Bits and Pieces

Oro Vista Apartments Council Hearing Next Wednesday

Next Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council will discuss and decide upon rezoning for the Oro Vista Apartments.  However, the item now appears on the Wednesday meeting agenda as a “consent item.”.  That means that the whoever put the agenda together, which most certainly includes both the Mayor and town manager, don’t think a hearing is required.  In fact, unless the item is “pulled” from the consent agenda by a council member, there will be no discussion.

These  apartments are located on the south east corner of Lambert Lane and La Canada, directly east of Noble Hops restaurants. The lot in question is currently a parking lot. The lot is adjacent to apartments that are already there. You can read about these apartments in our prior posting. The town has posted information on this project. “The proposal would allow for a maximum 3-story apartment design on the vacant parcel adjacent to the Noble Hops restaurant.”

You will need to let one of the council members know if you are interested in having this item discussed by council.

Oro Valley Optimist club to hold “Scramble For Youth” 

The Oro Valley Optimist club is holding its annual “Scramble for Youth” on May 1 at Dove Mountain. It is an event to raise money for Oro Valley programs such as Dispose-A-Med, Camp Fury, Project Graduation, and Police Explorers. Next year perhaps the Optimist Club will hold the event at the Oro Valley Community Center, using the town’s municipal golf course. This will bring added visibility to our municipal golf courses. It will support the homeowner’s association and the town council’s efforts to make our municipal golf courses financially successful.

Northwest Explorer sold

Tucson Local Media, owners of The Explorer, has been sold. The Colorado based owner sold it to Times Media Group. This is the “largest family of free newspapers” in Arizona. It is headquartered in Tempe. According to one Phoenix-based news source, the publications that Times Media buys “ ... have not stood our for their journalistic prowess. Former journalists and editors have complained about low pay and how they have to work on too many of the company’s publications at one time.” 

Portion of multi-use path to close in May

A portion of the CDO shared-use path will be closed for repaving in May. It is the section that travels through the Oro Valley Marketplace.  It will close starting May 5 and will reopen in Mid June.

CDO and Ironwood High Schools in top 20% nationally

US News and world report has issued its 2020 rankings of Best High Schools.  Basis Oro Valley ranks #3 in Arizona and #23 nationally.  CDO ranks #1 in the Amphi School District; #10 in Tucson; #53 in Arizona; and #3172 nationally. It has a 92% graduation rate.  Ironwood Ridge ranks #2 in the Amphi School District, #14 in Tucson; #79 in Arizona; and # 4798 nationally. Its graduation rate is 90%.  Oro Valley’s two public high schools are ranked below five other local public high schools: University High, Catalina Foothills, Tanque Verde High, Empire High School, and Vail Academy. All of these schools are in the top 20% of all high schools in the nation.

Mighty Strong Headwinds

Below is what former Councilmember Mary Snider asserted at the April 6, 2016 town council meeting as being the reason for the lacking interest in golf memberships at the Town-owned El Conquistador Golf Courses.

“One of the reasons I believe we are lacking in revenues, frankly, is Mr. Zinkin’s constant attack on the viability -- his opinion of the viability of this property. It’s creating a headwind in town. You constantly question the staff. You make the staff look like they don’t know what they’re doing. You go on radio shows, hold meetings, give information out. You’re creating negativity in the community about this project… Your negativity is impacting the memberships in golf…”

We’re bringing this up because LOVE recently learned that the Oro Valley Optimist Club held an annual “Scramble for Youth Fundraiser” on May 11th. The fundraiser was a golf tournament that was held at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana.

Mary Snider and former Planning and Zoning Commissioner Don Cox, have been long-time members of the Oro Valley Optimist Club. On the members roster, Cox is listed as “District Representative.” Cox and Snider have also been big proponents of the town-owned El Conquistador golf courses.

So why didn’t these two “El Con Golf Cheerleaders” advocate to hold this golf tournament at the El Con? We doubt that it was fully booked that day because Troon admitted at the recent budget study session that the golf courses were only at 60% capacity.

If the El Con was booked that day, they still could have supported the town of Oro Valley by holding their golf tournament at The Views Golf Course or the Oro Valley Country Club. Why did the Oro Valley Optimist Club decide to support a Marana golf course?

If it was due to the strong headwinds at the El Con, we have to ask…Were there strong headwinds at The Views and at OV Country Club as well?

Below is the Optimist Club membership roster and the fundraiser information from their website.