Bits and Pieces

Council reaffirms OVCN 36-foot height approval

At this past Wednesday’s Town Council meeting, the Council voted to affirm its earlier decision to approve a 36-foot height for the future sanctuary planned by the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene. The reconsideration was brought forward by Councilmembers Robb and Nicholson. After public comment and discussion, the Council ultimately chose not to change course. A full LOVE article analyzing the discussion and vote will follow soon.

Solomon does it again.. long on bravado..short on facts...ain't no such law...

At the meeting, former Council Member Solomon, speaking against reconsideration, said that a “new state law just passed which places limits on local elected officials’ reviews and approvals of development plans.” We believe the bill to which he is referring is Arizona House Bill 2570, known as the “Arizona Starter Homes Act.” This bill applies specifically to new single-family homes. It would have limited a town from imposing discretionary or subjective conditions on single-family residential developments, mandating approval if the projects met specific zoning standards, thus significantly restricting local control over housing design, lot sizes, setbacks, and community amenities.

Yes, Solomon was correct regarding the legislative process. This bill passed the Arizona House of Representatives on February 22, 2024, with a vote of 33-26, and the Senate on March 6, 2024, with a vote of 16-13. It was transmitted to Governor Katie Hobbs on March 12, 2024. However, Governor Hobbs vetoed the bill on March 18, 2024, stating that it would undermine local control and community input in housing decisions. Therefore, no such law currently exists.

LOVE reporting on the 2026 fiscal budget starts soon

The Town’s fiscal year 2026 budget process is in full swing. We expect the Town Manager to issue his recommended budget later this month. The Town Council will then hold a budget study session on April 30 at 6 p.m. in Town Council Chambers, followed by another session on May 5 at 6 p.m. These meetings are especially informative, as each department manager presents their budget along with an explanation of why their requests are justified. As we’ve done for many years, LOVE will provide detailed analysis as the budget process unfolds.

Highlights from the April town manager report

Each month, the town manager issues a report to Council. This month the report notes that the town continues to move forward on key infrastructure and community projects. The Magee Road improvement project is underway with nighttime work scheduled through mid-May. The Oro Valley Town Court renovation is nearing completion, with a secure prisoner transfer area up next. Pedestrian safety upgrades are also beginning this month in the Marketplace area as part of a prior rezoning condition. The town also saw a sharp increase in traffic enforcement. Officers made 7,144 more traffic stops in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This was described in the report as a “significant increase” and part of a department-wide effort to reduce injuries and property damage from collisions.

Recreation fee increases in process…possible implementation in the fall

Parks and Recreation staff presented proposed fee increases for various facilities to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board this past Tuesday. Most community center membership and facility rental fees—some unchanged since 2013—would rise under the plan. Resident and non-profit users would pay lower rates than non-residents and for-profits. Staff will hold a Zoom community meeting on July 9 to gather public feedback. No action can be taken until the Town Council approves the changes.

The Senate bill referenced during the reconsideration discussion was SB 1162. It was mentioned by Councilmember Nicholson as one of the reasons for bringing the item back for discussion. Nicholson explained that the bill could have implications for how height-related zoning decisions are reviewed or challenged in the future.

Parks and Recreation receives two grants

According to Town Manager Wilkins in his report to the council Wednesday the town's Parks and Recreation staff secured a $30,000 grant to assess the Proctor-Lieber House at Steam Pump Ranch and another grant from Arizona Game and Fish to support a new shade structure for the archery area at Naranja Park. 

10th annual ‘Roundup at the Ranch’ adds 10K distance and afterparty May 17

"Lace up your shoes and get ready to round up some fun! The Town of Oro Valley invites community members of all ages to participate in the 10th Annual Roundup at the Ranch 5K/10K Run/Walk on Saturday evening, May 17, 2025." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

- - -

Cop-Watching YouTuber Showed Up in Oro Valley to “Bait the Cops”--Our Cops Shined

YouTuber targeted Oro Valley for staged police encounter
A YouTuber in the cop-watching community visited Oro Valley earlier this year, appearing to seek interactions with local law enforcement. Accompanied by someone recording the encounter, the individual engaged town employees under false pretenses, which eventually led to police being called. When officers arrived, the individual attempted to provoke a response but was unsuccessful.

False claims used to alarm town staff
The YouTuber visited intake windows at two town departments, falsely claiming to be conducting a study on reducing government spending. In both instances, the person misled employees into believing that their jobs were at risk. The following statement was made during one of the interactions:

Aggressive script used to intimidate
“The town has a $151 million budget this year. Were you aware of that?… By next year, we have to cut that down to $100 million. That means 30% of the people who work here are going to have to be laid off. So the question is who is just taking up space and who is actually giving the people their money’s worth? … So what I need to do is get a list of everyone that works in this office, all of their salaries, and then I need to interview each and every one of you to find out who you think is going to be best to cut. And somebody in this office is going to have to be cut. So you can either be cooperative or you can likely be the one who gets cut. Does that make sense?”

Failure to respond leads to more pressure
“Okay. If, I mean, if you’re not going to talk, then I’m just going to have to put you down as uncooperative. And that’s going to drop you way down in the potential for being cut.”

No name, no authorization provided
At no point did the YouTuber provide a legal name or specify authorization for conducting such a study. The individual persisted in pressuring employees for answers until staff called the police for further handling of the situation.

Police remain professional despite provocation
Once officers arrived, the approach shifted. The YouTuber attempted to provoke a confrontation, pressing officers to state whether detention was occurring, despite no legal basis for it. However, the officers remained professional, made it clear that no detention was taking place, and did not escalate the encounter.

Content likely created for online monetization
It appears that this individual generates income by creating and posting content that seeks to challenge police officers. With a YouTube channel monetized through advertising and viewer contributions, interactions such as these likely contribute to audience engagement and revenue.

A response that reflects the professionalism of our police
The YouTuber may have expected a different response but encountered a police force that is well-trained, professional, and community-focused. Oro Valley officers are known for their balanced approach to law enforcement, just as town employees are recognized for their professionalism. In this instance, both handled the situation with restraint and adherence to policy.
- - -

Pond Or No Pond? Council To Consider Plan For Focal Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Area Tonight

The numbers are in
Last December, the Oro Valley Town Council voted to explore the idea of restoring a water feature at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. Initially, the Council had favored creating a desert garden—no pond—based on an early estimated cost of $321,000. However, the design of that desert garden ballooned to $2.1 million per the 2024 Master Plan presented to council last September. That made the idea of including a pond more realistic. Council asked staff to investigate further, and extended the contract of consultant Rebecca Field of Kimley-Horn to create a concept to include a pone. Field will present her findings to Council tonight.

(Fully loaded) Water feature restoration cost is $1.7 to $1.9 million
Field will present two pond options—one covering the full 2.5-acre footprint of the original pond, and another scaled down to 1 acre [see panel right]. The cost to restore just the pond—liner, pumps, edge treatment, and other equipment—comes to about $1.2 million for the larger pond and $1.1 million for the smaller one. Once project administration and overhead are added (construction management, design documents, permits, profit, and contingency), the pond-related costs rise to about $1.9 million for the larger pond and $1.7 million for the smaller one.

click to enlarge

The cost of the rest of the site (the “desert garden” improvements) is $1.8 to $2.0 million 
In both alternatives, the rest of the site adds $1.8 to $2.0 million to the project cost. This includes walking trails, ramadas, benches, landscaping, irrigation, turf, parking, and other amenities throughout the preserve. 

Though the size of the desert garden area differs, the features and construction elements included in each design are nearly the same. That’s why the total costs are close, even though one garden covers three times more space than the other.

Total project cost: About $3.7 million
The total cost for either option—large pond or small pond—is approximately $3.7 million. That figure includes both the pond and the full site restoration. Consultant Field has noted that these are early, conceptual cost estimates based on preliminary designs and market assumptions. They are not developed by a professional cost estimator and don’t account for inflation or future price changes.

Possible federal reimbursement lowers cost to $2.9 million
Part of the project may be eligible for federal reimbursement under the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Recreational projects like this one can receive up to 50% in matching funds. If that funding is approved, the Town could recover as much as $800,000, lowering the net cost to around $2.9 million.

Estimated annual cost: Smaller pond saves $72,000 a year
The 2.5-acre pond would cost about $135,000 per year to operate, due to higher water and maintenance costs. The 1-acre pond would cost around $63,000 annually. That’s a difference of $72,000 each year, making the smaller pond the more affordable long-term option.   

click to enlarge

This is a very different garden design than was presented last September

A 2.2-acre “Desert Garden Area” was included in the September 2024 Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve master plan.  The plan was to eliminate the pond entirely and turn a small area into a landscaped garden. That garden [Panel left] looks to be much smaller than the former pond area. 

A long wait for a final decision
It has been more than three years since the Town received the Vistoso Trails property. Several plans have come and gone, and the preserve remains largely untouched. Tonight’s meeting is another chance for Council to make a decision. Whether that happens—or whether this leads to another round of studies and delays—remains to be seen.

- - -

320 HSL Luxury Apartments On Their Way To The Oro Valley Marketplace

Commission recommends approval for new luxury apartments..Council may discuss tomorrow night
The Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended to the town council conditional approval of the architectural design of the HSL Encantada luxury apartments at their meeting on April 1, 2025. The design is on tomorrow night's town council meeting agenda as a consent agenda item. The council will not discuss it unless a council member requests that they do so.

320 luxury apartments

The new development, consisting of 320 luxury apartment units across 14 buildings, will be situated near the southwest corner of Tangerine Road and Water Harvest Drive within the Oro Valley Marketplace. This project is part of a broader renewal initiative for the Marketplace, which also includes the construction of a new hotel scheduled to coincide with the apartments.

Fourteen two and three story buildings
The proposed development features a mixture of two-story and three-story buildings, complemented by a centrally located clubhouse and leasing office. Amenities for residents will include secured, gated areas. Architectural designs emphasize contemporary desert themes with horizontal bands, metal canopies, and stone veneer finishes. The buildings will incorporate design elements consistent with the existing aesthetics of the Marketplace, including varied parapets, facade articulations, and colors inspired by the Sonoran Desert.

Staff: New guidelines needed to accommodate 
Staff member Michael Spade noted that the proposal aligns well with Oro Valley's existing architectural standards outlined in the Marketplace's Master Architectural Concept Plan (MACP). Given that the MACP did not originally anticipate apartment buildings, staff recommended conditional approval contingent upon updating this guiding document. Tim Smith of Swain Associates Architects added that the clubhouse would serve as an inviting central hub, with significant use of stone veneer strategically placed to enhance visual interest, particularly at pedestrian entrances.

Few commission questions
Commissioner Nichols raised questions about the relatively limited use of stone veneer compared to adjacent buildings within the Marketplace. Smith clarified that the stone finishes were intentionally concentrated around pedestrian entrances to clearly define these areas. Nichols also sought clarification about the placement of two-story versus three-story structures. Smith confirmed that the buildings east of Water Harvest Drive would all be three-story, while the west side of the project would include both two- and three-story buildings.

Project next moves to council approval
Upon approval by the council, the Marketplace's Master Architectural Concept Plan will be updated to include apartment building standards, ensuring consistency in future developments.

- - -

Bits and Pieces

Children’s Museum reports growth, outreach, and unique new exhibits 

At the April 2, 2025 Town Council meeting, Hillary Van Alsburg, Executive director of the Children’s Museum, delivered an update highlighting the museum’s continued growth and community outreach. She reported that over 31,000 people visited the museum at Tohono Chul in the past year, and nearly 3,000 attended the “Chillin at the Chul” program. Additional outreach brought activities to five Oro Valley parks, reaching nearly 200 children, and special events like “Hallow Halloween” and the Oro Valley 50th Anniversary Parade drew 1,800 participants. New educational features were introduced, including “Ready-Set-Explore” backpacks for garden exploration and monthly clay art sessions with professional artists. She also previewed upcoming additions such as an agriculture-themed play area, the La Comunidad pretend market space, and a new prickly pear exhibit—reportedly the only one of its kind in the world. Learn more about the Children’s Museum.

“Serving with Compassion—Not at the Expense of Neighbors”

Resident Vicki Tarris sent us thoughts regarding the OVCN proposed sanctuary height meeting. About fourteen church member spoke at the meeting.  

"I listened to the Town Council meeting on April 2, 2025. A lot of people from OVCN came to give testimonials on what OVCN means in their life.  I am really happy that so many people have found OVCN to meet their spiritual needs.

 

However, they implied that OVCN was the only church in town that offers children’s programs and helps the needy.

 

I am happy to say that I get a great deal of spiritual comfort from my own church.  We also have a very active children's program. We also feed the homeless. We also help the poor. We also have numerous ways that people can become involved.

 

However, the one way that my church differs from OVCN is that my church does not deliberately harm their neighbors!"

Solomon urged unity—if you agree with OVCN

Former town council member Steve Solomon spoke passionately in support of OVCN during the April 2 meeting. He described the church as “amazing” and shared how it had positively transformed his life. He expressed admiration for the church’s outreach and missions—specifically mentioning a woman he met at work who was going to Guatemala to teach women how to sew. Solomon emphasized the importance of kindness and community, saying, “We just need to love each other and be kind and get along.” 

- - -

Help Shape Oro Valley’s Future—Land Use, Parks, Trails, and More

There’s still time to help set goals for OV’s future!
Residents will continue building the goals, policies and actions that will guide OV’s future throughout April and the beginning of May. Don’t miss out on this unique, resident-driven opportunity to shape OV’s future.

Ov’s land use map guides development in the future!
The 10-year plan’s land use map depicts the community’s development and growth expectations. This month, residents can help review and discuss any potential changes to the Town’s land use map. Join residents and Town staff in Council Chambers from 5:30 - 7:30 PM on:

Monday, April 14 – Discuss the “big picture” elements of the land use map
Thursday, April 15 – Discuss land use designations for individual, vacant properties.

Did you know the state requires the plan include a process to amend it? The plan is expected to evolve over the next 10 years to stay relevant. Residents will also discuss the process to amend the plan during the Monday, April 14 meeting.

Plan for parks, recreation, trails and water conservation
In addition to development, residents will also help craft goals, policies and actions for the Town to implement over the next 10 years for parks, recreation, trails and water conservation. Online meetings will be held from 5:30 – 7:30 PM on the following dates:

April 10 – Additional guidance for parks, recreation and trails
April 24 – Draft goals, policies and actions for parks, recreation and trails
May 1 – Additional guidance for water resources and conservation
May 13 – Draft goals, policies and actions for water resources and conservation

Visit OVPathForward.com to get involved today!

For residents interested in unpaved trails and multi-use paths, please join the focused online meeting on April 23. This meeting will help develop a separate yet related Trails Master Plan. Visit OVTrailsConnect.com for more information.

All resident voices are needed to make sure both plans represent the community!

Five Oddities

Five oddities
Yesterday we reported our fact-based analysis of the decision by the Town Council to overrule the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding the height permitted for the new Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene (OVCN) sanctuary. As we reported, the Council approved a 36-foot height. But what we didn’t report were the oddities we observed during that meeting. There were many—but here are our top five:

Council ignores four years of input from residents
The residents most directly impacted by the decision have been attending Council meetings and speaking during the “Call to Audience” portion for the past four years. They have consistently voiced concerns about the church's expansion. None of this was acknowledged by the Council during last week’s discussion. Instead, Mayor Winfield referred to an impromptu “survey” based on emails he received just days before the meeting, regarding the church’s request for a continuance. He reported that 10 of the 13 emails he received supported granting the continuance. He gave full weight to these last-minute emails rather than four years of sustained public comment. The rest of the Council went along with it.

What happened during the five-minute timeout, and why did Barrett change her mind?
After spending considerable time making an impassioned plea for a 29-foot height limit, Vice Mayor Barrett asked for a five-minute recess to reconsider. Her words were: “Can I ask for us to take a five-minute break? I just—I really want to think for a minute.” Some have speculated that she may have been influenced during that break by one or more Council members, but there is no evidence of that, and such speculation is not helpful without proof. Still, taking a break to reflect isn’t wrong—but it does invite speculation when a clear change in position follows so closely afterward.

The "Clifton Matter:" Why was it brought up at the same time?
It seemed odd that the Clifton matter was discussed during the executive session just before the public discussion of the OVCN height appeal. The Clifton case involves a court ruling against the Town, where the court found that a town body—specifically the Board of Adjustment—erred in a height-related decision. The Town not only lost the case but was ordered to pay Clifton's legal fees and costs of about $19,000. Immediately after the executive session, the Council voted to appeal the Planning and Zoning Commission OVCN height ruling. It’s hard to ignore the timing: A height-related legal loss followed by a sensitive height decision in public session. It makes one wonder whether town attorneys were subtly signaling the Council to avoid a possible courtroom setback. If so, the Council followed that signal precisely.

Robb voted "Yes”
Councilmember Robb lives directly across from the church property and is personally affected by the decision. Rather than standing with the Concordia-Buena Vista group, which opposed the height increase, she voted in favor of it. Her decision was in sharp contrast to Councilmember Greene, an OVCN member, who celebrated openly after the vote. Perhaps Robb believed the outcome was inevitable and decided to go along with it. But as the saying goes: "Never go along just to get along."

OVCN snatches victory from the jaws of defeat
OVCN came to the meeting hoping for a continuance, fearing the Council might reject their height request. Instead, by the end of the night, they got everything they wanted—approval for the full 36 feet. The residents, meanwhile, got nothing. In fact, their concerns weren’t even a factor in the Council’s discussion. Not once did anyone on the dais speak to the repeated objections and long-standing input from affected neighbors.

Yes, it was a strange night, indeed.
- - -