Council Acts Now to Prevent Unintended Data Center Approvals

Council moves to close zoning loophole before leaving office
Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council voted unanimously to ban standalone data centers of any size. Mayor Joe Winfield had brought the issue before Council three weeks earlier, seeking to prevent data centers from being approved under existing zoning regulations without Council review. The outgoing Council moved quickly to close this loophole before the new Council takes office November 4, leaving future consideration of regulations that might allow standalone data centers under specific conditions to its successors.

Sanatorium staff zoning use determination raised similar concerns
The Town is already dealing with the consequences of a zoning interpretation that allows a sanatorium-type facility in the Rancho Vistoso Safeway shopping center area. Town staff determined the use was permitted under existing zoning language, and the Board of Adjustment upheld that interpretation. We believe Council's concern is that broadly written zoning provisions can allow staff to approve uses that neither residents nor Council anticipated for the community.

Council seeks to prevent a similar situation involving data centers
At the October 27 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, town staff explained that standalone data centers of any size were permitted under existing zoning regulations in C-1, C-2 Commercial and Technological Park (T-P) districts. Staff interpreted data centers as falling under the permitted use category of "Technical Services." Under that interpretation, an applicant could propose a standalone data center and receive staff approval if all applicable zoning requirements were met, without Council having an opportunity to approve or reject the use.

Council prohibits standalone data centers
Council voted to change the zoning regulations to prevent that from happening. As a result, such facilities can no longer receive approval under the existing zoning provisions. Any future proposal will require a change in the Town's zoning regulations before a standalone data center could be permitted.

A future Council could change the prohibition
This does not mean Oro Valley will never have a standalone data center.  A future Council could adopt zoning regulations allowing them under specific conditions. As Mayor Winfield noted at the October 28 meeting, such consideration could involve further study of water and electricity demands, noise, environmental impacts, and potential benefits to Oro Valley residents.

- - -

Bits and Pieces

Council prohibits public camping and restricts traffic median use to pedestrians crossing the street
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance  O26-13)  prohibiting camping on public property and restricting activity in traffic medians to active road crossers only. The camping restrictions prohibit activities such as setting up shelters, storing personal belongings, and using parked vehicles as living accommodations, except where specifically authorized. The traffic median provisions prohibit people from standing or remaining in a median for any purpose other than temporarily waiting to cross the street. This includes panhandling, distributing flyers, holding signs, or simply standing in the median. The restriction applies regardless of the person's purpose.

At the meeting, Police officials emphasized that education and warnings would precede enforcement. Public camping violations are Class 1 misdemeanors, carrying potential fines of up to $2,500 or six months in jail. Traffic median violations can result in civil traffic citations and fines after a required warning.

Still Unclear Whether Town's Destination Marketing Efforts Are Producing Financial Benefits
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council received a quarterly update on the Town's destination marketing program. Community Economic Development Director Paul Melcher reported approximately $70,000 in new hotel room bookings, expected to generate $4,000 to $6,000 in bed and sales taxes. Another $525,000 in potential bookings could generate approximately $42,000 in additional taxes if secured. Destination Marketing Manager Addie Coleman reported a 290% increase in website traffic over the preceding two months, driven partly by paid advertising. 

While these figures indicate some increased marketing activity and some success in attracting bookings, they do not establish whether the program is producing meaningful financial benefits for the Town. 

Pusch Ridge Golf Tournament Set For November 20
Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf will hold its annual fall tournament on Friday, November 20, at the Pusch Ridge Golf Course. The event will feature a 9 a.m. shotgun start, limited to 54 golfers, followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m., catered by Fork N Fire. Registration information will be available soon.  This year's tournament will honor longtime Pusch Ridge golfer Dorothy New, who passed away October 19. (Source)

Oracle Road Lane Closures Scheduled November 2–6
The Town of Oro Valley will conduct routine median maintenance along Oracle Road (SR 77) from Monday, November 2, through Friday, November 6, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Crews will begin just south of Suffolk Drive and work north toward Big Wash Overlook Drive, trimming vegetation and removing litter and debris. Drivers should expect intermittent closures of the left northbound lane as the work zone moves along Oracle Road. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time, slow down near work crews, and consider alternate routes. For additional information, contact the Town's Public Works Department at 520-229-4850 or PW@orovalleyaz.gov. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)
- - -

Tohono Chul Unveils Ambitions Ten Year Plan

A 10- to 15-year vision for the botanical garden
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council received a presentation from Tohono Chul President and CEO Jamie Maslyn Larson and Board Vice Chair Gayle Mateer outlining an ambitious master plan for the 49-acre botanical garden. The plan envisions significant improvements to visitor facilities, accessibility, educational programs, and dining opportunities while preserving the natural Sonoran Desert setting that has defined Tohono Chul since its founding in 1985. The plan, unanimously approved by Tohono Chul's board in June, provides a roadmap for improvements over the next 10 to 15 years. Construction is not imminent, and additional design, financial planning, and fundraising will be needed.

Community input guides the proposed improvements
The master plan was developed with input from more than 800 participants, including visitors, members, volunteers, and staff. Their priorities included additional shade, improved restrooms, easier access, more educational opportunities, and preservation of the property's historic buildings. One of the most significant proposed changes is a redesigned entrance that would make it easier for visitors to find their way into and through the gardens. A new welcome center, pedestrian promenade, and gently sloping pathways would improve accessibility, particularly for visitors with mobility challenges and families with strollers.

New facilities and expanded educational opportunities
Proposed improvements include renovating the existing bistro, relocating and expanding the Desert Corner Nursery, and creating a new village area featuring locally produced arts, crafts, food, and refreshments. The plan also calls for expanded indoor and outdoor educational facilities, improvements to the Desert Palm Oasis Garden, and additional areas for art exhibits and community gatherings. An outdoor learning area at the Sinagua Garden would support children's programs and adult education. Larson emphasized that proposed new buildings would occupy existing disturbed areas or parking spaces rather than undisturbed desert land.

Growing attendance strengthens Tohono Chul's economic importance
Tohono Chul representatives reported that attendance has increased 76% since before the pandemic, while annual children's participation has grown from approximately 2,200 to more than 13,000. A University of Arizona Eller College study estimated the garden's annual economic impact at $7.35 million in 2025. The organization employs 35 full-time and five part-time employees and operates with an annual budget of approximately $5 million. Representatives also announced that Tohono Chul had recently been listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, providing additional recognition of its cultural and historical significance.

Implementation will depend on funding and continued planning
The master plan establishes a long-term vision rather than a commitment to begin construction. Tohono Chul is pursuing additional design work, construction planning, business analysis, and fundraising to determine how improvements can be implemented. The organization also hopes to coordinate with Oro Valley on a proposed multiuse pathway along Ina Road and Paseo del Norte that would improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the gardens. The plan seeks to accommodate growing attendance and strengthen Tohono Chul's role as a regional destination while preserving the quiet desert environment envisioned by its founders.

- - -

Oro Valley Seeks $42.5 Million in 2027 County Bond Funding

Council recommends $42.5 million in proposed improvements in Pima County 2027 Bond Election
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council voted unanimously to advance a list of projects for consideration in a possible November 2027 Pima County bond election. The preliminary list includes nine projects requesting approximately $42.5 million, plus a proposed extension of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop for which costs have not yet been determined. Assistant Town Manager Carl Shaddock explained that the Town submitted its proposals before the County's October 6 deadline to ensure Oro Valley would be included in the initial review. The proposals are not approvals to spend money. They are requests for funding that will compete with projects submitted by other jurisdictions throughout Pima County.

Police headquarters and parks lead the requests
The largest request is $11 million toward the renovation of the Town-owned building at 13101 North Oracle Road into a new police headquarters and regional Emergency Operations Center. The total project is estimated at $21.6 million. Naranja Park completion would receive $10 million for additional sports fields, basketball and pickleball courts, skate park improvements, shade structures, restrooms, and other facilities. Another $6 million would improve James D. Kriegh Park, including field lighting, parking, and redevelopment of existing recreation areas. The Town also seeks $4 million for Steam Pump Ranch improvements, including restoration of the historic Proctor/Lieber House and construction of a northern entrance.

Transportation and flood control projects included
The remaining proposals address infrastructure and regional connections. The Town seeks $4 million to rehabilitate bridges along Rancho Vistoso Boulevard and Tangerine Road over Big Wash and $3 million for a roundabout at Moore Road and La Cholla Boulevard. A proposed extension of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop would improve connections to the Aquatic Center, Linda Vista Trailhead, Tohono Chul, and eventually points north. Two flood control projects totaling $4.5 million would improve drainage along Mutterer's Wash, where nine homes flooded in 2014, and enhance stormwater infiltration at the Gravel Pit Wash basin near Naranja Park. Council also discussed possible additions, including Aquatic Center improvements and a restroom near the Arizona Heroes Memorial.

Oro Valley residents would help pay for county bonds
Shaddock emphasized that Oro Valley property owners would pay their share of any countywide bond program approved by voters, whether or not Oro Valley receives funding for its projects. The Town represents approximately 8% of Pima County's net assessed property value. Based on preliminary estimates, a $200 million county bond program would cost the owner of a $250,000 home approximately $31 annually in additional property taxes. The actual cost would depend on the final bond amount, repayment schedule, and assessed property value. Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett supported submitting the projects while explaining that doing so did not constitute support for a new tax. Her concern was that, if county voters approved the bonds, Oro Valley residents should receive benefits from the taxes they would pay.

County review will determine which projects advance
The Pima County Bond Advisory Committee will review proposals from throughout the county and is expected to develop a preliminary project list in January 2027, followed by public engagement and final recommendations in March. The Board of Supervisors would then decide whether to place a bond package before voters in November 2027. Council supported moving forward with Oro Valley's proposals, subject to further refinement and prioritization. Some projects may be reduced, revised, or eliminated during the County's review. For now, the Town's objective is to secure a place for Oro Valley's capital improvement needs in a possible countywide funding program.

- - -

Council Takes Charge of Annexation

Updates annexation strategy, establishes new evaluation standards and requires direct Council input going forward 
The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved an updated annexation strategy at its October 21 meeting, replacing the policy adopted in 2020. Resolution (R)26-50 establishes a framework for evaluating potential annexations over approximately the next five years. The updated strategy goes beyond identifying properties for possible annexation. It establishes which body decides which opportunities the Town will pursue, how their potential benefits and costs will be evaluated, and how Council will monitor progress. The strategy does not authorize any specific annexation. Each opportunity will require separate Council consideration and approval.

Council takes control of all annexation priorities
One of the most significant changes came through an amendment proposed by Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett. The original proposal required Council approval to move properties into or out of the highest priority category, Tier 1, but permitted the Town Manager to move properties between Tiers 2 and 3 or add properties to those tiers. Barrett's amendment, approved by Council, extended Council authority to all tier assignments. Staff will continue evaluating annexation opportunities and making recommendations, but elected Councilmembers will decide which properties receive priority and when those priorities should change. This gives Council direct control over where the Town concentrates its annexation efforts.

Commercial annexations remain the highest priority
The strategy establishes three priority levels. Tier 1 receives active staff attention and resources, with commercial properties near Ina and Oracle Roads remaining the Town's sole active priority. Staff estimates that three shopping centers in this area could generate approximately $1.57 million annually in retail sales tax revenue if annexed individually, before associated expenses. The principal obstacles are establishing legally acceptable annexation boundaries and obtaining sufficient property-owner support. Tier 2 includes potential opportunities involving La Encantada, the Foothills Mall area, and the Oracle Road corridor. Tier 3 identifies longer-term possibilities, including Arroyo Grande and the State Trust Land near Tangerine and Thornydale Roads. As LOVE previously reported, Council voted October 7 to discontinue active pursuit of the latter annexation.

Water costs and community acceptance gain greater importance
The updated  strategy strengthens the criteria used to evaluate annexation opportunities. Potential tax revenue must be weighed against the cost of providing municipal services, infrastructure improvements, and long-term maintenance. Water availability and the cost of securing additional water resources receive explicit attention, particularly when considering undeveloped land that could require substantial new water supplies. The strategy also places greater emphasis on community acceptance, considering the views of affected property owners and residents as well as those already living in Oro Valley. These criteria are intended to help Council determine whether an annexation would provide a lasting financial and community benefit without imposing significant additional costs on existing residents or water ratepayers.

Regular reporting will keep Council informed
The strategy establishes a more structured process for Council oversight. Staff will provide written progress reports twice annually, an annual presentation coordinated with the Town's budget process, and interim updates when significant developments occur. The first annual review is expected in spring 2027. Council will continue to decide whether to pursue proposed annexations, authorize major financial or infrastructure commitments, and approve final annexation ordinances. 

This new approach establishes clearer responsibilities and evaluation standards, giving Council more direct control over decisions that will affect Oro Valley's boundaries, finances, water resources, and municipal services for years to come. 

- - -

Bits and Pieces

Council unanimously approves 71.6% cumulative compensation increase covering 14 years

As LOVE reported Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council and mayor have received the same annual compensation since fiscal year 2012-13. On Wednesday evening, Council made a one-time adjustment, voting unanimously to increase annual compensation for the mayor from $12,740 to $21,863.70 and for each councilmember from $10,058 to $17,260.81. 

Vice Mayor/Mayor Elect Melanie Barrett proposed the revised amounts based on calculations prepared by Town Finance Director David Gephart, intending to reflect compensation adjustments granted to Town employees since 2013. The increases represent approximately 71.6%, equivalent to 4.24% compounded annually over 13 years. Council also approved future across-the-board compensation adjustments consistent with those granted to Town employees. LOVE has requested the details underlying the Town's calculations to better understand how the amounts were determined. We have not yet received a response. (26-10-21 Oro Valley Town Council Meeting 2:27:12 to 3:06:25)

Tonight: National Night Out brings police and residents together

The Oro Valley Police Department will host its annual National Night Out tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. The event brings residents, police officers, firefighters, and other public safety agencies together for an evening of community activities. Held in conjunction with Halloween Safe Treats, the celebration traditionally includes candy, games, giveaways, and opportunities for families to meet local first responders and see emergency equipment up close. Last year's event attracted more than 7,000 attendees. National Night Out is designed to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. For more information, visit the Oro Valley Police Department's National Night Out page.

Sun City Oro Valley to celebrate 40 years with six weeks of festivities
Sun City Oro Valley will celebrate its 40th anniversary with six weeks of activities beginning January 2 and continuing through February 13, 2027. The celebration will open with a community parade through Sun City's main streets, followed by a free barbecue picnic and other activities. Throughout the six weeks, community clubs will offer games, entertainment, and special events. The celebration will conclude February 13 with a gala reception and the conclusion of an online auction. Sun City Oro Valley is home to more than 4,000 residents in 2,488 homes and offers nearly 200 clubs and a variety of recreational facilities. For additional information and event updates, visit the 40th anniversary celebration website. (Sun City Media Release)

Rancho Vistoso residents invited to fall festival Tomorrow
The Vistoso Community Association will host its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 24, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Moore Loop Park, 13060 N. Moore Loop Road. The event, open to VCA members and their families, will feature refreshments, snacks, prizes, and activities for children. The Golder Ranch Fire Department will participate from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and the Oro Valley Police Department is also scheduled to attend. A Halloween costume parade and contest will begin at 10 a.m. Winners of the association's annual photo contest will also be announced. The event provides an opportunity for Rancho Vistoso neighbors to gather and enjoy a morning of family activities. For more information, visit the Vistoso Community Association website. (Vistoso Community Association Newsletter)
- - -

Rockin’ 4 Heroes Live and Online Auction Offers Exclusive Experiences

From heartfelt tribute to major community event
What began as a heartfelt tribute to the first responders who cared for one Oro Valley couple’s son during his final battle with cancer has now grown into Southern Arizona’s largest free outdoor rock concert.

Thousands are expected to gather Sunday, November 8, at James D. Kriegh Park for the 6th Annual Rockin’ 4 Heroes Concert. The event’s mission is resonating well beyond Southern Arizona, with pre-registrations already coming in from 15 states. It’s more than a concert—it’s a community-wide “Thank You” to the first responders, active-duty military, veterans, and Gold Star families.

Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon of classic rock featuring YouTube sensation Lexington Lab Band, along with a delicious lineup of food trucks, beer and wine tents, and fun for the whole family. Click here for a preview of the energy and excitement of a Rockin’ 4 Heroes Concert!

Dinner with heroes
Ever want to know what really goes on behind the scenes at a fire station? A live auction during the concert gives you the opportunity to find out.

The Private Firehouse Experience auction package features dinner for six guests with the first responders of Golder Ranch Fire District, who will prepare and host a hero-worthy meal, followed by an exclusive firehouse and equipment tour. It’s a rare opportunity to share a meal and hear the stories and experiences directly from those who answer the call.

Can’t attend? You can still make a difference.
Even if you can’t join the crowd in person, you can show your support by bidding on an exciting collection of prize packages through the new Rockin’ 4 Heroes Online Auction. Among the standout offerings are exclusive experiences you won’t find just anywhere:

• FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN A PIPER WARRIOR. A once-in-a-lifetime flight through history and Arizona’s Canyon Country. Join the ranks of those who have experienced the thrill of flight, courtesy of Falcon Warbirds of Mesa, Arizona. Enjoy a one-hour session of dual flight instruction with accomplished aviator Scott Andrews, certified flight instructor. Soar over the dramatic landscapes of the Superstition Mountains region, including a scenic canyon pass through Apache Lake and surrounding areas.
• ONE OF A KIND GUITAR, HANDCRAFTED FENDER STRATOCASTER. Custom made exclusively for Rockin’ 4 Heroes by master guitarsmith and accomplished musician Jack Radavich. Own a true piece of Rockin’ 4 Heroes! Every detail reflects Jack’s passion for music, craftsmanship and the art of the guitar. A collector’s piece. A musician’s dream, a one-of-a-kind original.

Explore these exceptional offerings and more and place your bids on the Rockin’ 4 Heroes website online auction link. Every bid is another opportunity to support the heroes who serve our communities and our nation.

Free admission and event details
Free admission. Pre-registration is not required but is encouraged for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate!

Gates open at 3:30 p.m.; the event starts at 4:00 p.m. Plenty of free parking. No coolers or pets, please. Open lawn seating. Bring a chair and we’ll see you there! Click here to pre-register. 

- - -