WLB Meeting With Oro Valley Residents--Re: General Plan Amendment

Kathy Pastryk attended the May 1 meeting with WLB representing the Kai Property. Kathy was good enough to take notes and forward them for dissemination to our neighbors. Thanks Kathy.
Note: Kathy mentioned residents by name. I opted to delete specific names.
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Meeting on The Kai Property – May 1^st

WLB, an engineering firm out of Tucson, are planners and landscape architects who have represented the Kai Family, owners of the property, for many years. They have worked in the Tucson area for many years with Westcor, Vestar and other developers.

The 271 acre Kai property extends from Tangerine Road south to Naranja on the east side of 1^st Avenue. It is bisected by Palisades Avenue.

Catalina Shadows HOA sent out a two page informational sheet to all of their residents after residents demanded their right to know exactly what was might be coming our way.

On April 29, WLB’s Rob Longaker escorted nine residents on a “walk-thru” of the property. Immediately afterwards, emails were circulated in Cat Shadows and Palisades South subdivisions and even beyond, forewarning residents that an amendment to OV’s General Plan was being sought. The change would permit a senior continuing care facility with a parking lot and lighting that could be reminiscent of Splendido. WLB would like more commercial buildings with heights up to 34 feet. They also want to grade – or somehow flatten out the hilly, partially riparian land exempting slopes of over 25 degrees. WLB sent a detailed full-color map that residents received in their mail on April 30.

The May 1^st meeting between the neighbors and WLB was scheduled to be held in the Hopi Room at the Town Complex, but it was transferred to Council Chambers because of the numbers of attendees which was estimated at more than 200 including the Mayor and all council members except for Terry Parish.

The meeting was conducted by Pat Klein, of OV constituent services. Bayer Vella, Principal Planner of OV, spoke on the General Plan and the process of amending it, following which Paul Oland & Rob Longaker of WLB described what the kind of development WLB wants.

Some of the vague phraseology was familiar to residents who still processing and coping with their Vestar experience. Instant déjà vu was produced by hearing that “A series of meetings is scheduled so we can’t really answer that…” and “a Neighborhood Leadership Group may be formed…” This will lower the density because “clustering of buildings in pockets of higher density will allow more open space… Also, “building heights are difficult to determine as we’re dealing with a depressed site…” and more. Buildings, they revealed could turn out to be two story town homes or apartment buildings.

During a prolonged Question and Answer, dismayed residents demonstrated that they are not only wary – but they are weary -- of the process -- of being asked to donate hour after hour of our time to earnest land use discussions and decisions -- only to have them renegotiated again and again…

What particularly concerned many citizens was that The General Plan was rather painstakingly revised almost five years ago during which an agreement was reached specifying low density single family homes

On 3 acre properties. Audience members recalled a golf course that was proposed, and one man remembered that equestrian areas were to be created “to celebrate the Western-ness of Tucson.”

A Cat Shadows resident requested that WLB reps come prepare to the next meeting prepared to specifically define some of their terminology such as “continuum of care.” He also called upon Mayor Loomis who led the charge to defeat the construction of apartments in his own home turf fo speak up for open space.

The public also served notice that we know what we want and intend to stick to our convictions…that we value desert land, the hill and riparian areas and do not want to see them leveled.

A resident told the WLB reps that we’d been “bamboozled by Vestar” and wouldn’t let that happen again. Another resident asked why we should allow an amendment “just so they can make money.”

Roadways were discussed and the audience found out that as many as three road onto Palisades are planned along with a road onto First Ave. and one onto Tangerine. rep Asked to explain, WLB's Longaker said that they had been informed that Palisades is to be a major 4-lane thoroughfare. That met with many rebukes and questions from the audience.

Council member Paula Abbott asked WLB to prepare a power point presentation that would better illustrate exactly what they are planning.

Additional meetings are coming up where community input will be sought, The principals will attempt to wear us down, but we can prevail, so let’s hang in there.

The next meeting required by law, a Planning and Zoning Hearing, will be held on July 10 to be followed by a second “Neighborhood Meeting” on July 31. A second P & Z meeting will be scheduled, date to be decided.

On November 19 the Town Council will hear all sides and vote on whether to approve the proposed amendment. A super majority of 5 votes will be required for approval of a General Plan amendment – so be sure to follow closely, attend as many meetings as possible, talk to your friends and neighbors, and contact council members to tell them how you feel about The Kai Property.

Kathy Pastryk