Although BySynergy has jumped every official hurdle to push ahead with the Bella Terra development near Red Rock Crossing, big issues still remain.

Although BySynergy has jumped every official hurdle to push ahead with the Bella Terra development near Red Rock Crossing, big issues still remain.

Large in the minds of some members of the Red Rock Rural Community Association are the changes allegedly made Michael Zito, CEO of BySynergy.

Zito said he has a legal right to make necessary changes.

Chief among them, according to local Sierra Club representative Carole Piszcek-Sheffield, was the promise to retain the Schuerman homestead.

Fred E. Schuerman made the land available for the Bella Terra development and had a fruit orchard and other agricultural projects on the land for many years.

Sheffield said Zito promised to make it a library. It is a pile of rubble now.

Next was the promise to locals that the 26 lots along Oak Creek would not be homesites and would be made into a park. Brian Myers, RRRCA vice president, maintains that Zito plans to sell them as home sites.

BySynergy representatives did not disagree with that when asked if that was the case.

The third change that has neighbors concerned was the promise to not sink wells.

This is important in Arizona according to some long-time residents.

A number of wells have been planned and the Arizona Water Company is listed on the public report as the water provider. Zito said that AWC will take over administration of the water system at some point in the future.

Regarding the sale of 26 lots for homes, BySynergy Senior Vice President Donna Michaels responded that ?it?s BySynergy?s responsibility to do what is best for all? involved with the development, including investors.

Michaels said that she believed the development at Bella Terra would ?preserve a lifestyle associated with the area.? The company has attended several meetings where the public was invited to speak, she said.

She added that, ?At BySynergy, we have not changed our approach. Our doors are still open and we remain open to our neighbors.?

Michaels commented earlier that if a green developer like BySynergy was having this much trouble, what kind of message does that send to other developers that ?want to do the right thing,? as her company does?

Michaels said lot-splitting was never considered by the company, even though it was vastly cheaper.

Zito concurred that BySynergy went for a planned area development with Yavapai County because ?it was the right thing to do.?