Fact: The Town meets with cellular providers regularly to encourage additional coverage and increase capacity, as it is the provider's responsibility to provide the infrastructure necessary for their services.  Last year, the Town completed a connectivity study and has identified areas where the cellular providers can improve the capacity. Possible other solutions include micro-cell sites and placement on Town-owned land (where appropriate). Ultimately it is up to the respective cell phone providers and private landowners to make these investments and we will continue to work with them.

To help inform your provider of the coverage issue, you can dial 6-1-1 from your cell phone. 6-1-1 connects you with customer service for your respective cell phone carrier. Customer service will ask a series of questions to help troubleshoot the issue - callers should plan to spend about 10-15 minutes on the call.

The Town of Queen Creek is not using, nor contemplating the use of, eminent domain for a public transit station. The Town has not acquired land for a future public transit station, nor does the Town have any current intentions to acquire land for this type of facility. Additionally, the Town is not collaborating with any private landowners to locate a public transit station.

The Town’s voter-approved 2018 General Update includes two potential commuter rail stations along Rittenhouse Road, one north of Ocotillo Road, and another north of Combs Road. NO land has been reserved or acquired by the Town for either station at this time.

In order for the Town to have a potential AMTRAK station, the State of Arizona would need to apply for and be awarded competitive grant funding to create new rail connections for the proposed Buckeye-Phoenix-Tucson line. The State has not applied for this opportunity, so no award has been made.

Eminent Domain is the legal authority for a government entity to acquire property for public purposes. Eminent domain is available as a last resort and narrowly used. There are very specific criteria outlined in state law for use of eminent domain, including the requirement to pay fair market value for any lands acquired.

 Of note, the Town did not use eminent domain for Cloud Road, nor Crismon Road.

Fact: Historically, the Town of Queen Creek’s philosophy for residential and commercial annexations has been for the property owners to initiate discussions. 

Roadways and necessary right-of-way have been approached differently as the Town did not include any roadways when it incorporated in 1989 and acquiring land is often necessary to accomplish roadway improvements. Maricopa and Pinal counties often require the Town to annex roadways as part of joint projects. Having the Town annex the roads provides faster maintenance and local control. 

Additionally, there are State laws that guide the annexation process; a majority of the property owners in the defined area must be in favor of annexation, in addition to a majority of property value, for an area to be annexed by the Town. 

In considering applications for annexation, the Town Council reviews the following criteria to establish the interest in bringing the property into the Town:

• Financial: Analysis of fiscal impact to the Town including one-time and recurring revenues and expenses. 

• Economic Development: Potential for desired growth; job creation in targeted clusters and opportunities identified in the Town’s Economic Development Strategic Plan. 

• Civic: Growth of our political subdivision, civic pride, and sense of community. 

• Planning and Building: Impacts to the Town land use program; parks, trails and open space program; surrounding properties; extent of compliant/non-compliant structures. 

• Public Safety: Impacts to existing program; demand for new services. 

• Legal: Considerations for successful annexation; identification of required process and procedures. 

To learn more about the annexation process, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Annexation 

Fact: If a parcel of land or a commercial center is zoned appropriately for a particular use, Town staff can only guide the process of site selection, but does not make the final investment decision on the type of restaurant, retailer or service provider that locates in a particular shopping center or location in Town. 

Town staff works with a variety of businesses, including chains and locally owned companies, to help identify locations in Queen Creek that might interest them. Ultimately the final site decision is up to the business owner, franchisee, land owner or landlord. Each business has criteria and requirements that are analyzed prior to making a decision on location, criteria may include traffic counts, trade area, parking, visibility and/or proximity to a freeway. Independent or locally owned businesses may also consider proximity to home and lease rates.

Fact: The FAA recently issued specific guidelines for operating drones (unmanned aircraft systems) near airports. Specifically, drones cannot be operated within a five-mile radius of any towered airport without first notifying the airport and control tower. Portions of the Town fall within the five-mile radius of the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport Authority (PMGAA), see the map below. If you are within the PMGAA notification area, visit GatewayAirport.com/DroneOperators or call 480-406-7464 before operating a drone. Sky Harbor Airport also offers an online notification form.

Fact: Recycling "right" does matter!

What changes have occurred in the recycling industry recently?

With single-stream curbside recycling it has become more convenient for residents to recycle, but also easier to contaminate your recycle cart. Food and drinks, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and human waste (diapers) or pet waste can contaminate an entire load of recyclables.  Tanglers such as garden hoses, plastic bags and wrap, and electronic wires and cords cause issues with the sorting machinery, resulting in costly repairs and processing delays.

Starting in 2018, stricter guidelines were passed by some of the largest importers of US recycling, requiring buyers to reduce contamination levels to .5% or below. According to the National Waste & Recycling Association about 25% of curbside recycling is contaminated.

So how does it affect residents in Queen Creek?

In Queen Creek the contamination level hovers between 8-9%, lower than the national average which improves the quality of recyclable materials that can be recycled into new materials. This low contamination level also carries over as savings to the residents for trash and recycling services.

The Town has been very active since the program's inception with an enhanced education and outreach program established with the goal of minimizing and reducing contamination.

What can residents do?

• Recycle only items listed on the QC Recycles acceptable list.  
• Recyclables should be free of food and drinks (rinse when needed).
• Cardboard boxes should be broken down and free of Styrofoam or plastic packing materials.
• Plastic bags are the largest contaminate in your recycle cart. Do not bag recyclables or place plastic bags or plastic wrap in your blue cart.