 AVONDALE CONSIDERS TEEN CENTER, PAGE 4


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50¢ Friday, August 17, 2012 FRIDAY Land swap deal moves forward news1@westvalleyview.com


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Litchfi eld Park approves its portion of agreement with Avondale The street to be discussed with Avondale is Las Cruces Drive, Mayor Tom Schoaf said. It was the next step in a process that will allow a community currently sitting in a county island to be annexed by Avondale. Avondale agreed to consider taking on the


by Emily McCann and Rachel Trott staff writers


Litchfield Park was put into motion Wednesday when Litchfield Park approved its part of an intergovernmental agreement with one stipulation that still needs to be discussed between the cities, Assistant City Manager Sonny Culbreth said. “The City Council did pass the agreement but with a minor issue still going back to Avondale about the maintenance of one of the roads, but [Mayor Tom Schoaf] said it was a minor thing,” Culbreth explained.


A land swap deal between Avondale and


Wigwam Creek South community, between Camelback and Indian School roads, east of Dysart Road and west of El Mirage Road, after residents approached it in 2008. Before it can do so, legal actions need to be


taken. Litchfield Park now must relinquish a strip of land on the northern boundary of the


community so Avondale can annex it. Strip annexation is no longer legal, but was frequently done in the 1970s and 1980s as a way for cities to protect land, either for future annexation or to prevent neighboring cities from annexing. Litchfield Park acquired the land because at one time it planned to annex Wigwam Creek; however the city refused to annex one subdivision because that community’s master plan didn’t match Litchfield Park’s planning standards. Once the cities perform the swap, they both must forward a copy of their ordinances to the


(See Land swap on Page 2)


Jordin Sparks proves she can act — Page 17.


DOUBLE THREAT


APS offers alternative routes for power lines


by Rachel Trott staff writer


NEW MASCOT IN TOWN


Avondale unveils Carmen Electa — Page 9.


View photo by Ray Thomas


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KEVIN DUNCAN OF ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO., left, takes questions from developers Hal Golightly and Gary Sorrel Tuesday as they scrutinize one of the plans at the third meeting held by APS in Goodyear to take Estrella residents’ comments over the potential siting locations for a new 69kV power line.


Interstate 11 designated in new federal bill


by Brent Whiting staff writer


Interstate 11, a proposed freeway that would connect Phoenix and Las Vegas, has moved a step closer to reality. Leaders in both Arizona and Nevada are applauding federal legislation that designates the I-11 freeway corridor.


two states and makes the I-11 corridor eligible for federal funding, an important milestone in the long- range transportation project, officials said. Marie Lopez Rogers, the Avondale mayor, was among the officials on hand July 13 for a White House ceremony in which President Barack Obama signed a transportation bill that included the designation of the I-11 corridor. Lopez Rogers attended the signing in her capacity as the new chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments, or MAG, a


The action came after years of lobbying by the regional planning council.


She described the federal designation as a needed investment in “border transportation infrastructure” to help Arizona compete with other border states in international trade relations. In fact, officials look upon I-11 as an important component of a prime freight route from Mexico to Phoenix, Las Vegas and beyond, all the way to Canada. The current I-11 corridor extends from


Wickenburg to Las Vegas, according to Kelly Taft, a MAG spokeswoman. However, Valley leaders envision a future Hassayampa Freeway, an I-11 extension that would start north from Interstate 10 in Casa Grande, Taft said. The proposed freeway would swing south of the Estrella Mountains before turning north along the Hassayampa River through Buckeye to


(See Interstate 11 on Page 3)


Arizona Public Service Co. presented alternative route options for a proposed set of power lines in Goodyear’s Estrella neighborhood during an open house Tuesday evening. The community meeting was the first of two scheduled in response to customer concerns about the original route, which stretches from Willis Road and Rainbow Valley Road to San Miguel Drive and Estrella Parkway. The second open house is planned for sometime in October to allow APS to narrow down the route options according to community feedback and other factors, APS officials said.


Resident concerns


More than 300 Estrella residents submitted a petition against the original power line route in May, citing concerns about the negative impact


(See Power lines on Page 2)


Map submitted by MAG


A MAP SHOWS the proposed freeway that would connect Phoenix with Las Vegas.


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