Grand Canyon Sanitary District if Stilo and the District agree to work together to move the project forward.

In order to ensure that water be used wisely all three properties will employ water conservation measures, such as the use of reclaimed water for non-potable uses, low flow plumbing fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping, will be incorporated into the development, minimally, in accordance with the requirements of the Tusayan Area Plan.

Stilo has always been committed to sustainable development practices and is evaluating innovative and exciting on-and-off-the-grid energy technologies and alternatives to groundwater usage, among other options.

3. Deed of 40 acres to Town of Tusayan

Stilo has deeded the town 40 acres of land for the use of housing, which currently is in escrow pending Forest Service access approval. Dependent upon the preference of the town, those acres could exist in either the Kotzin Ranch property or the Ten-X Ranch property. If the town so chooses, the acreage can be split between both properties.

The Town of Tusayan will have full control to build whatever it chooses on the 40 acres, provided the uses are residential or community related.

4. Build out

Full build out of any approved development is market-driven, and the Stilo project is no exception. Once the preliminary steps are taken to build, which could take 3-5 years, Stilo has plans to build residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments at three locations: Camper Village, Kotzin Ranch and Ten-X Ranch.

• Kotzin Ranch

Kotzin Ranch

The 160-acre Kotzin Ranch property appeals to visitors and residents alike, with facilities such as a Native American cultural campus and cultural park, a unique and pedestrian-oriented retail village, a broad mix of lodging units, a neighborhood commercial shopping center and an expansive range of housing choices, including detached houses, townhouses, apartments and condominiums within walking distance of nearby employment uses, shops, restaurants and the surrounding Kaibab National Forest.

• Ten-X Ranch

Ten-X Ranch

This property will offer residents a wide range of ownership and rental housing opportunities. Surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest, the Ten-X Ranch will be showcased as a property for those who cherish the outdoors with natural quiet, hiking opportunities, and privacy.

Some light neighborhood commercial and community services such as houses of worship are planned within the 195-acre parcel.

The property also envisions an RV park and high-end “dude ranch” style hotel and horse stables.

• Camper Village

Stilo hopes the 18-acre Camper Village will be viewed as the heart of Tusayan with areas classified as mixed-use. Camper Village envisioned as a lively, dynamic and interesting place to live, work, stay, shop, eat and play.

Meeting both visitor and resident needs, the site will be comprised of lodging, professional and administrative offices, apartments, condominiums, live-work units, timeshares, grocery and drug, an assortment of food, beverage and entertainment options, postal services, public and community services, police station, library, other public services and salons.

Architecturally, the design will incorporate native materials, landscaping and the use of reclaimed water. Architectural themes for the property have not been decided. Ideas include Grand Canyon architecture; Arizona’s early mining history; frontier architecture; and, combinations or variations of the noted themes.

Sandi Angat, Community Outreach Coordinator

Sandi Angat

Sandi Angat is Stilo’s Community Outreach Coordinator, and will be the point person to explain the new housing options at Camper Village to anyone who is interested.

“Everyone has heard about this project, but I’m here to fill in the details,” Angat said. “Whether someone is interested in renting or ownership, I can work with each person individually and help them decide which options are best for them, and put them in touch with people who can help them make it happen.”

Angat has lived in Tusayan for three years, and has held employment with both the Ponderosa Room and Squire Inn. She’s been involved in real estate and community organizing capacities in California, Las Vegas and Anthem, Ariz., and says she wants to make Tusayan her home for good.

“This is an incredible opportunity to help a new town thrive,” Angat said. “Most people have to leave this beautiful place because of the housing problems. Now, people will have an opportunity to build families and lives here.”

If you are interested in the new housing options at Camper Village, Angat can be reached to make an appointment at 928-266-2604 or via email at sandraangat@gmail.com. Stilo’s office is located between the Ponderosa Room and Sophie’s Mexican Kitchen. Information about the Stilo development project can be found at the office and online at www.tusayansfuture.com.

Bob Hanson, Blue Ribbon Homes

Bob Hanson

Bob Hanson of Blue Ribbon Homes is excited for the opportunity to help put people in homes at Camper Village. L.M. Hanson, Bob’s father, founded Blue Ribbon in 1977. Located in Flagstaff, Hanson said he’s done business all over Arizona.

For Tusayan residents who wish to purchase a home, Hanson will be the go-to person for many questions they may have about what kind of home they want, costs, financing, and timing.

Hanson said he works with financers nationwide, and can typically find a way to make different options work so people can afford a home. Hanson is an exclusive dealer for manufacturer Cavco Homes.

Blue Ribbon also assists with lot pad prep, permanent foundations/stem walls, alternate septic systems, water cisterns w/ pump and pump houses, driveways with culverts, electrical pedestals/poles, garages, decks and permits for all.

Hanson can be contacted at 928-526-5882. Information about Blue Ribbon Homes can be found at www.blueribbonmfh.com and Cavco’s web site is www.cavco.com.

Robb Baldosky, RobbCo Construction

Robb Baldosky

Robb Baldosky, President of local contractor RobbCo Construction understands what it means to have a development like Camper Village in Tusayan.

“It’s showing progress, there has been a lot of fighting, a lot of battling to get to this point,” Baldosky said. “And as a resident, it’s pretty cool to see these hurdles met and something physical come of it.”

Baldosky and his crew at RobbCo broke ground in October, and if everything goes according to plan, they hope to have residents moved in as early as November.

“By the end of November, people should be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner in their new homes,” Baldosky said. “It’s happening; it’s happening now and people will benefit from it.”

RobbCo is currently prepping the site for all new water, sewage, and electrical lines. In addition, site safety, flood control, and a course survey were all completed.

“Everything’s in place, the next step is to break ground,” Baldosky said.

When asked what the residents of Tusayan would see once construction was started, Baldosky said, “You’ll see a mess. You’ll see a mess for a while, then you’ll see it finished!”

Construction on Camper Village housing is underway

Slowly but surely, progress is being made in Tusayan. And Tusayan residents have led the way.

Before Tusayan incorporated, it was tough to change things in Tusayan. Coconino County and a few landowners controlled things, and they didn’t do a bad job, if you believe Tusayan was as good as it could ever be.

But when an opportunity came to add new, independent housing and ownership possibilities to Tusayan, residents got a chance to have their say. The Tusayan Town Council last year opted to move forward with a development agreement that gives the town a chance to grow responsibly and with town oversight.

For the first time ever, Tusayan has its own town council and planning and zoning committee to make decisions about the town’s future. We applaud those who have served or run for election to serve the town. However, a successful future depends on even more residents getting involved.

The Stilo Development Group now has a local office and a community outreach coordinator. If you are interested in what they are proposing, don’t hesitate to make your thoughts known or ask questions if you need clarification.

And there are other opportunities get involved in the coming years. On Nov. 6, as we all know, there is a U.S. Presidential election. But also on the ballot is one town council seat, two seats on the Tusayan Fire District board and three seats for the South Grand Canyon Sanitary District.

All of those entities will have an important say in how future development in Tusayan unfolds. There are many perspectives in town. Some people want to keep things the way they are, and others want to move the town in a new direction.

So be sure to vote on Election Day for the candidates who best represent your views and have your voice heard.  In the future, consider serving your community in some capacity. Tusayan has a historic opportunity to change the fabric of the town. Only you, the residents who know this place best, can ensure it’s done right.

The Coconino County Recorder’s office posted the results on March 14, the day after the election. Bryan and Montoya both received 71 votes, while challengers Robbie Evans and Clarinda Vail received 59 and 57 votes, respectively.

The Tusayan Town Council approved the canvass of the results at its regular meeting on March 21.

Both Bryan and Montoya were originally elected in August 2010 to serve two-year terms. But Tusayan Fire Department Chief Robbie Evans and Red Feather Properties owner Clarinda Vail filed for the recall in early 2012, less than six months before the seats were up for election, causing some observers to wonder if the recall election was a waste of town funds.

Bryan and Montoya were part of the town council that approved the Stilo development for new commercial and housing land uses on the Kotzin Ranch, Ten-X Ranch, and Camper Village properties. Council member Bill Fitzgerald was the lone council vote against the plan, and Evans and Vail opposed and campaigned against the development. A referendum election on the development could occur in May, depending on whether the courts decide the referendum petitions are deemed sufficient.

But that’s just what Tusayan has been doing for the last two years. The Tusayan community had debated incorporation since the 1990s, but in 2010, voters finally took the plunge, overwhelmingly voting to take the future into their own hands.

The first elected council has done everything to further the campaign promises made in the incorporation campaign. Others who hope to join the council have been nothing more than road blocks to progress.

The last two years have been a rocky road, literally, as an ADOT highway improvement project remains unfinished awaiting warmer weather.

Some residents have moved on to other towns in the two years since Tusayan incorporated. No new housing exists. Year-round jobs are still hard to come by, and most residents are still defined by who they work for. Kids have grown two years older. Some have graduated and moved on.

It may seem to many like nothing has changed, but that perspective is wrong.

These last two years have been tough, tedious work for those who have chosen to serve the town in its infant phase. The Western Times commends the 15 people who have served on the town council or planning and zoning commission since the town’s beginning.

Mayor Greg Bryan

Those individuals have stepped up and volunteered their time and effort to getting a town off the ground, without pay. They’ve learned that making a town go is tough, unheralded work. They’ve been subject to criticism, and they should be, but some of it has gone far overboard.

Don’t believe the negativity. Incorporation opponents lead by recall candidate Clarinda Vail insisted Tusayan would go broke if it incorporated. Not true. Tusayan had over a $1 million surplus in its first year, one of very few communities in the entire state with a surplus. Tusayan is poised for a very bright future.

We believe the recall elections that will occur in March are a waste of taxpayer money. The next Tusayan Town Council elections occur in August, less than six months away. If voters have a problem with their elected officials, they have an opportunity to elect new people then. That’s how democracy works.

Mayor Greg Bryan and Vice Mayor Al Montoya were elected to the council with healthy majorities. They campaigned on bringing new affordable housing opportunities to Tusayan, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.

Bryan and Montoya served as the town’s voice at the table when Stilo brought its plan forward. They poured themselves into every detail of a complex plan, and fought hard at the table for nine months to make sure residents got a good deal.

The Stilo plan is a good deal for Tusayan. Because of Bryan and Montoya, the town gets 40 acres of land free from the developer for affordable housing, an estimated $10 million value. They paved the way for Stilo to pay for roads, sewer and infrastructure costs that will help make housing affordable at the Kotzin and Ten-X Ranch properties.

Bryan and Montoya were instrumental in resurrecting a temporary housing plan that Coconino County rejected in 2009 as part of the deal that will allow for housing immediately – if voters approve the project in May – until  infrastructure is brought to Kotzin and Ten-X. Commercial development in the plan is sensible and promotes a year-round economy.

Vice Mayor Al Montoya

In addition, Mr. Montoya encouraged Stilo to negotiate a historic detail with the Grand Canyon School, which could be worth millions to students who eventually will grow up and learn in a new facility in Tusayan.  He also was instrumental in ensuring that the plans included areas reserved for churches and other community services.

It’s easy to criticize, and certainly their opponents, Robbie Evans and Clarinda Vail, have. But voters must decide who is best for the town in the ill-advised but important recall election.

While Bryan and Montoya were instrumental in securing the Stilo deal for the town Evans and Vail’s record on housing is mixed at best.

Evans recently told the Arizona Daily Sun that housing for Tusayan residents is “out of reach,” and asked “who’s going to give them [Tusayan residents] a loan?” Evans might have had an opportunity to voice his concerns and make some recommendations as a member of Tusayan’s Housing Committee, except that he didn’t bother to show up to the committee meetings.

Vail, on the other hand, had her lawyers threaten legal action against Stilo for showing residents two model homes at Camper Village.

This is hypocritical at best, as Mr. Evans and his running mate Mrs. Vail have said “no one will be able to afford a home” yet at the same time they use a cheap legal tactic to prevent residents from understanding that claim is patently false.

This is not the kind of leadership Tusayan needs. We hope future political opponents in Tusayan will choose against the wasteful recall process and instead step up and lead.

The choice is simple: If you want more of the same – landowners in charge of where you live and how much you pay in rent, support Vail and Evans. If you want independent housing, parks, better schools, churches, clinics and other amenities, support Bryan and Montoya.

We support Mayor Greg Bryan and Vice Mayor Al Montoya in the recall election for their leadership, vision, and commitment to the community.

The agreement calls for Stilo’s assistance in inequitable school funding, technology donations, study abroad programs, monetary grants, and impact fees. Stilo’s donation depends on a variety of factors, most importantly final approval of its development proposal, but ultimately could have an impact in the tens of millions of dollars for the Grand Canyon Unified School District.

The Grand Canyon School is unique in that it is the only K-12 school district  located within a National Park.  While 61% of the students live in the Park and are children of NPS or concessionaire employees, 100% of the State tax burden of the school is borne by the taxpayers of Tusayan.

Stilo  and the school district developed the donation agreement on the basis of future growth in Tusayan from its developments and their affect on potential increased school enrollment. Stilo also  recognized the funding inequity and addressed the inadequate funding arrangement for the Grand Canyon Unified School District in the agreement, alongside a variety of financial and other resources to our children, among them:

• Technology devices for high school students (for example, i-pads)
• Study abroad programs for 50 years
• Annual grants of $20,000 each to the GCUSD Foundation for 10 years
• A reimbursement to the GCUSD for “small school GAP funding” of up to $945,000 annually for a period of 50 years
• A .4% fee on ALL revenue on Stilo’s commercial properties (hotels, restaurants, shops, attractions, etc.) will go directly to the school district for use as its governing board deems appropriate.

The agreement is divided into three stages based on potential development. The first stage is effective immediately and includes a $30,000 followed by a $54,500 April donation intended to be used for a variety of local school needs, including but not limited to: teacher recognition, Challenge Day on bullying, band instruments, paying teacher stipends, books for elementary children.  In April, $54,500.00 will be given to the district to be used to create a student foreign travel/learning program.  However, if other on-site programs are facing cuts, Stilo recognizes that the district may need to use those funds for other critical needs.   Phase two of the donation agreement funding kicks in if and when the development is approved by Tusayan voters on May 15, 2012, and the final phase begins if and when Stilo breaks ground on its new development.

The agreement was signed on February 9^th by Stilo representatives Tom DePaolo and Superintendent, Sharyl Allen, signed the agreement on February 21^st after the  school’s board approved the agreement of the agreement at a special meeting on February 20^th.

“Our youth are the future of the Tusayan and Grand Canyon community and Stilo believes that a well-educated community enhances the likelihood of success of the businesses that will open within the development projects,” Stilo President Vittorio Bianchi said. “Stilo would prefer to see these young folks own a business in the area rather than simply work in one. This agreement represents our investment in the people of Tusayan and their future.”

Allen said, “The district has worked hard to reduce any adverse impact the Stilo development may have on our schools.  Stilo has listened keenly to the long list of needs and wide array of programs that need help.  Through this cash donation agreement, Stilo has  demonstrated their commitment toward being a firm supporter of an exceptional education for the children who attend Grand Canyon Schools.  I, for one, am pleased that the governing board and Stilo reached common understanding on how this donation agreement resolves the issues facing the school district, from the proposed development.  It is a very generous donation agreement.”

Members of Tusayan's newly appointed Planning and Zoning Commission at the swearing-in ceremony

The Tusayan Town Council appointed its first Planning and Zoning Commission. Members will include ClayAnn Cook, Sandi Angat, Charles Townsend, Rob Gossard and Beth Hearne.

The P&Z Commission will update and revise the Tusayan Area Plan and Design Review Overlay, which set the tone for building, housing and development standards for the town.

Tusayan adopted the Coconino County zoning ordinance following incorporation and many of the provisions of that document do not meet Tusayan’s unique geography. The county ordinance is more of a “one size fits all” that treats communities such as Ash Fork, Holbrook, Tuba City and Page similarly.  Tusayan has a unique set of challenges as well as opportunities and the P&Z commission will hold public workshops to develop a zoning ordinance that addresses matters appropriate for Tusayan.

The group will be reviewing the necessary documents and holding workshops to begin the process of understanding the planning process and charting a path forward.

P&Z member Sandi Angat said she was looking forward to the challenge.

“I believe there’s a lot of exciting things that are happening here,” she said. “I hope we can play a small role in making this town a better place for everyone.”