This the third of our postings on the five factors that played out in the 2018 Oro Valley election.---
Factor #3: Views matter
The beauty of Oro Valley matters to those who live here. Residents want an unfettered view of the Catalina Mountains. Residents want the desert to remain untouched. Residents don't want Oro Valley to grow into a giant community.
"The Roof Tops" policy became visible
There is one word that characterizes Mayor Hiremath's leadership. It is "Growth."
Hiremath's goal was to increase the number of roof tops; and to add multi-family dwellings (apartments) to our community. This strategy went unnoticed by Oro Valley residents because they could not see the result, until now...
Suddenly
...after years of hiding, the result of the policy became visible on First Avenue. Today, there are multiple projects being undertaken along First Avenue.
All of these projects, and many others over the Hiremath years, were enabled by general plan amendments and zoning changes on the part of the Majority-4. One of the projects, a project to allow a five story retirement community to be built in a wash, was abandoned. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned after the desert had been bladed.
"Yellow means trouble"
At the same time, yellow signs announcing neighborhood meetings and possible zoning changes began to crop up throughout the community. Those signs mean that the zoning approved by voters in the 2016 General Plan is going to be changed.
The incumbent council, which includes the Majority-4, always approves general plan amendments and zoning changes.
The public realized that there was no reason to believe that this pattern of approval, of disregard for the General Plan, was ever going to stop as long as long as the Majority-4 were in power.
Residents saw all this and said: "No More"
Today, there are more than 40 development projects taking place in Oro Valley. Some have been approved and are already in progress. For example, there will be, according to Mayor Hiremath (2018 State of the Town Address), 1,000 new homes along LaCholla given projects already in place.
Some projects are in the process of council approval. It is these projects over which the new council will have much influence.
Mayor's Hiremath did not know best
Mayor Hiremath never built public support for his rooftops policy. And when the result of the policy became visible along First Avenue, the policy became personal to the voters of the community.
"Growth should not be stopped because of a few residents who are looking through a single lens," he noted at his "2018 State of the Town" address.
Apparently, Mayor Hiremath, there were more than just a few residents who did not want to see the unbridled growth of Oro Valley continue.
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Next Up:
Reason #2: No Property Tax
