Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Guest View-Mike Zinkin: Approval of Ford Property Rezoning Would Be A "Slap In The Face"

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The following two paragraphs are a direct quote form the Oro Valley General Plan:
"The purpose of the Plan is to provide basic direction and guidance to all elected and appointed officials, employees, and residents of the Town in their decision making process.

We intend that the Plan be followed and consistently applied unless and until conditions in the community have changed to the extent that the plan requires amendment or modification. When conditions warrant that the Plan be modified, such amendments are subject to the process and approval set forth in the plan according to Arizona law and the Town of Oro Valley amendment process."


The General Plan is a document that is ratified by the Citizens of Oro Valley. This document provides the CITIZEN’S vision for their town. Code is directed by the General Plan.

To amend the General Plan takes a super majority of the Council (5 votes). Amending the Plan is difficult, as it should be. The problem is that we have a super majority sitting on our council who do not care for the wishes and desires of its Citizens. They will sit during the public meeting process and the Call To The Audience and then immediately move to disregard all citizen input and go forward with their own agenda. This was true during the Coyote Run process and the Utility Tax process.

The General Plan already calls for 1525 acres or 3.4% of the land to be zoned for High Density Residential. These designations are in areas where it is compatible for high density dwellings. The corner of Innovation Commerce Loop and Rancho Vistoso Blvd. is NOT compatible for high density residential. If Beztek desires to build apartments, there is plenty of other land available in Oro Valley for their project.

This project, if approved, is a slap in the face of every citizen of Oro Valley. The citizens do not want apartments built on this land.

Will the Council be responsive to the Citizens or the Special Interest groups? Unfortunately, since the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior, the Special Interest Groups are destined to win again.

Mike Zinkin
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