Here's a quick look at the town’s proposed 10-year plan
Most residents are not likely to read the full OV Path Forward 10-year General Plan. It is a well-prepared
detailed document intended to guide decisions on growth, development, services, and quality of life. Voters will have the opportunity to approve it in November. For those who want a quick overview, we are providing a brief summary of what the plan contains so you can decide whether to explore it in more detail.
Six Priorities
This is the vision of our town presented in a plan: “Oro Valley is a community where all residents have access to valued amenities, activities, services, and opportunities to live, work, shop, dine, and play. The Town maintains its strong sense of community by prioritizing public safety, natural beauty, scenic views, outdoor recreation, arts, and culture.” Items related to each of these priorities are threaded throughout the plan’s four major sections: Community, Sustainability, Economy, and Development. For example, public safety appears in the Community section through actions such as coordination with emergency service providers, while scenic views are addressed in the Development section through policies limiting building height and requiring design transitions.
Here's a look at how the plan supports these priorities
Public Safety (Community Section)
Maintain police and emergency services, coordinate with regional providers
The plan places strong emphasis on maintaining community safety and emergency preparedness. It includes actions to maintain effective public safety services, support school safety, improve traffic and pedestrian safety, and coordinate with emergency service providers, including a specific action calling for partnership with local emergency providers to help ensure adequate fire and EMT services.
Natural Beauty (Sustainability Section)
Preserve open space, desert environment, and water resources
The plan prioritizes conservation of the desert environment and the natural features that define Oro Valley. It includes goals and actions related to wildlife habitats, environmental resources, dark skies, water conservation, and open space. It also supports protecting native vegetation, maintaining wildlife corridors, and expanding conservation areas.
Scenic Views: (Development Section)
Limit most development to three stories, protect view corridors
The plan includes specific policies intended to conserve highly valued community views. It honors the community’s preference for one- and two-story buildings and acceptance of three-story buildings on appropriate sites. It also limits most residential uses and certain common commercial service uses to no more than three stories, while requiring transitions and design measures to reduce the appearance of larger buildings.
Outdoor Recreation: (Community Section)
Expand trails, parks, and access to open space
The plan supports Oro Valley’s identity as an active, outdoor community. It includes actions to maintain and improve trails, parks, and recreational facilities, expand trail access and connectivity, provide accessible parking and access to trails and paths, and carry out long-term restoration work at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. It also calls for continued assessment of park and recreation needs as the community changes.
Arts and Culture: (Community Section)
Support arts programs and potential cultural facilities
The plan calls for expanding and promoting arts and culture as part of Oro Valley’s identity and economic vitality. It includes support for arts programming, public art, historical and cultural education, and community events. It also includes an action to provide informational support to a nonprofit or other entity interested in establishing an arts, performing, humanities, or cultural center, with the expectation that such a center be financially self-sustaining and independent from the Town.
Access to amenities, services, and businesses: (Economy and Development sections)
Support business growth and places to live, work, shop, and dine
The plan aims to improve access to the things residents say matter most in everyday life. It includes goals related to business attraction and retention, tourism, housing variety, mixed-use development, gathering spaces, transportation connections, and parks and recreation. Together, these actions are intended to support more opportunities for residents to live, work, shop, dine, and play in Oro Valley.
And some other items
While most items in the plan align with these six priorities, some items address broader operational areas such as infrastructure, sustainability practices, and community programs that support how those priorities are implemented. Examples include transportation system planning and roadway design, land use mapping and zoning, air quality and waste reduction initiatives, and community programs such as intergenerational activities and senior-focused efforts. These items do not fit neatly into a single priority but provide the underlying framework needed to carry out the plan.
This plan is different than the last plan...Focuses on managing growth and enhancing quality of life, rather than accommodating new growth
This plan follows the Town’s 2016 General Plan, a plan focused more on guiding growth, This plan but reflects a maturing community one that wants to manage that growth, preserve community character, and enhance amenities such as parks, trails, and gathering spaces. It also includes more specific actions tied to current priorities.
Each week we plan to provide a snapshot of each of the six priorities plus a look at the other items.
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Next Thursday: A "Three Minute Dive" into what the plan says about Public Safety