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The Oro Valley Valley village center is a “water intensive” project
Town staff estimates that the Oro Valley Village Center will use an additional amount of water over what the Oro Valley Marketplace, if fully built-out, would use. That additional amount of water is equivalent to the annual water use of more than 1,600 single-family residential homes. To put that in perspective, that’s four times the drinking water that the town “wastes” watering the recently reopened Pusch Ridge Golf Course. It's more water than used in most subdivisions in the town. The panel below lists the additional uses of drinking water for Oro Valley Village Center project.
In its responses to council, town staff assured council that “this increased demand can be supplied without impacting existing or future customers.” (Report Page 33)
Staff determined this based on their analysis of the quantity of groundwater the State allows the town to withdraw annually (13.4 thousand Acre Feet Per year) versus the quantity that is currently withdrawing (5 thousand). The town has been able to keep its groundwater withdrawals lower than allowed “…though a combination of the introduction of reclaimed water, conservation efforts, and receiving a portion of our CAP allocation through wheeling agreements with Tucson Water.”
A few months ago, water utility Director Peter Abraham reported to counsel that he felt that further conservation efforts were not going to reduce water consumption. Abraham, however, does not foresee any circumstance in which to town will not have sufficient water to supply its customers.
A few months ago, water utility Director Peter Abraham reported to counsel that he felt that further conservation efforts were not going to reduce water consumption. Abraham, however, does not foresee any circumstance in which to town will not have sufficient water to supply its customers.
CAP is in a level 1 water restriction. This restriction does not impact water delivery to residential users. Though CAP water delivery is assured for the next few years, there is no assurance that this will continue indefinitely since CAP water is likely to be further restricted in future years. CAP water is used to replenish the town's groundwater supply. CAP is by far the most significant reason the town’s net groundwater withdrawal is below the limit.
Wise water use is a council priority
Town Council is made it clear that wise water use is a council priority. This council has continued to support water conservation, approved water rates that penalize water use, continued “sin taxes” on water that add to water cost, approved regulations that penalize water wasting and put emergency procedures in place in case there is a water shortage.
Wise water use is a council priority
Town Council is made it clear that wise water use is a council priority. This council has continued to support water conservation, approved water rates that penalize water use, continued “sin taxes” on water that add to water cost, approved regulations that penalize water wasting and put emergency procedures in place in case there is a water shortage.
Jobs and Water Use
There are instances of communities in Arizona that have not allowed zoning changes because the water use would be far in excess of the economic benefit brought to the community. One benefit is the number of and quality of jobs a project, if completed, brings to the community. The town's economic development plan calls for increasing the number of high wage, high value jobs to the town. The estimated number and quality of jobs this project will bring to the town has not been provided to the council.
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About the council questions
Council members were asked to submit questions regarding the rezoning requests of the Oro Valley Market place at the conclusion of the study session of January 19. They submitted a total of 97 questions. Town staff categorized these questions into six areas: Apartments, pedestrian connectivity, the entertainment district, the noise study, traffic, zoning, ESLO, water, and other. Either the town staff or the applicant provided the answer to each question. The response document is 36 pages. You can access it here.
Council members were asked to submit questions regarding the rezoning requests of the Oro Valley Market place at the conclusion of the study session of January 19. They submitted a total of 97 questions. Town staff categorized these questions into six areas: Apartments, pedestrian connectivity, the entertainment district, the noise study, traffic, zoning, ESLO, water, and other. Either the town staff or the applicant provided the answer to each question. The response document is 36 pages. You can access it here.
