Bits and Pieces

Oro Valley Triathlon and Duathlon Festival Tomorrow At Kreigh Park
The Oro Valley Triathlon and Duathlon Festival returns for its 11th year on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., at James D. Kreigh Park (23 W. Calle Concordia), welcoming athletes from across the globe and bringing economic impact to the region.
This festival has grown into Southern Arizona’s premier triathlon and duathlon festival, attracting athletes from across the country and beyond. This year, 510 competitors from 32 states, Canada, and Poland, will take on the challenge, with ages ranging from 14 to 86 years old. Notably, 50 percent of participants are first-time participants, underscoring the event’s welcoming and inclusive nature.

Celebrate Oro Valley on April 12

Join the celebration: April 12, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, head to James D. Kriegh Park. It is the annual Celebrate Oro Valley event. This community celebration features various activities, entertainment, and opportunities to connect with fellow residents.  This event will feature crafts, games, inflatables for kids, a youth dodgeball tournament, food trucks, beer and wine and live music! (Source: Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation weekly email 3-13-25).

Recent police incidents highlight effective responses by OVPD

This month’s Oro Valley Town Manager’s Executive Report To Council highlighted several notable incidents managed by the Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD). On February 20, OVPD coordinated with Marana Police and other agencies to apprehend a driver who had previously rammed a Marana police vehicle and evaded law enforcement. The suspect was safely taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault and unlawful flight. In another case, OVPD quickly resolved a residential burglary by tracing stolen items electronically, executing a search warrant, recovering the items, and arresting four burglary suspects. Additionally, proactive patrol efforts near apartment complexes experiencing vehicle break-ins led to the arrest of an individual for burglary, who was later also charged with smuggling drug paraphernalia into the jail. 

Cops on the job

Just this week, we saw just how efficient our police are when responding to traffic accidents. On Wednesday around 3 p.m., a car driven by someone clearly under the influence collided with a truck waiting in the middle lane at Magee and Oracle. By 4 p.m., the roads had been cleared, and the driver of the car was transported to the hospital. Ironically, the driver of the truck and their spouse were on their way to the auto mall to buy a new car. We had a chance to speak with them, and believe me, they were beside themselves. 

Town investigates multi unit short term rental violation
Several weeks ago, LOVE reported on a resident’s comments during the Call to Audience section of a recent town meeting. The resident spoke about what appeared to be a loophole in the town’s short-term rental ordinance. The resident expressed concern that a neighboring property had converted into three or possibly even four short-term rentals. In response, the Mayor instructed town staff to investigate. According to the latest Town Manager’s report, Oro Valley Code Enforcement has since inspected the property for potential code violations related to operating multi-family dwellings within a single-family zoning district. Staff confirmed that no permits were issued for such a conversion, and additional interior inspections are scheduled for this week to identify any further violations. (Source:  LOVE report, 02-27-25 and Town Manager Executive Report To Council, March 2025)

Applications submitted for Oro Valley Village Center Apartments
A few months ago, LOVE anticipated significant activity this spring concerning the transformation of the Oro Valley Marketplace into the Oro Valley Village Center—and developments are now underway. HSL Properties has submitted formal applications for architectural design and development plans related to another Encantada apartment project. Located north of the current Encantada complex, the proposed project includes approximately 320 residential units, along with site improvements such as a public recreation area featuring a ramada, self-service bike repair station, and seating accessible from The Loop. The development plans, currently undergoing administrative review, will be checked for conformity with the updated Master Development Plan approved by the Town Council in November 2023. Architectural designs will subsequently be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Town Council. (Source: Town Manager Executive Report To Council, March 2025). There is also a hotel that whose planning is underway.

Brother Brother Oro Valley is watching you
If you regularly travel through the intersections at Innovation & Tangerine, La Cholla & Glover, and Westward Look & Ina, be sure to proceed carefully—Big Brother Oro Valley is now watching! The Town has installed Miovision and Honeywell cameras at these locations, enabling staff to keep an eye on traffic issues and resolve them quickly. (Source: Town Manager Executive Report To Council, March 2025).

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