Ann Day Addresses Arroyo Grande

The following is from County Supervisor District 1, Ann Day's May newsletter.

Although Supervisor Day notes, "We must not compromise on infrastructure, conservation standards or the quality of life for all residents, current and future," it's disappointing she didn't mention the alternative of NOT developing this parcel.

Ann Day, Supervisor, District 1. Please email your comments to Ann.Day@pima.gov or call 520.740.2738

Arroyo Grande and the Future of Growth

Pima County continues to work with Oro Valley and the Arizona State Land Department as the town and the state move forward on eventual annexation and development within 9,100 acres of state trust land north of Oro Valley. The 14-square mile planning area known as Arroyo
Grande is expected to add almost 16,000 homes and 38,000 people to Oro Valley when it is fully developed over the course of a decade or more.

Pima County has no control over the state’s mandate to sell trust lands and Oro Valley’s sovereign right to annex. We can only try to influence the process to ensure it results in smart, managed growth. Our county planners and my office have had a degree of success in encouraging the town and the state to adopt the concepts of Pima County’s Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and provide that 68 percent of this environmentally-sensitive area is kept as open space and critical wildlife corridors are preserved.

But the county still lacks any enforceable assurances that our conservation goals in the Tortolita Fan area that we have been trying to achieve for over a decade will be cast in stone. We must also have detailed infrastructure planning upfront to ensure there is adequate water, sewer service, parks, schools and a sufficient transportation network in an area that is already under strain.

We have had successes and setbacks as the three jurisdictions try to approach this from a regional planning perspective, and the county will continue to work as best we can to help shape this next leap in growth. Arroyo Grande will have a substantial impact on existing neighborhoods and communities. We must not compromise on infrastructure, conservation standards or the quality of life for all residents, current and future.