Reliable Sources Tell Us…

One of our sources sent us the following information after reading last week’s postings about the Planning Department submitting false information in their staff reports and Power Point presentations related to rezoning requests. Apparently, this is not the only questionable thing that they have done. Read on…

The 2005 General Plan (Focus 2020) contained a "Special Area Policy" regarding the property that is now being graded for a 5-story retirement community called Nakoma Sky (assisted living, independent living, and hospice) located at Lambert Lane and First Avenue behind the Home Depot Plaza.

The 2005 General Plan had the property designated as Medium Density Residential with a Special Use Policy that no 2-story homes could be visible from First Avenue. The idea was to hide all the 2-story homes behind the hills so they could not be viewed from First Avenue.

The Planning and Zoning Administrator (Bayer Vella) removed the policy from the General Plan sometime around 2015. This was a voter-approved document. In other words, a staff member arbitrarily amended YOUR plan WITHOUT consulting even with the Council. Removing the Special Area Policy allowed for the approval of the 5-story Nakoma Sky along with additional 2-story buildings along First Avenue.

A policy change made by the Planning and Zoning Administrator can only be appealed to the Board of Adjustment (BOA) and the appeal must be filed within 30 days of the decision. However, because this change was never noticed to the public (transparency?) nobody knew when the 30-day period began.

It costs $250.00 to file an appeal with the BOA and the only argument the applicant can present is to try and prove that the decision was without merit. The BOA decision can only be appealed to the Superior Court.

Without removing that Special Area Policy, there could not be a 5-story building.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Editor's Note: This is another example of the Town playing fast and loose with rules…always to the benefit of developers and at the expense of the residents. It’s also another example of why Mayor Hiremath and Councilmembers Hornat, Snider, and Waters need to be voted out of office in this year’s Town Council election as they are the ones who approved the rezoning to accommodate the 5-story building.

When developers (rather than the citizens) are at the top of the Oro Valley Organizational Chart, this is what you get:

While We Were Away...

Kamoske Not Guilty Of All Charges
Oro Valley resident Tom Kamoske for allegedly assaulting Oro Valley Vice Mayor Waters was judged not guilty of all counts on December 18. (Reference) As we previously reported in "Much Ado About Nothing" (includes slow motion enlarged video of the incident), there as never a case against Kamoske. This was purely a political ploy on the part of Waters and the Oro Valley Police Department to discredit the challengers in the recall election.

The judge ruled immediately after hearing the "evidence." There was no assault on Waters. There was no damage. Kamoske's guilt was not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Case closed.

Read more on the bench trial in the Arizona Daily Independent. From it you will learn that Waters claimed that he did not know that his wife had organized the "gauntlet" of which he was a participant or that she had rallied people to attend.  How believable is this?

Bill Adler Remembrance Service a heartfelt event
Residents and friends gathered on December 27 to remember Oro Valley resident Bill Adler. A number of speakers talked of how Bill had helped them through years. Mayor Hiremath spoke of his deep and committed relationship with Bill. We spoke of why Bill was so active for more than 20 years in our community. In Bill's words: "I speak out because I know that other's won't." Oro Valley will sorely miss Bill's voice.

New Year's Fun Run
The town sponsored New Year's fun run hosted several hundred runners. The run originated from steam pump ranch and runners used the CDO Wash Multi-Use Trail. That trail, by the way, now has spur to Catalina State Park. That spur starts south of the Oro Valley Marketplace and runs under Oracle Road. It ends at the traffic light entrance to the state park.

LOVE Future Postings
LOVE is going to continue on hiatus. We will consider posting writings of others so let us know if there is something you wish published. Otherwise, we will publish "Oro Valley News" as the top posting in the blog.

Oro Valley Council Votes Not To Consider Any Change In The Utility Tax

The Oro Valley Town Council voted 6-0 last week to not direct the town manager to consider a reduction in the Oro Valley 4% utility tax as the town prepares its next 5 year financial plan.

Council Member Waters spoke about the history of the tax and why he, Mayor Hiremath, and Council Members Snider and Hornat doubled the tax in 2010.

Council Member Snider discussed why the utility tax provided useful public funds for public good. She too discussed her reasoning behind supporting this tax.  "Frankly, I've received little feedback saying that people are upset about it," she observed.

Council Member Hornat noted that he would in no way consider a change in the tax.  The town simply can not "afford it."  A1 percentage point change in the tax is worth $720,000 to the town.  "I don't see the point of even considering a reduction."

The council will discuss the tax further in November.

However, at the moment, they will not even consider a change in it.

Watch their remarks.

Tell us what you think.
---