A Tucson Citizen Has Concerns About Arroyo Grande

Although not a resident of Oro Valley, in his letter printed in the April 10 Explorer, Mr. James Wagner expresses his concerns about Arroyo Grande.
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Arroyo Grande Belongs To Us

I, as many of you, have been following the recent “debate” about OV’s acquisition of Arroyo Grande and plans to build 16,000 (!!!!) new homes, along with high density housing and commercial strip malls, with a great deal of interest and a feeling of “Oh No. They are going to ruin it!”

In fact, this special area will be changed forever to an area of urban sprawl. OV’s commitment to leave 68 percent of the land as “open space” is at best a fabrication and at worst a bald-faced lie. I have seen the proposed plan as published in the Explorer and there is no way that 68 percent of the plan provides for open space as I interpret “open space”. Asphalt is not “open space”.

As I understand it, little or no provisions are being made for increased water usage or the degradation of our lives that we will have to endure because of the increased traffic, air pollution, etc. It also seems to matter little to OV that their annexation will destroy a pristine and critical area of Sonoran Desert, a wildlife transit corridor that cannot be replaced. We are in danger of becoming another example of the sprawl that characterizes Los Angeles and Phoenix.

I suggest that if OV has overspent in its budgets, it cut its spending as we citizens must do.

However, the big unmentioned and therefore unanswered question is: “What about us?” What about those citizens, like you and I, living here who are not located in OV? Arroyo Grande is state land located in Pima County, and we have a right to be consulted, and our input must have at least as much weight in these matters as OV’s budget. We are being totally disregarded in the decision-making process by OV and AZ. Our only and most effective present recourse is to call our representatives at Pima County and the State of AZ to voice our support or, as I hope, our objections to this land grab by OV and try to put a stop to it. I have done so and my representatives were very receptive to my calls. Pima County is demanding a seat at this table and is being resisted by OV and AZ.

At the very least, OV must be required to sign on to the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, truly commit to the 68 percent open space requirement, and provide for citizens not living in OV but directly affected by the planned acquisition. A referendum would be the appropriate venue. We, the citizens of Pima County, own Arroyo Grande and we must have the final say. Dear reader, please become active in this very important matter before its too late.

James R. Wagner
Tucson