Some In New River, Desert Hills Want To Incorporate

By Bret Jaspers
Published: Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - 4:10pm
Updated: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 6:56am

New River, AZ
Bret Jaspers/KJZZ
New River, Arizona.

Some residents of the New River and Desert Hills communities north of Phoenix are trying to incorporate.

The effort comes after a water crisis in 2017, when the communities faced losing affordable water after the City of Phoenix said it would no longer let water haulers fill up at city hydrants. The episode ended when the utility EPCOR built a new tap into its water supply for haulers to use.

Some residents blamed over-development for the water problem and want fewer lot splits and more control over land decisions. They’ve filed an incorporation petition with the Board of Supervisors in Maricopa County.

“It’s imperative that we preserve these assets to ensure we have the ability to control our own destiny,” Laurie Ricci said in a press release of the community’s open spaces and “small town feel.” Ricci is President of the New River — Desert Hills Incorporation Committee.

The group will need about 1,100 valid signatures by May 1st to put incorporation on the November ballot.