My synthesis of the article is that the Mayor believes that:
- Only economic development can provide increasing revenues to Oro Valley because only then will there be more commercial developments that will provide sales tax revenues to Oro Valley
- Annexation is important to this because it will give Oro Valley more developable land.
- Streamlining the development process from an alleged 16 to 18 months to 5 to 8 months will make a big difference in making Oro Valley a builder friendly community
- Only lack of sufficient potable water will limit Oro Valley's growth.
Do you agree with the Mayor?
9 comments:
Plans are plans; realities, however, must be addressed. The lag in development time lines might be an oversimplification on the 'state of opportunity'. There are many factors which can draw or repel any given business type, including tech and retail, to or from a given area.We must address the fact that there are many municipalities which are and will continue to be competing for the same entities. Countrywide, we are still in the doldrums economically and, as we pull out of same, companies who have the desire, the, will, and the money to start up or branch out will 'cherry pick' and choose based on the perception of community assets.
One thing we must address is that, as Mayor Hiremath pointed out, we have grown to a population of over 44,000 people. Most of those moved here for a particular kind of life style; we cannot let developers run over that 'reason d'etre'. Negatively, it's not just going to be just the water, it's going to be the traffic, the lack of certain amenities, cultural deficiencies, and, as well, our failure to provide a more attractive and unique array of retail types.
And...we most certainly will have to fill up the empty spaces that do exist and, too, get those projects completed that were started but are presently in a state of abandonment or are stalled for lack of occupant prospects.
Annexation of existing population areas may bring more revenue but at what cost? The ratio must be in favor of the benefit.
At least Mayor Hiremath wants to do something and I favor such action as long as the foundation residents are not swept aside in the process.
Zev....Would you please define for us what you mean by "the foundation residents are not swept aside in the process." I think I can better respond if I know what you mean by this.
OT - simply put, as long as the wants and desires of the base community are considered in the growth process. Yes, we could go on and on as to what that might mean but another way to put it, simply, 'a Community, of the people, by the people and for the people' must be maintained.
While no one can fault your response without finding fault in the Gettysburg Address, I just need to point out that when you use the term "development" in Oro Valley there is a "community" out there that says, "No way."
There is but one way for any government to be successful and provide the services that the people demand and that is to generate income from one or more sources.
I think we can all agree that to have a single primary source of income is dangerous and generally unsustainable. Oro Valley discovered this when the housing revenue stream began to wither.
So we started to generate more income from commercial sales which required "development". But then the aforementioned "community" went bonkers because they didn't like that kind of income generation.
So as we grow, and grow we must, let's not lose sight of the fact that without the generation of dollars from major sources other than the people, then it shall default to taxes from the people, by the people and for the people.
Then listen to the screams!!!
OY, I am not one of those who says "no way"; I am one of those who says "smart way".
When I made this posting, I was careful not to give my "opinion". Frankly, I have no fault with "smart development". I just don't think that further burdening our already burdened road, water, and utility infrastructure with more homes is the answer to the town's revenue problems since, thank goodness, there is no property tax. There is only a short term revenue stream from construction permits and the like.
That said... I do have a cut...
There is, to me, a much more important source of long term health of Oro Valley and that is to attract and continue to attract a strong business base. As a result, the Town must be pro-business.
My feeling is that Oro Valley must go it alone, when it comes to economic development, because Tucson is a major detractor from businesses coming to our region. Tucson has one asset: The UoA and Oro Valley can coopt it because this is where people want to live. Educated people don't want to live in a crime ridden, poorly-educated area where the schools are worse than bad; a city that can't get its act together (30 years for Rio Nuevo?)
We are the Scottsdale of Southern Arizona. Scottsdale sells itself. It stays as far away from anything to do with Phoenix as possible.
It is why I want Oro Valley to promote itself as the smart place to locate in Southern Arizona. Seek Town growth by bringing in high value businesses (hi tech, bio tech, startups) that produce high(er) wage (not retail) jobs. (I doubt that TREO will ever do us much good. TREO has too many masters to serve)
Then, as this business base grows, so does the influence and market power of Oro Valley; and so does the need for housing and more consumer oriented businesses.
In other words, in my opinion, it is time for Oro Valley to strike out on its own; to disassociate itself from the armpit known as Tucson. To become known as the "Jewel" of Southern Arizona and not just another bedroom community.
There, I said it. And I do feel better.
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I couldn't agree more Zee Man. The University of Arizona is the crown jewel of Tucson. They are a top public research university. However, no one does want to live in Tucson. The UA brought me here four years ago and I was told to look in Northwest Tucson to live. Oro Valley has done well the past six months by attracting Basis along with UA buying the old Sanofi building to use as a type of incubator space. We are not without our problems, but we are miles ahead of Tucson.
Good, Zee, good, the Scottsdale of So. AZ. I like it.
Poor Tucson, if they raise the sales tax down there this Nov, I think they are doomed.
We will need some upscale shopping and dining to get to the Scottsdale level tho......
Sorry I haven't been paying much attention to the blog in recent days. The lack of activity is both a positive and a negative.....if you get my drift.
The only way that "upscale shopping and dining" will come our way is to increase the numbers of folks and the income of those folks. Without those two we simply just do meet the necessary demographic for investment.
Having said that we do need more residential growth. One thing that hurts us is the scar to our immediate north. If we want to invest in our future then we need to clean up Catalina. And unfortunately we have the harness of Pima County around our neck which I consider to be of greater concern than Tucson.
Lastly we also need to stop the flow of folks heading to Sky Harbor to catch flights. WE NEED FOR TIA TO GROW!!! That's a biggie when major employers look at our area.
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