Oro Valley’s Ventana Medical Systems (also known as Roche Tissue Diagnostics), located in Innovation Park Drive has applied for a permit to release air pollutants from its operations. These include five different pollutant plus one called "Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)". The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) is processin the request. It is accepting public comments on it through April 21, 2025. You can also request a public hearing. Visit pima.gov to submit a comment or request a hearing.
Tech support scams on the rise
The March 2025 edition of the Oro Valley Police Department’s (OVPD) Crimefighter Newsletter warns residents about an increase in tech support scams, with older adults being frequent targets. These scams often begin with pop-up messages or unsolicited calls from people pretending to be technicians from well-known companies. Victims are tricked into giving remote access to their computers or purchasing unnecessary software, putting their finances and personal information at risk. OVPD encourages residents to stay vigilant and provides tips on how to protect themselves.
OVPD offers community safety programs
The newsletter also announces the return of the R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Self-Defense Program, offering practical techniques for personal protection. In addition, OVPD has launched the OV Safe Return Program to help locate and safely return individuals who may wander due to cognitive conditions. These programs reflect the department’s continued commitment to community safety and proactive support for residents.
OVCN seeks yet another "extension"...Residents Opposed
The saga of the Oro Valley Church (OVCN) of the Nazarene’s effort to build major new facilities has dragged on for six years. What started as a plan for a sports complex shifted to a proposal for a 40-foot-tall sanctuary with support facilities. The Planning and Zoning Commission rejected that height request in January, and the church appealed to the Town Council. At the schedule hearing, OVCN asked for more time after hiring a new attorney. The Council granted an extension until April 2.
Now, the church is asking for an eight-month delay. In their letter to the Council, they explain that most concerns raised by neighbors involve traffic, parking, and drainage — issues not fully addressed in their current request. They say they need more time to complete a full analysis of these concerns and submit formal plans through the town’s Development Plan process. It’s yet another delay in a process that seems unlikely to end anytime soon.
And here’s the kicker: Any development plan must first go through town staff review, then a public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission, and only then can it go before the Town Council. That process takes time — probably more than eight months.
Four speakers addressed the council on Wednesday, all opposing the request by OVCN for an additional eight-month extension. They expressed frustration over years of delays and emphasized that the project has already been rejected twice by the Planning and Zoning Commission for being incompatible with the neighborhood. They argued that repeated continuances only prolong uncertainty and allow the church to bypass established zoning decisions. They urged the council to deny the extension and called for the church to find a more appropriate location for its expansion plans.
The Town Council does not have to grant the extension. Let’s see what they do on April 2 when they consider it.
Harebrained Arizona House bill would allow religious institutions to build housing with little local input
The Arizona House is considering HB2191, a bill that would allow religious institutions to build residential developments on land they own. While local governments would still handle administrative approvals, they would not be allowed to impose additional conditions or hold public hearings. Issues like traffic, parking, drainage, and community impact would be addressed only through minimal state-mandated standards, not through local decision-making. Residents would lose their voice in the process, and town councils would have little power to influence what happens in their own communities.
The RoadRunners celebrated Oro Valley
The Tucson Roadrunners, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Utah Hockey Club, celebrated Oro Valley this past Sunday. According to Council Member Mo Greene: “Sunday was a really cool day for Oro Valley. The Roadrunners hosted a day for Oro Valley, and we had the town manager riding around on the Zamboni — a priceless picture — and he did well! He stayed right on there. Then the mayor dropped the puck to start the game. It was an amazing day, and after two overtimes, the Roadrunners won. It was a really exciting day.”
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