Current OVCN proposal skirts council approval as no rezoning needed
The latest proposal from the Oro Valley Church of The Nazarene (OVCN) for a sports facility in Oro Valley's oldest and least densely populated community calls for a 40-foot-high gymnasium and a large parking lot. This proposal will not necessitate a rezoning of the property but will require approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission, a body predominantly comprised of the town's planning staff, for a building height variance. One approach for residents to prevent this is for the council to enact a resolution stripping this authority from the unelected group of volunteer residents.
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There is a 2006 animated movie called "Curious George" that included as the main conflict in the plot, a choice between keeping a museum open or demolishing it and replacing it with a parking garage.
The Curious George movie didn't have to spell out the many reasons why converting a museum to a parking garage was a terrible idea. It was obvious.
OVCN, according to their newest sketch, is outrageously proposing to pave 10 acres of land with asphalt – land that is currently zoned for rural and agricultural use.
Converting desert into parking is a bad idea. This should be as obvious as it was to the intended audience of three to six year old’s watching Curious George. But, regrettably, sometimes things need to be spelled out rather than relying on "norms" or conscience to dictate behavior.
Common sense should prevail
On November 1, 2023, this council reviewed the rules outlining the number of small animals allowed on residential lots.
Right now, on my R-144 lot, I could, according to the letter of the law, have an unlimited number of chickens. Unlimited. The only thing that would stop me from housing 2 million chickens is that it is a terrible idea and no sensible person would subject their neighbors to the smell and noise, etc. that accompanied my chickens.
Me housing 2 million chickens is just as outrageous as paving over 10 acres of desert.
Parking is not the highest and best use of 10 acres of desert in the heart of a residential neighborhood zoned for rural/agriculture/equestrian use. If I and all my neighbors started paving over our land and started housing huge numbers of chickens, I hope the council would investigate if this was in the best interest of the town.
Pass a resolution based on our town values
I respectfully request that you look into passing a resolution that sets reasonable limits on the amount of desert that could be sacrificed for parking or other non-agricultural uses like you did for setting limits on small animals -- limits that are based on our values as a town that prioritizes natural beauty, views, open spaces, the environment, agriculture and appropriate land use.
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