West Valley leaders meet to discuss balancing growth with traffic, water challenges

A West Valley advocacy group will be hosting an economic development summit on Thursday. This year’s gathering put on by Westmarc will focus on sustainable growth in the West Valley, and includes panels featuring business and elected officials.

Sintra Hoffman is Westmarc’s president and CEO; The Show spoke with her earlier about the summit and asked what sustainable growth in the West Valley means to her.

Full conversation

SINTRA HOFFMAN: I think as everyone knows, the West Valley has really been on fire over the last five or six years. And this is where the growth is happening. So as we start to manage with limited resources, how are we going to really balance all of those needs?

We have a lot of technology companies coming in, and we really are shaping up to be that next Silicon Valley within the greater region and then specifically with some of the investments in the West Valley.

So how do we do that in a mindful and balanced and collaborative manner because we’re bringing in these great projects that also require our resources, our natural resources?

MARK BRODIE: So are you thinking then about sort of the standard things that most cities, including others in the Valley think about in terms of land use and infrastructure and water and electricity and things like that?

SINTRA HOFFMAN: Absolutely. And that is the type of discussion that we are going to have. We have two panels put together as well as a TED talk, and that’s what they’re really going to revolve around is what are some of the power and water needs, how are we going to make sure that we have the resources that are needed based on the companies that are coming in?

So if these companies are coming in requiring resources that maybe require a little bit more dialogue and balanced into how are we going to actually put this together, that’s an important discussion to happen. And there are different ways.

For data centers, for example — that’s all of a sudden become a very dirty word. But the reality is we’re in a tech economy. And so these are some things that maybe needed, but how do we do it in a balanced and respectful way, respectful to the communities and the neighborhoods and so on? Because 5-10 years, we have to make sure that our cellphones are still connecting and we can still dial up to the internet and so on.

MARK BRODIE: All right, so I’m glad you brought up data centers because it sounded like that’s what you were describing before you named them. And obviously the West Valley has kind of been in the headlines recently for proposed projects that a lot of folks in that part of town don’t necessarily want, and there are communities that are looking to bring in data centers.

How do you see that particular industry maybe shaping your part of the Valley for the next number of years?

Westmarc

SINTRA HOFFMAN: You know, communities go through an evolution process, and when they are still growing or when they’re when they start to grow or when they’re still in that growth mode, data centers and other industrial projects may be very attractive to them because they’re still trying to make that name.

And as we get more mature and we’re starting to elevate the types of companies that are coming in, we can be a little bit more selective. And I feel that that’s kind of what’s happened in the West Valley and what is going on.

What makes it interesting at this time is although we do feel that we are a community that’s that’s bringing in and attracting that next level type of economic development, what’s happening in terms of the types of companies that are coming in, again, they are tech-based. AI is not going anywhere. It’s only getting bigger.

And so how do we start to manage the need for that type of data storage and things like that with maybe a company or a usage that we’re not crazy about? I think there is … the need for for our communities to come together with some of these users, with some of these data centers that are coming in and figure out what is that right balance. Because again, it’s really part of our economic growth.

MARK BRODIE: So you and I have talked in the past about the kinds of industries that you’re looking to bring to the West Valley, and you mentioned tech just now. We’ve talked in the past about things, for example, like infrastructure projects and logistics and manufacturing, things like that.

I wonder if those kinds of industries pose any particular either challenges or opportunities, specifically in the area of sustainability, like what you’ll be talking about at the summit.

SINTRA HOFFMAN: One area that I think we’ve all seen no matter what part of the Valley you’re in, but we’re definitely seeing this in the West Valley is more interstate congestion, more traffic on the on the interstates, more traffic on our local roads and things like that.

And again, that’s going to come with the movement of or the increase in people moving to the region, as well as the types of companies that are coming in. Freight mobility is really important. That’s how we’re getting things around. And everyone’s ordering from Amazon. Well, guess what? Those things have to come in on our roads.

So I think it’s really important to understand that with the economic growth, with the residential growth, we’re also going to be in greater demand for those services. And it is important to invest in our infrastructure.

One of the great things, we’re fortunate that the voters of Maricopa County recently passed Proposition 479, and that is a 20-year plan that will help us build additional roadways, freeways, and transit projects throughout greater Maricopa County. Specifically in the West Valley, there are some key projects that are coming in that will help manage that congestion that we’re dealing with right now.

So I think infrastructure really is key, and I always say I’m an infrastructure geek. But the reason why is because if we don’t have basic infrastructure, great roadways, great freeways, we’re not going to attract these companies. If you take a look at a map of the investments or the employment throughout the Valley, you’ll notice that the vast majority of them are located along the freeway system.

So that is a key thing for us to talk about at this economic development summit.

MARK BRODIE: When you think about sustainability in the West Valley, is there one aspect of it that you are maybe more concerned about than others?

SINTRA HOFFMAN: I think everyone’s concerned about water. Obviously, we live in a desert. And as we continue to grow, we have to be mindful of how we’re using that resource. Are we employing sustainable options to be able to really continue the growth and manage our water portfolio?

So I think water would be the key one that I think is not only on my mind, but the mind of the regions. And I think the good thing is that because it’s on our mind, it’s something that we continue to galvanize around and work towards solutions together.

MARK BRODIE: All right. That is Sintra Hoffman, president and CEO of Westmarc. Sintra, thanks as always. I appreciate it.

SINTRA HOFFMAN: Thank you.

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