Bill Adler has been good enough to alert us to the fact that a meeting on the Environmentally Sensitive Land Ordinance will be open to all homeowners interested in this issue. Tuesday night Sept 15 Town Council Chambers 6-8PM.
Art:
We're just getting started, but the creation of a Environmentally Sensitive Land ordinance has been on the to do list since 1996. Many think it's too late, and they would certainly be partially right. The major interest in the future is if, and when, Arroyo Grande is zoned the Town needs to have this ordinance in place.
There is an Open House in the Council Chambers next Tuesday evening beginning at 6 PM to familiarize residents and open space property owners with the intent of the ordinance. Perhaps you could encourage those bloggers interested in preserving sensitive land to show up.
It is important to understand that, incidentally, that the ordinance will consolidate several separate ordinances into one. For example, our hillside ordinance, native plant preservation ordinance, our cultural resource inventory will be folded into the new environmentally sensitive land ordinance. So, that has a benefit for everyone to simplify planning. And, of course, it is important to understand that preserving sensitive land enhances the value of adjoining buildable land. Everyone is willing to pay a premium to live next to preserved open space; riparian habitat or nicely contoured slopes and ridges.
What actually constitutes "sensitive" land is not as easy to define as it may seem. And, how to preserve without confiscating property rights is also a major issue.
Anyway, thought some might want to show up and get a feel for the opportunity to contribute at this early stage.
Bill
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Bill also notes the following----
Art: A priority at this point has been to e mail notification to property owners of vacant land. However, it is open and is intended also for residents. We all have to remember that Arizona passed Proposition 207 that allows a property owner to file a claim for compensation should a new ordinance impacting their land diminish value. So, property owners will have to be dealt with to obtain their permission to allow sensitive land - however that is defined - to be preserved rather than developed. I know this sounds like gutting the ordinance, but that proposition is the law in Arizona. I think it is important for citizens to understand the impact of Prop. 207 on the effectiveness of an ordinance that, admittedly, should have been put on our books many years ago, but wasn't. We can speculate about why it took so long to get the ordinance underway. Personally, I feel Oro Valley has been in a growth mode, and protecting environmentally sensitive land was not another impediment to growth our leaders wanted. Now that we're nearly built out, okay. So, what's the point? Arroyo Grande is the primary point. Bill.
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