Desert Springs ("Kelly Ranch")

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A 105 acre mixed land use project is being proposed for Oro Valley.  This is is not "new news". The project is know as "Desert Springs."   It has been in the works for some time.  There are  many barriers before this project can move forward, including annexation, general plan amendments, environmentalist opposition and neighbor opposition.

The land was originally designated for purchase and "open land" by Pima County votes, in a 2004 bond vote. However, the amount of funding ($2.5 Million) was only about half of what was required. The money was used instead to by land in Tortolita State Park (Source). 

Scottsdale developer Sunchase Holdings owns the land. They are proposing this project, which abuts Catalina State Park, across Oracle Road from the Oro Valley Marketplace.  (Arizona Daily Star)

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This project was possibly discussed with the town in January (Source-Para 3) at a $359 town-paid for lunch at the El Conquistador hotel.

The town held a "neighborhood" meeting about out this project on April 12.  The fact sheet for that meeting states: "Although the property is already currently designated for a mixture of commercial, office,  resort and residential development, the Owner wishes to modify the General Plan land use designations to accomplish more of a village environment, rather than the corporate employment center as currently designated."

These words, "village environment" is a code word, in this instance, for a substantial increase in residential; as in "apartments".   The proposed zoning (click map above) would include both high and medium density residential, while the current zoning is only for low density residential.  This is a substantial change in land use.

"At the neighborhood meeting: "A number of neighbors expressed concern over the proposed density for the project and the impact on their property values. Neighbors felt that restricting the development of the southern parcel to one acre lots would provide a compatible development with their area. Discussion ensued regarding possible ways to mitigate concerns over density, including buffering the existing residential areas with low density along the borders of the southern parcel and through the use of landscape buffers. Other residents commented that the density was also too high adjacent to the State Park." (Source: Desert Springs Summary Notes, Para 2)

Quoting one of the Star bloggers:

"I wouldn't count on good decision making from Oro Valley Town Council. They simply don't get the concept that people moved here to be away from city life. They want more people to live here so they have a broader tax base. High Density Mixed Use is a real hot button for them. This is exactly why they began the push for a Mixed Use Zoning Code in January. The citizens voted against Mixed usw; delayed approval of the 2005 General Plan until that code was removed. Clearly we will have to do massive community education about the horrors of MU..." (Source: Comment 2)

Interesting comment.
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