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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Records - The Oro Valley Voice (37) r f ................. 4111111111111111111111111ma MIIIIIIMIII I= /./ 4 iiii iiiimInim emir annum , ....... =....... ......-•_ 1111111.111.11M 11111111111•111 iiiii - .gym �..... wmiassimaiiii 4„„ k--------- V o e c e Volume II, No. 5 Published for residents of the Town of Oro Valley,Pima County,Arizona April IA] 1975 NEIGHBORS' PROTESTS ARE HEEDED ro a etounti nixes denser-zoningrequest By TED TURPIN applied for the zoning variance plant worker who owns a peach during the meeting. Publisher on their land west of Linda orchard in the Linda Vista area, however, Shields had a Facing its first major test as Vista. was the most vocal— the most number of allies in his an arbiter of zoning matters,the But it pleased a number of truculent — protestor, coming opposition to the zoning Oro Valley Town Council last protestors—residents of Linda to the meeting armed with variance; they include Gerald Thursday evening turned down Vista Estates and Linda Vista maps, charts, copies of deeds Korte, a member of the town's a variance request by three Citrus Tracts, both of which lie and records, and a court planning and zoning commis- residents who wanted to build a within the township — who reporter whom he paid to take sion, and Ron A. Slyter, jointly-owned swimming pool insisted that to allow the- an official record. chairman of that group. where their three lots connect. variance would erode zoning "I mean business,"he told the Anthony Van Marie arose to The hearing, with the council restrictions against building town council,towering over the protest granting the variance, sitting as a Board of Adjust- more than one house on a meeting table in a near- saying that he had bought his ment, took most of the evening four-acre parcel. threatening attitude. "I want SR land at 9380 Calle Alemedra — which wound up with Mayor Under the (suburban ranch) you to understand that. I'm not "knowing that there could never Kenneth W.Holford announcing zoning which the Town of Oro going to have the Town of Oro he more than two houses per that he would resign effective Valley inherited from the Valley or the Pima County 10-acre parcel;these gentlemen April 1. (See related story.) county in that area, the three supervisors or anyone else come (Seaman, Thorell and Peck) The decision went against applicants were approximately out here and tell us how we're knew that, too." Duncan Seaman, A.L. Thorell 32,000 square feet short of the going to live. Korte,who noted that he had and Howard H. Peck, three required area. He repeated such remarks, journeyed "down to the Pima property owners who had Orville Shields, a cement with variations, several times County Board of Supervisors". many times prior to Oro Valley's ANE T R incorporation to protest county rezoning, said he believes that Theconsequences • • �► "re-zoning should he made � 1nc0rora �on harder, not easier." o Peck several times asserted that he and his neighbors If you have already signed Virgil Brandon's effort to get denser zoning, in just one case. weren't seeking rezoning but petition to force disincorporation of Oro Valley Disincorporation would return us to the were asking only for a —or are considering signing it— you should be mercies of Pima County government — under "variance." That argument aware of the consequences: which we have one supervisor to represent seemed to carry little weight 1. If the Town of Oro Valley is dissolved, 75,000 persons,rather than one councilman for with either the protestors or the every 231 persons as we have today in the Town council, however. . YOU as an individual property owner will be of Oro Valley. Mrs.Ellen March said she and assessed to help pay off the debts currently 4. Disincorporation means the county brass her family are currently outstanding against the town — debts which would be able to spend nearly $30,000 of OUR negotiating to buy a five-acre Virgil Brandon helped incur while a Oro Valley earmarked road funds anywhere parcel in the Linda Vista area, councilman. they wished, instead of using it to repair and and that one attractive char- 2. Disincorporation would end forever the upgrade our streets and roads within the town. acteristic of the area — open ability of the town to generate revenues to pay Are these consequences what you wish? space— would be threatened if these debts.If the town endures,it will bring inIf not, DON'T be foolish enough to sign the council approved the more than $80,000 next year through Brandon's petition.If you have already — but variance, thus "setting a "automatic" and other income — tax rebates, dangerous precedent." want to remove your name from that document revenue sharing and other forms — BUT if you —simply write to him[Virgil Brandon,9101 N. Sam Polito,who said he's also help Brandon kill the town,the burden of that Overlook Drive, Oro Valley, Az. 857041, and a resident of Linda Vista, debt will fall on you and other Oro Valleyans► tell him you want to remove your name from the *' insisted that approval of the individually. list of signers. Peak-Seaman-Thorell variance 3.If Brandon gets enough petition signers to Send a dated carbon copy to the Oro Valley t ' ould create a housing disincorporate, it would mean the end of local Town Office, 9040 N. Oracle Rd., Oro Valley, concentration which isn't there zoning control — the kind demonstrated last AZ. Mark it "Attention, Mrs. Elsie Robinson, (Continued on Page 3] week when the town council turned down an Oro Valley Town Clerk." I)o it today. EDITORIAL in a ista variance case— ,,, i ,. , E, . ,. ��,..,,. ,,:44.4„,,,,,,,,:‘,z(i,'::::::1-44,1::,:::—:*441-1A:t*N:S { a lesson in true democrac ilik . ':'t7cl';'X:' -:-t.-n :,,,,,'� ,-:,...4,- -..'-‘.,1, ,...-- k?' i- �` - 3,... � �� #' .,�, `ie. Orville Shields probably doesn't realize it,but he and hisse , . , . Vista neighbors provided a splendid example Thursday night of ,A true democracy m action. s The kind of democracy you can get in a small town like Oro c fie, - .�- . ` '' .: Vallee.The kind we longago learned noti to expect from the Pima 4 i , ,00: County- brass. i .. 77:: ~ It's the kind of self-regulation we can continue — IF we keep `� - the Town of Oro Valley strong and viable. ......1' : 1r Shields and his neighbors were opposing the efforts of three other Oro Valleyans who wanted to build three homes close to a shared swimmingpool, on less land than is required by the -+ +. town's zoning. 4 It wasn'tabad idea,perhaps —but the opponents regarded it x A ., ,- adangerous precedent f or a c0-1 mmunity where"open space"is s a longe k valued and recious. � :.a �' Oro Valley's town council members apparently thought it was dangerous,too;they turned down the request. We're glad they w �; . �d did. '• 1 - o s. b any`, . • • • . -Al' ::- - ', � �.•` ;` ..; Unlike Shields, who was painfully heavy-handed in his ' -. ,p, . opposition statements,other Linda Vista residents made simple, ...,— ,,4 :: persuasive arguments for keeping their neighborhood the way it ' y x - . . 7. ` <�s h. is. The council listened. �- s 'a �; , One ofprotestors,Gerald Korte noted that he and Shields 0.- .� ,� `�." ��" �� �„ '�����;�2��� x�� �.�; �� -���� the prote rs, , - { h '',..i,c V . - , ,>_;;��t�: -� _�:�.`� ,�� ,�.:.,• s�;:'� �:�, �:;� ,..,v..:t x.:- had many times traveled down to the Pima County Courthouse to protest county zoning actions and other county moves. That Where s tnat roadiepair money? had a familiar ringto many at the meeting. Jim Fay, who lives outside the town limits of Oro Valley, holds a Too many of us have made that futile trek to the courthouse,to yardstick to show the depth of chuckholes on Eden Drive; Sunny voice our objections — and usually to find them ignored. Kaufman looks on.The Town of Oro Valley currently has more than Why do you think we incorporated the Town of Oro Valley? $7,000 in its earmarked fund for road and street repair,a function Just so we could control our own zoning,our own lifestyles.So for which Town Engineer Ken Florian is responsible. Based on the we could get decisions like the one that Linda Vista residents new town census of 1,155,Oro Valley will receive more than$20,000 received Thursday night;one made by persons who know them, in such funds from state and federal gas tax rebates. know their neighborhood, and are sympathetic to the goals of their neighbors. Isn't that kind of democracy—that kind of self-government — worth preserving? Does anyone really think we can get a fairer shake from Pima "�'tire: County officials than from the men and women we Oro Valleyans r -4:*4441N„ elect? \--tr.te-Ir40--.•:.:!- 1Think about that — before you do anything to weaken or destroy the Town of Oro Valley- rhy. ,- „,,, �. Clip this coepo■ — mail it is with $2 for -�” 164 your subscription to the Oro Valley Voice! ; My name -----� .'. 0 # tt Street address_ --- City__ _State.__ ZIP -_ tI enclose $2 for a year's subscription to the Oro Valley ' Voice. Mail to: Oro Valley Voice, Sancruval Publications, Ted Turpin, Editor. P.O. Box 3003, Tucson, .az. S5702 i , 1 i VJr A... I JUST AHEAD OF RECALL , •••Nixes zoning Holford E1 Page 1threats • Na today, and he opposed such ' , In a b►•ief blaze of publicity ' . . l�u h fizzled damply the next I ti c seen this area become -4,-;-��• .; � �.:�. . .. •:,...:,-.4144A--- Mayor Kenneth W. more and more crowded, hecfa . . observed. "We've got to do ; o x Ilolford resigned from the town �•ouncil,claiming- rainst. somf thing about It. � � � Holford referred to several .45,-- ',� -`-� . � � �� hi, life and his family. letters opposing-r he variance ::," I I01ford also charged that pp g, t request, which he said Came unidentified "land developers" from Slyter, Harold C. I'��rt.er, � -is'- ',.,,,11had ti-led (unsuccessfully) to the Gerald J. ('hess��n family, bribe him to het desired zoning and Royal Bouscflor. All are but at his ballyhooed press residents of the Linda Vista . _ conference Friday morning in neighborhood. it-r. cion\nto«n Tucson, he failed to *• =• male i c►oc1 on his promise to Councilwoman Dorothy • '. �* n:lmc',names or give specifies. Montgomery referred to guide- • Recall petitions to remove lines for zoning which require . - ,. Ilolford from office had been that a petitioner for variance scheduled to shirt circulating in demonstrate"a hardship which ..i.4-- ;#_.- Oro Valley April 4. 11 .......4.t..„- isn't of his own making. -.«...7.4- Tucson reporters muttered She asked Peck:"What is the x ~` disi,•ustedly as they left the hardship? What are the special - On(xis conference"nce" itpLa Placita differences between your prop- New se ere tar�� old mayor "it h less information than erty and other parcels in that I lollord had given out the night area?" Former Oro Valley Mayor Kenneth Holford — who resigned before at the end of the town Peck replied that there are no dramaticaly two hours after this picture was taken — confers with council meeting. differences, except that the Mike Green,Pima county staff member whom the Town Council has "What a hag of air," said one three parcels adjoin land also named secretary to the Oro Valley Board of Adjustment. TV man. already zoned CR-1. Mrs. Again, Holford claimed that Montgomery replied that, other he had "been working with" . >carr warrants �(� ��• ( e .� a- parcels in Linda Vista also meet own � c r�ll enforcements E m nt a that test. gentles in investigating what he She asked Ron Green, • `aid‘i ere attempts by organized newly-appointed clerk for the crime to infiltrate the north- year PP tiscal . . to new Town Board of Adjustment, if side loot Mils. — should the threepetitioners Valley. But newsmen were unable to ()no Valle ti, which has issued Bank of Arizona. he granted their zoning variance warrants of$20,394.76 to cover . find any law enforcement Mrs. (,onnelly s statement c,fficials who admitted to —they wouldn't then need to go first;,year dehts to Pima that"the logical answer... (is to) .. �, m • r •;• •, • _ "working rkin with Holford. Pima through re-subdividing proce- (,(aunty can simply carry that - � • p y simply carry them over into the County- Attorney Dennis dares. Green said yes, they debt over into the next, fiscal would, and added: next year" appeared to nettle I>e('oncini said Holford had year, says an official of the Virgil Brandon, a former Oro .. "If t:lll:ed to him, and we'll we go hack to county Arizona League of Towns and Valley councilman who has (control), all Linda Vista Municipalities. nit'wally check out what he told p steadfastly maintained that •• Estates and Linda Vista Citrus Kathy Connelly, secretaryto us. such action wasn't possible;that Holford alleged that he had Tracts would he eligible for the League, attended the the total debt must be paid by been ', CR-1 zoning." Thursday night meeting of the the town before July 1. be c n offE rE d, and refused, a The council would upits �, bribe of "several thousand Oro Valley town council and The town's budget. commit- Itoard of Adjustment. hearing gave that answer toqueries at tee, dollars"to help land developers with Councilman Lauren Rhude tE.E, headed by Mrs. Lois get zoning in the ()ro Valley both the 6 p.m. study session Lambf rson and of which area which would allow high- asking Slyter for his comment. and the following council Brandon is a member, has The chairman of the town's meeting. recommended that the council (lc'nsit development. planning and zoning commission Her answer supports the reduce the debt nextyear as its Ile also charged that some replied: position of Lauren Rhude, head able, thus reducing the total O1.0 \'alley residents, who he "The basic concept (of the of the council's finance commit- interest charges. The 1975-76 s:lld might profit from the shared swimming pool) is very tee,who has contended from the fiscal worksheet suggests alleged land development,made sound; I think it's a nice idea. beginning that such warrants budgeting from$1,200 to$1,800 t hr•c ats on his life. pe also (But)I don't think it's a nice idea can be carried over "as long as for debt service. declined to name these persons, -,:i\ing he didn't want to hamper for this specific property in this the hank is willing to carry Mrs. Connelly told Oro specific area." them." Valleyans that it's her opinion ir��est i��at ion. Vice-Mayor Richard Kolt The town pays interest of 6 that "warrants authorized on moved, and Mrs. Montgomery per cent annually on the last year's budget can't be second, denythevariance TheReid the to � a warrants. town has hada included in this (new fiscal) petition; the council voted 4-0 line of credit with Valley year's budiTt: 1 hey must he (Councilman Robert Hanson National Bank and has also been car•r•ied as a separate Midget hne Uro\Talleywas absent for disc roval. oft(•. Voice pp red financin>_, h�� United i c r•� THE SOUTHWEST CORNER... ...BY TED TURPIN Brandon: Why is he trying to des roour The Town of Oro Valley, having finally rid itself of an We know a few things about Brandon,of course. We know incompetent mayor, must now ask itself — and its main that he moved into Oro Valley after petitions had been filed in-house critic—some pertinent questions: for incorporating the town — and surely someone as Who and what is `v it it Brandon? Who. , f knowledgable as Brandon(pretends to be`?)must have known gthat Oro Valle was even then in theprocess of becominga does he represent besides himself`? � Y Is he currently receiving payment from self-governing town. Pima County or from specific Pima(county We know that Brandon, a retired Marine, has from the start taken a completely negative attitude toward anything officials,perhaps as a"consultant?"Would he he willingto publicly disclose his I designed to help Oro Valley.He is against almost everything. s` But what is he or? sources of income`? �� „ -f Is Brandon running interference for land developers?For He took no part at all in the Shadow Mountain Homeowners men who find the Town of Oro Valley a hindrance to their Association, where he could have voiced his opposition to rezoning,tract-housing plans?Men who have learned to"get incorporation much earlier, and worked democratically to around" the Pima County zoning bureaucracy, to whose persuade others to his way of thinking. mercies Brandon would return us? But that's not Brandon's cup of tea. He prefers Is Brandon in line for one of those fat county demagoguery and scare tactics; he'd rather send out "administrative assistant" jobs which are being proposed, unsigned pamphlets while also working to manipulate gullible perhaps as an aide to his political mentor,Supervisor Conrad reporters for the Tucson dailies. Joyner'?Could that he his reward for destroying the Town of Brandon was conspicuously absent when several Oro Valley, which Joyner and his pals find so irritating? homeowners' groups worked successfully to get Northern (It's no secret that Brandon has been Joyner's stooge since Avenue paved, thus reducing dust pollution in that area. the day Brandon came to Oro Valley and began planning his Two years ago, Brandon was approached by those who "disincorporation drive."A matter of public record— but an feared the stench from Pima County's proposed open raw item which some may have forgotten — is that a major sewage ponds near West Ina Road, which were delicately financial contributor to Joyner during his last campaign was termed"oxidation ponds."Asked to help push for a complete Marvin Volk, a real estate developer whose company has sewage treatment plant instead,Brandon refused;he was too been involved in many subdivisions on the northside. busy, he said, and didn't "want to get involved." Could that fact—check it out if you doubt my word—have And yet this man has the gall to point with pride, anything to do with Brandon's continuing attacks on the commenting that "concerned people...act in concert when Town of Oro Valley,and on all of us who worked to make it a they feel threatened."!! reality? Jim Kriegh, who unlike Brandon has the courage to sign - any and all letters he sends to other Oro Valleyans, asks a very pertinent question:"Can you name one thing that Virgil has ever done for the people in Shadow Mountain Estates or for the people in the Town of Oro Valley?" Nope. Not a thing. But I can name a number of things ° Brandon has done to theeo le of Oro Valley — and several P P ` - other things he'd like to do, if we let him: —lie has come into our community and fomented division and strife among neighbors. - "_ —He has put out false figures,half-truths,and frightening (if wholly speculative) projections aimed at shaking Oro . e V alleyans' confidence in their ability — financial and t otherwise — to govern themselves. —He has manipulated two weak council members,Holford '` 'SZ, i i and Montgomery, and with them voted to obligate the town } under an exhorbitant contract with Pima County. .. i '- ' — Having saddled the town with such a debt-producing tcontract, Brandon has simultaneously ridiculed and Igbyefforts legitimate d discoura ethe town to derive income with which-to pay those debts. He has misled persons in soliciting their signatures for his , ` '' disincorporation petitions, never advising them that those debts which he helped incur for the town will fall on them and Kite weutner's here! other Oro Valley taxpayers personally if the town is Oro Valley youngsters Keith Hartsuck and Brent Mattson admire dissolved. the big yellow kite held by Brian Mattson.The three Riviera Drive This is the record of Virgil Brandon. Ask yourself:-Is this boys tried out the March wind on Easter Sunday — but without really the kind of man we want to follow in deciding the future much success. of our community?