One 75 foot high apartment building will sit on the site. Another apartment 59 foot high. These apartments will house approximately 1,300 people. Add to this three hotels and commercial/retail buildings.
All this on 112 acres of land.
It is a mini city.
The mini city will have its own entertainment center, one that will be maintained in part by the town; its own movie theater; its own supermarket; its own restaurants.
Oro Valley Village Center is a bold vision... bolder than envisioned in the General Plan
The Oro Valley Village Center is more than just a plan to revitalize the Oro Valley Marketplace, a revitalization that is sorely needed. No. It is vision of Oro Valley that is not included in the town's "Your Voice, Our Future 2016 General Plan." It is a concept so bold in design, so unique in concept, and so complex that it will likely take years to build and may never become a reality as proposed given what has become an ever changing world.
Council has been told: "This is all or nothing deal." There is no "wiggle room."
Council has been told: "This is all or nothing deal." There is no "wiggle room."
The developer, Town West LLC, has made it abundantly clear that this is all or nothing project. They are willing to invest $335 million in Oro Valley only if the project is economically viable. The only economically viable project they have proposed is this project, a project that increases the population density on the land far beyond what was envisioned in the town's zoning codes, or in the town's general plans.
Project requires a zoning code that the town does not have
The apartment buildings have to be 75 feet and 59 feet in height to accommodate the underneath parking. Above ground, underneath parking is required because the land on which the apartment is going to be built is not big enough to accommodate code required outside parking. Less setback is needed from the roads because there simply is not enough land to accommodate the apartment building if the setback is enforced per code.
What this project needs is city like zoning: High population density. High rise buildings.
Oro Valley simply does not have a zoning code to accommodate the project. Thus, the applicant's request for
fifteen zoning variance requests.
The task before council is daunting
Tonight, the Oro Valley town Council will hold a public hearing on the requested changes. The council may or they may not decide tonight to approve or deny some or all of the zoning variance requests that are sought.
Tonight, town council will have to answer the fundamental question on behalf of all of us who live and love Oro Valley: Do we want our town to have a mini city at the intersection of Oracle Road and Tangerine? Is this what we want for our town? If so, then is granting the fifteen zoning variance requests the right way to do it? Or is there a better way? For example, should town staff create a new pad designation for such a mini city? Should council then approve this project based on that new pad designation? A designation that would allow minimum setbacks, tall buildings, and shared recreational space. A designation that would allow for less protection of sensitive lands and view sheds.
You don’t need to be real specific in terms of why you do or do not. You just need to let them know how you feel about it. It is important for the Council to hear your voice because this will be the first time and may be the only time this will happen.
The meeting starts at 6 o’clock at Town Council Chambers.
See you there.
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