How's this for audacity.
Hizzoner, the Mayah For Life, Paul "Looney Tunes" Loomis, is going to present the "‘State of the Town’ at a September 11th soiree held at the El Conquistador. For $40 a ticket or $375 for a table of ten, you can attend!
The sponsors? Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce, for one. Yep. The same folks Oro Valley finally said "no on donations" to. Other sponsors include: Northwest Medical Center Oro Valley, Ventana Medical Systems, Comcast, the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, M&I Bank, University of Phoenix and The Explorer.
So, tell us Mr. Mayah, how come you're giving a "blue plate" town promoted speech for the Chamber of Commerce?
Shouldn't you give the "State of the Town" first to those of us who pay your salary? And shouldn't you do it for free?
Click here for more.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
More Work Needed On "Revised" Arroyo Grande Plan
In an editorial in the Explorer, Editor Dave Perry "endorses" the revised land use plan for Arroyo Grande. He notes in his editorial the significant public and "scientific" input that has gone into this plan.
Since it was first introduced in January, the plan has undergone a number of citizen-centric reviews. There's one coming up tomorrow (See our list of upcoming items in the left border).
Still, there's more to be done in honing this plan. There are simply too many housing units planned for construction. Too many people living in the area. A possible doubling of the Oro Valley population. All duly noted by Kathy Pastry in "AG wildlife paths a glimmer, but we must speak"-a letter to the Explorer (Click here to read). And summarized in yet another Explorer article (Click here to read).
We all can make a difference when it comes to Arroyo Grande. Attend the meetings. Voice your ideas. Do it now so that we don't wind up with an ugly mess like that Oro Valley Marketplace.
Since it was first introduced in January, the plan has undergone a number of citizen-centric reviews. There's one coming up tomorrow (See our list of upcoming items in the left border).
Still, there's more to be done in honing this plan. There are simply too many housing units planned for construction. Too many people living in the area. A possible doubling of the Oro Valley population. All duly noted by Kathy Pastry in "AG wildlife paths a glimmer, but we must speak"-a letter to the Explorer (Click here to read). And summarized in yet another Explorer article (Click here to read).
We all can make a difference when it comes to Arroyo Grande. Attend the meetings. Voice your ideas. Do it now so that we don't wind up with an ugly mess like that Oro Valley Marketplace.
Time To Lock In Reasonable Development Fees
Item 6 on tonight's Oro Valley concerns raising developer impact fees for town infrastructure items like parks, police, library, transportation and general government.
Developers have been getting a free ride for years. Now its time to raise the fees to levels that reflect the reality: Growth causes an enormous impact on the needs for infrastructure in Oro Valley. Its time for growth to pay for growth.
Needless to say, the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) isn't happy with this. They're even threatening to sue the town if higher rates are approved.
Sorry, SAHBA. It's not business as usual any more in Oro Valley. Our town council is not going roll over for you. If you don't like what we do, you are welcome to waste your money to sue us and when we're done with you, maybe we should counter sue you for our costs. Also, SAHBA, be good to recognized who approves what gets built where, what the code is and even occupancy permits. Why it's us: The Town.
In the long run, save us all headaches. Suck it up. Add the fees to the cost of what you're building and pass it on to the buyer. Like you always do.
Click here to read an Explorer preview article.
Developers have been getting a free ride for years. Now its time to raise the fees to levels that reflect the reality: Growth causes an enormous impact on the needs for infrastructure in Oro Valley. Its time for growth to pay for growth.
Needless to say, the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) isn't happy with this. They're even threatening to sue the town if higher rates are approved.
Sorry, SAHBA. It's not business as usual any more in Oro Valley. Our town council is not going roll over for you. If you don't like what we do, you are welcome to waste your money to sue us and when we're done with you, maybe we should counter sue you for our costs. Also, SAHBA, be good to recognized who approves what gets built where, what the code is and even occupancy permits. Why it's us: The Town.
In the long run, save us all headaches. Suck it up. Add the fees to the cost of what you're building and pass it on to the buyer. Like you always do.
Click here to read an Explorer preview article.
Vestar Got Some Explaning To Do Tonight
David Malin and Vestar are on tonight's Town Council agenda, thanks to council person Bill Garner. They are to discuss the Oro Valley Marketplace. Some questions we'd like to see asked and answered:
1. Who are the tenants going to be in the Oro Valley Marketplace? When is each going to be opening?
2. What retailers is Vestar courting to fill the marketplace? When will they be in place?
3. Which of the retailers will provide the upscale shopping experience that the voters of Oro Valley were promised?
4. What's the financial projection, by year, regarding sales tax revenues from the Oro Valley Marketplace? In what year will Oro Valley's sales tax subsidy ("investment) of $23.3 million be paid out such that Oro Valley can collect full sales tax revenues?
5. What about all those ugly rooftop units, highly visible from Oracle Road? They are not masked and spread out as promised. (And why didn't Wal-Mart put in solar panels for a site that is going to have sunlight 340 days a years?[Wal-Mart is doing it elsewhere])
We'd like David Andrews, Town Manager, to discuss each and ever building code violation and we'd like Vestar to respond regarding what they plan to do about each and every one of them. (Click here to read "Vestar Has Disrespected Oro Valley"-a letter to the Explorer on this topic.)
Got some questions for Vestar? Post them as a comment to this posting.
Click here to read an Explorer article that previews the meeting.
1. Who are the tenants going to be in the Oro Valley Marketplace? When is each going to be opening?
2. What retailers is Vestar courting to fill the marketplace? When will they be in place?
3. Which of the retailers will provide the upscale shopping experience that the voters of Oro Valley were promised?
4. What's the financial projection, by year, regarding sales tax revenues from the Oro Valley Marketplace? In what year will Oro Valley's sales tax subsidy ("investment) of $23.3 million be paid out such that Oro Valley can collect full sales tax revenues?
5. What about all those ugly rooftop units, highly visible from Oracle Road? They are not masked and spread out as promised. (And why didn't Wal-Mart put in solar panels for a site that is going to have sunlight 340 days a years?[Wal-Mart is doing it elsewhere])
We'd like David Andrews, Town Manager, to discuss each and ever building code violation and we'd like Vestar to respond regarding what they plan to do about each and every one of them. (Click here to read "Vestar Has Disrespected Oro Valley"-a letter to the Explorer on this topic.)
Got some questions for Vestar? Post them as a comment to this posting.
Click here to read an Explorer article that previews the meeting.
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