I for one have been heartbroken and feel betrayed
The views from my backyard are majestic and the nature is amazing. The property is home to several bobcats, a mountain lion (that she captured on video), countless coyotes and javelinas. THIS is why we moved to Oro Valley and this is why we chose this house. When we moved here, we were told that the property was a scenic corridor and that the Town of Oro Valley understood just how unique this land was and so they earmarked it to be the Town Center.
It’s no surprise to Patrick Rooney or anyone else who’s worked with me to hear me say that my dream and continued hope is that the Rooney family would donate this property, dedicate it as a natural preserve, and take it as a tax write-off… I for one have been heartbroken and feel betrayed by the Town leadership for encouraging cut and fill and high density housing.
John Rooney’s vision for this land was…respecting the desert and wildlife that we all love
John Rooney’s vision for this land was not high density housing…It was for pristine desert, and at the worst, custom home sites with 15,000 square foot lots respecting the desert and wildlife that we all love. This whole thing just horrifies me, to tell you the truth Mayor Winfield. It horrifies me that the Town of Oro Valley is not respecting what we as voters voted on (the 2016 General Plan) and instead, not your administration, but a previous administration was encouraging [this], and you can see the rape of our hillsides. I just don’t know how all of you can sit here and look at yourselves in the mirror and feel good about this. This is an atrocity.
You are here to represent the people and that’s why we elected you
A PAD is supposed to be consistent with the General Plan, but if you look at the General Plan’s Vision page, it indicates that we the people wanted to preserve the scenic beauty and environment. That includes desert and mountain views, wildlife and vegetation. It’s also supposed to keep the unique community identity as a special place. That is a special piece of property and [this development] is going to make our town look ordinary.
In the WLB PAD amendment application, it states, “The proposed changes in Area 4 are focused on making this area more receptive to the current demands and requirements of homebuilders.” I don’t think Oro Valley is in the business of making anything more convenient for home builders. I think you are here to represent the people and that’s why we elected you.
How is this in accordance with Town Code?
Lot #4 has 11 feet of fill. Lots 43-48 and Lots 62-64 have 10 feet of fill all the way to 13.5 feet. How is this in accordance with Town Code of 8 feet of fill for environmental protection of the hillside and also to prevent erosion?
Later in the meeting, Planning Administrator Bayer Vella explained why they can do this:
Bayer: The Code limits cuts and fills to 6 feet but it also allows to go up to 8 feet if it’s stair-stepped. So the idea is to soften the slope. The applicant has the ability to ask to go beyond Code as a Planned Area Development…They are enabled by Code to customize this site as part of a rezoning amendment. That’s why this is before you [the Town Council] to go beyond the 6 and 8 feet. If this were not a PAD, we wouldn't be having this conversation unless they received a grading waiver from the Town Council.
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Tomorrow we will publish some of the comments that LOVE received in emails and on our Facebook page.
