The town is hosting a neighborhood meeting on a request to rezone 117 of the 271 acres of the Kai Property to medium density residential. This request is to accommodate 195 single family homes. The rezoning is to reduce lot requirements form acre lots to 7.000 square foot lots. The property is located between Palisades, First Avenue, and Tangerine Road. We describe what we think this property will be in a July 2012 Bits and Pieces posting.Every few years, owner Herb Kai requests a change in zoning from low density residential, as approved in the 2005 General Plan.
Our blog contains a history of these events (Search Word: Kai). In 2010, we noted that, over a 5-year period, owner Herb Kai had requested a general plan amendment for "...among other things, offices, shops, restaurants, housing and a continuing-care center for seniors..." We also noted, at that time, the display of political signs on his property, nicely visible to travelers on First Avenue. There were two sign's apiece for Mayor Hiremath, and Council Member Waters and Hornat. Council Member Snider needed no sign. She has already been elected to council.
At that time, Oro Valley resident, Alan Dankwerth, was quoted as saying that, the blog, by noting the placement of these signs on the property, was implying that "...if elected, these three, since they were permitted to place their signs on the property, will help the Kais, should they request, to obtain an amendment to the general plan." (Source)
Yes. That is exactly what we implied. In fact, we did more than imply, On May 10, 2010, we asked: "Perhaps Satish cut a deal with the Kai's to support rezoning their property on 1st Avenue?"
Dankwerth further observed that "Changing an existing zoning designation of this type requires passage of a major amendment. Two-thirds or five town council members must approve it. Prior to its reaching the council, two public hearings are held by the Planning & Zoning Commission, as well as two neighborhood meetings. There is a public hearing at the town council meeting should the request get that far."
The present request is not being viewed as a request requiring a general plan amendment. Rather, they are viewing it as a rezoning of the master planned community. Thus, at the moment, the town is arguing that no general plan amendment is required.
Whether or not this request requires a general plan amendment or a zoning change matters. A major general plan amendment requires a 5-vote council majority. A rezoning requires a 4-vote council majority. And, given past political support by Kai, we suspect that, absent enormous public outcry, the majority-4 in council will approve it.
At the moment, this determination matters more than what is actually being planned for the property.
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3 comments:
As of June, there were 508 single family homes in various stages of development or development review. Currently, there are 789 apartments in construction or approved for construction. That certainly is SUBSTANTIAL growth.
How many single-family homes are for sale in Oro Valley?
Does Oro Valley really need 195 homes on the Kai property? Must not sufficient demand be shown before a higher land-use intensity can be considered?
"The Town shall maintain Oro Valley's predominantly low-density character..." That is written in the General Plan's Community Identify portion. What ever happened to that concept?
Can someone clarify this for me?
The present request is being viewed as a rezoning of a Master Planned Community and therefore does not require a General Plan Amendment.
WHEN was this property classified as a Master Planned Community?
The last I read on this, in June of 2008, they withdrew their request to change the land use designation from Neighborhood Commercial Office to Master Planned Community.
Now suddenly this parcel is a Master Planned Community?
What did I miss?
I was just informed in a private e-mail that this parcel was designated Master Planned Community in the 2005 General Plan.
So why did Kai request to change the land use designation to Master Planned Community in 2008 if it was already designated as such? Is that why he later withdrew the request?
And I can't help but notice how these meetings are usually (if not always) scheduled in the summer months when many residents are away and unable to attend the meetings.
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