A Concern And A Word Of Caution From Al Heinze

Our neighbor Al Heinze has a few concerns, and a word of caution. Perhaps someone in our government might read this, and say, "Hmm, I wonder if Al knows what he's talking about?"
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To Art & Friends:

I had the opportunity to watch the blading and leveling of the part of Oro Valley that is in the vicinity of Oracle Road and Tangerine. I saw from the vantage of our new Northwest Community Medical Center a great deal of earth redistribution. It seems the grading limits only apply to the those that are not named Vestar or Ventana.

Vestar has already imported a mountain from Catalina, actually, Saddlebrooke Drive, by my estimate as many as 20,000 truck-loads. I watched as the parade of trucks, large 15 to 20 cubic yard belly dumpers disgorged their pile behind our houses. The number is crosschecked by the need to come up at least 2 feet on a large portion of the 100 acre Wally World Shopping Center to get it out of the flood plain. But don't get me wrong I don't think they are messing with mother nature. However that imported fill was not enough apparently as they are scrapping the lower areas west of the site, public land, to get more dirt and fill. If the council and others will get off of their _a---s and go to the site they will see utility poles sticking up out of what looks like mini pyramids. What you need to realize is that the top is the original ground level and the base is the new ground level at least so far.

As if that wasn't enough activity, the regrading of the north side of Tangerine is also going like gangbusters, I'm not sure who is responsible for this one, but I heard that WLB Group is requesting a land swap deal to getVentana more room south of their existing site.

I have heard from folks that have been here longer than I , (that's 10 years,) that in the 80's we had a flood that submerged the Oracle Road bridge over the CDO wash. If that were to happen now we would loose the Rams Canyon subdivision along with a lot of other property on the east side of Oracle. If that were to happen and there was loss of life who would step up to take the blame. I think then we would get the investigation into the dealings and secret goings on in this town that we deserve I just hope it doesn't take a disaster.

Oh; and I wish to thank Vestar for the dust storm last evening!

Al Heinze

(Note from Art: Be grateful it was ONLY a dust storm, and not Valley Fever!)

Arizona Tax Revolt Follow-Up

On July 11, we did a posting titled: "Move To Limit Arizona Property Taxes." Marc Goldstone, Chair of Arizona Tax Revolt has provided answers to a number of questions regarding their initiative to put controls on property taxes, controls that exist in many other state. We are linking to his email for the edification of our readers. Read it here. A link to Marc's web site is provided in the links section of our blog.

Bloggers Talk: Time To Clean House.. Letter to Wal-Mart

Blogger Jennifer Chenault shares her letter to Wal-Mart with us. While blogger Fred Schneider shares says its "Time To Clean House". Both items are available on "Blogger Talk" on our web site. Or, you can read each one directly by clicking here for Jennifer's Letter and clicking here for Fred's analysis.

Edward Cooke Offers His Opinion On Oro Valley Issues

We received the following text message from one of our neighbors, Edward Cooke. We thought the issue raised by Mr. Cooke deserved your attention. What do you think?
Art
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Oro Valley Announces New Constituent Services Coordinator - The
Oro Valley Vista - July/August 2007

This is a waste of taxpayers money!! No disrespect to Ms. Suzanne Novelli,
but for a town that is crying financial woes, why are we paying a person to
answer e-mails sent to our council members? I have no idea what Ms.
Novelli's salary is, but this is a position that is totally unnecessary. OV
town employees are paid very well, so let them earn their pay and answer
their own e-mails, like I do at night after hours!

I sent an e-mail to the Mayor and council and not one of them responded. The
e-mail was regarding selling off the Lambert Lane walking park to a builder
of high value homes and using the dollars towards the Naranja Park. This
park is a waste as it is hardly used. Don't tell me the zoning can't be
changed, look what our Mayor and Council did to override the OV Design
Review Board and let Golder Ranch build their new firehouse behind
Walgreens. Variances by the bag full where given.

Not the Mayor nor one council member responded to my suggestion. Instead I
received a response from the new Constituent Services Coordinator.What is
wrong with this picture? Are the people we elected too busy to respond to the
people who elected them?

It is time for a change, We need people that understand fiscal
responsibility, not a group of yahoo's who spend money like drunken sailors.
They think they have a never ending supply of cash. Need money? Raise the
water tax, raise the utility tax, institute a property tax. I say, cut
people and bring fiscal responsibility back where it should be!!!

Edward J, Cooke

Planning and Zoning Moves Innovation Park "Land Swap" to Future Study Session

Although the spokesperson for WLB Group gave a very detailed presentation at last night's Planning and Zoning meeting, the Commissioners still had too many questions. As such, the land swap issue in Neighborhood 3 of the Rancho Vistoso planned area development ("PAD") in Innovation Park will go to a Study Session, scheduled for Aug 7.

Good for Planning and Zoning----especially, member Bill Adler, who stated he does not take an amendment to the General Plan slightly. Bill went on to say that getting growth at the expense of the environment is not something he could support.

We couldn't agree more----as we so stated, in addressing the Commission.

Planning and Zoning Says "No" To Hotel Setback Change

In a June 27th post, "Will Another Developer Have His Way In Oro Valley, the answer is "No.'

In last night's meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commissioners voted unanimously to NOT allow the Embassy Suites Hotel to move 185 feet closer to the street. The hotel is contemplated as part of the Innovation Park Complex in Rancho Vistoso Neighborhood 3.

The fact that neither the applicant nor staff could justify their argument that a setback was required because they desired a 75 foot high structure, didn't make sense, especially when Planning and Zoning approved a 36' high hotel back in April. Additionally, a number of Oro Valley citizens spoken in opposition.

A win for the people.

Now, we'll see if the Council upholds this recommendation, should the applicant wish to proceed to appeal.