Council takes long-awaited action
Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council voted unanimously to ban parking on the right of way along Calle Buena Vista from Hardy Road and to extend no parking on Calle Concordia to Calle El Milagro [See panel below-right]. This is the area where the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene (OVCN) is located.
Residents raise safety concerns
The situation has existed for years, with residents’ pleas for relief largely ignored until now. Residents speaking at the Council meeting described hazards created by street parking. Karen Steinbrun said the street is heavily used by “bicyclists and also people riding horses,” adding that “I think it is a safety issue because it’s an area for walking.” Longtime resident Tricia Tozer recalled a near accident during a church event: “They were parked the entire length of Buena Vista… a man and his child darted out between a truck… if I hadn’t been going five miles an hour, what would have happened?” David Diver, who lives across from OVCN, called it “like the great escape when the church lets out… everybody peels out of there because they can’t wait to get away and that makes it even more dangerous”.
Keesler: Street parking is about convenience, not necessity
Town Engineer Paul Keesler explained that OVCN has adequate on-site parking and an agreement with CDO High School for overflow. He said the issue is convenience: “It’s more… a matter of parking out there so they can get out quicker”.
Council weighs scope of restrictions
Vice Mayor Barrett moved to extend no-parking restrictions along Calle Buena Vista from Linda Vista to Hardy Road, and along Calle Concordia to El Milagro. She said intersections make clearer boundaries than “some random place where you’re going, ‘Can I park here? I don’t know’.”
Considered impact on adjacent neighborhoods
Councilmember Murphy supported the action but cautioned against shifting the problem: “I don’t want to solve this safety issue only to push it further out and create a safety issue in adjacent neighborhoods.” Keesler acknowledged the risk: “If you blocked off all of the streets, I would imagine you’re gonna push it into Shadow Mountain Estates. So you will be pushing, you will be moving that around a little bit”. Mayor Winfield added that he would speak with OVCN’s pastor about encouraging attendees not to park on neighborhood streets.
Council decision
The Council approved the motion unanimously, 7–0, to extend no-parking zones along both Calle Buena Vista and Calle Concordia. The action aims to improve access and visibility for neighbors, cyclists, and drivers, while OVCN retains on-site and overflow parking options.
Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council voted unanimously to ban parking on the right of way along Calle Buena Vista from Hardy Road and to extend no parking on Calle Concordia to Calle El Milagro [See panel below-right]. This is the area where the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene (OVCN) is located.
Residents raise safety concerns
The situation has existed for years, with residents’ pleas for relief largely ignored until now. Residents speaking at the Council meeting described hazards created by street parking. Karen Steinbrun said the street is heavily used by “bicyclists and also people riding horses,” adding that “I think it is a safety issue because it’s an area for walking.” Longtime resident Tricia Tozer recalled a near accident during a church event: “They were parked the entire length of Buena Vista… a man and his child darted out between a truck… if I hadn’t been going five miles an hour, what would have happened?” David Diver, who lives across from OVCN, called it “like the great escape when the church lets out… everybody peels out of there because they can’t wait to get away and that makes it even more dangerous”.
Town Engineer Paul Keesler explained that OVCN has adequate on-site parking and an agreement with CDO High School for overflow. He said the issue is convenience: “It’s more… a matter of parking out there so they can get out quicker”.
Council weighs scope of restrictions
Vice Mayor Barrett moved to extend no-parking restrictions along Calle Buena Vista from Linda Vista to Hardy Road, and along Calle Concordia to El Milagro. She said intersections make clearer boundaries than “some random place where you’re going, ‘Can I park here? I don’t know’.”
Considered impact on adjacent neighborhoods
Councilmember Murphy supported the action but cautioned against shifting the problem: “I don’t want to solve this safety issue only to push it further out and create a safety issue in adjacent neighborhoods.” Keesler acknowledged the risk: “If you blocked off all of the streets, I would imagine you’re gonna push it into Shadow Mountain Estates. So you will be pushing, you will be moving that around a little bit”. Mayor Winfield added that he would speak with OVCN’s pastor about encouraging attendees not to park on neighborhood streets.
Council decision
The Council approved the motion unanimously, 7–0, to extend no-parking zones along both Calle Buena Vista and Calle Concordia. The action aims to improve access and visibility for neighbors, cyclists, and drivers, while OVCN retains on-site and overflow parking options.
