Tonight: Council To Consider Oracle/Ina Annexation

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Oro Valley Town Council will consider three regular session agenda items regarding the annexation of the Oracle/Ina Road area, which includes Tohono Chul Park ("TCP").  The total annexation inludes "107 acres of unincorporated territory located between Chapala Drive to the north, Ina Road to the south, Paseo Del Norte to the west and Oracle Road to the east."

First, the council will conduct a public hearing on a pre-annexation agreement with Tohono Chul. This is an agreement to induce the park to sign the annexation agreement.  The agreement requires that the town to improve Northern Avenue from Ina Road to Chapala Drive.   In addition, TCP will have its own planned area development ("PAD") agreement.  "The PAD provides for future development in accordance with the Park's master plan" as a park.

The Annexation Area

The agreement also states that:

• "The agreement states that impact fees will not be required for improvements to the Property permitted under the PAD"
• "The PAD does contain a specific sign program."
• "The Town shall include the Park in reasonable future Town marketing, economic development, tourism and related promotional materials as a destination attraction, which may include Town participation in the development of joint signage on the Property"

The agreement notes that the TCP plans to add 20,000 square feet of structures and " new pathways and trails, a children’s ramada, a catering area, and additional parking."

The council hold a public hearing to annex the Ina/Oracle road annexation area after the TCP PAD hearing is completed.  The town has obtained sufficient signatures to "make it so" if they wish.

What is the impact on Oro Valley?

Fiscally, the impact means:

"The Oracle / Ina annexation will have a positive fiscal impact on the Town. Additional revenue will be generated from retail sales tax, bed tax, utility sales tax, Stormwater Utility fees, permits and business licenses. Additional expenditures are primarily due to operations and maintenance costs for additional roadways including Paseo del Norte, Chapala, and Northern Avenue. A significant capital expenditure is anticipated in FY 2014/15, for the reconstruction of Northern Avenue. Although the Town will not have jurisdiction over the entire Oracle / Ina intersection, it is anticipated that the Town will assume primary responsibility for incident response in this area. Additional personnel are not budgeted at this time."

Strategically, however, it has even more significance.  It now brings Oro Valley's borders to the Oracle and Ina intersection, a roadway that is going to undergo significant improvement over the next three years.   It is that is exclusively commercial.  Without much additional cost, Oro Valley could add substantial sales tax revenue by annexing the other three corners, then  moving west to annex Westward Look.  Who knows?  Perhaps parts of the foothills thereafter.
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