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Governing Board: Dawn Densmore, Jay Leonard, Christine A.K. Pritchard, Traci Sawyer-Sinkbeil, Jennifer Tanner December 4, 2019 Mr. Jorge Gastelum Community Development Director / City Engineer City of El Mirage 10000 N El Mirage Road El Mirage, AZ 85335 RE: District Comments on Fig / Mirage Oasis Project - Dysart and Greenway Dear Mr. Gastelum, We’ve been communicating with a representative of the developer (from BFH Group) regarding this project, a 3-story 180 unit townhouse development. It is adjacent to Surprise Elementary School. There is an agreement in place that provides an easement for said project along the district’s private road via Greenway Rd. The agreement also includes a 50% payment to the district from the developer/owner for certain private access road construction costs within 30 days of beginning construction on the currently vacant site. We’re planning to add a crossing on the private drive between the school and project. It would likely be located between the westernmost bus entrance and the western main school entrance lane. We would plan to operate it similar to a yellow ladder crossing with roller signs and staffed with a crossing guard. We will need to cut a ramp in that area and also ask that the developer provide a ramp and sufficient pedestrian staging area for the crossing as will DUSD. It would be ideal if direct pedestrian access from the crossing area to the housing units was provided. All parties should be aware of the drainage across the private drive to retention area just south; this appears to be near the low point in the private road. Any landscaping along the frontage of the private road is welcomed. Shading pedestrian staging areas with trees is also welcomed. Landscaping and design that encourage a sense of community and improve traffic calming are agreeable. Westbound traffic on the private drive will need sufficient visibility for a proposed crossing. Governing Board: Dawn Densmore, Jay Leonard, Christine A.K. Pritchard, Traci Sawyer-Sinkbeil, Jennifer Tanner The easement agreement allows for access to the site from Greenway Rd. While access from Dysart is expected to be available, the district may gate the Western portion of the drive if needed. We generally wish to allow free access and work with the builder regarding any future issues. It may be appropriate to inform future owners/residents of the easement and the school traffic that will be encountered. We will also do our part to inform our families that these townhomes should not be accessed as pick-up/drop off locations; we have limitations in how we could respond if this were to occur. Surprise Elementary and the Dysart Unified School District has room for the new student population this project will bring. Please consider this willingness and capacity to serve. I have attached the land exchange agreement to build the new school, it includes the easement agreement on PDF page 36 for your reference. The district appreciates the opportunity to comment on pending projects in the City of El Mirage. The developer’s representative Mr. David Bohn has be helpful and supportive. DUSD has no objections to this project. Any ideas or comments from city staff on the safe flow of vehicles and pedestrians in this area, or any other thoughts, are welcomed and encouraged. We’re looking forward to having new neighbors and additional housing options in the city. Sincerely, Kevin Shipman Planning Administrator Planning Department Dysart Unified School District a: 15802 N Parkview Place, Surprise, AZ 85374 w: www.dysart.org e: kevin.shipman@dysart.org