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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Environmentally Sensitive Lands Task Force - 9/3/2009 MINUTES °; ORO VALLEY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS (ESL) PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING #6 'cfjVtio`o'1g't�'Y` ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 KACHINA CONFERENCE ROOM 11000 N. LA CANADA DR. PAC Members Present: Bill Adler Don Chatfield Philip Kline Doug McKee Chet Oldakowski Steve Solomon Steve Ta i l l i e David Williams, Consultant, Willdan Engineering Colby Henley, Recon Oro Valley ESL Team Members Present: Joe Andrews Arinda Asper Karen Berchtold Bayer Vella Guest Speaker: Sherry Ruther, Pima County Development Services 1. Meeting called to order at 4:02 p.m. 2. August 20, 2009, meeting minutes approved with no changes. Mr. Vella introduced the Statement of Purpose and requested the committee's approval. Mr. Adler asked for one change, to replace "using" with "relying upon." The final version of the PAC Statement of Purpose reads: Our purpose is to preserve Oro Valley's significant and sensitive environmental resources for current and future generations. We will do this through a balanced approach, relying upon clear, science-based criteria and using innovative methods while respecting property rights. 3. Discussion Regarding Upcoming Meetings (presented by Ms. Berchtold) • Joint Study Session scheduled for 3—5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9th in the Kachina Conference Room. PAC members were asked what they would like to focus on at that session. o Mr. Adler wants to know what the major landowners consider"sensitive", what they would recommend to the PAC, what criteria they would use, and would like to have them think through the process. He also wants to get the landowners' reactions, as it will help the PAC's confidence moving forward. o Mr. Oldakowski asked how they would structure the land ordinance, what types of investments they are anticipating, and the nature of their investments. 1 **) o Mr. Williams wants to know what the landowners' expectations are. o Mr. Vella cautioned that we do not want each landowner to give details on their property. Mr. Oldakowski clarified that he is looking at raw resources, not final product. o Mr. Solomon hopes to find common ground, discuss incentives, and have the landowners come up with solutions. o Mr. Adler wants to stress the fact that there is science that shows that preservation enhances property values. Mr. Kline said that direct evidence of this are lot premiums adjacent to preserved open spaces. o Mr. Solomon would like the landowners to help with prioritization of the features listed on the resource table in order for the PAC to understand how strongly the group feels about the resources. Mr. Williams and Mr. Vella both said that that would take a lot of time and would open a can of worms. Mr. Vella added that for the first joint meeting, the main concern is to have a balanced approach applied to this process. o Mr. Williams said that it is important to mention to the landowners that the Town has adopted the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. Mr. Adler said he agreed, but we should not lead with that. o Mr. Chatfield asked how many landowners had 40 or more acres. o Mr. Adler asked for clarification on strategy of deciding who answers questions. Mr. Vella said that Ms. Davis would facilitate the meeting: staff would answer technical questions, and the PAC members would respond to philosophical, non-technical questions, relying upon the purpose statement for guidance. Mr. Andrews suggested that if a PAC member has a comment to offer, they can let Ms. Davis know that they would like to respond. Mr. Adler suggested that Ms. Davis develop some ground rules for the meeting. o Mr. Williams commented that we want to reflect group unity, based on the purpose statement • The first Open House is scheduled for 6--8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, in Council Chambers. The set-up will consist of different stations. The Purpose Statement, maps, and the project schedule will be presented. The atmosphere will be informal, and will encourage mingling of attendees. o Mr. Adler wants to make sure the PAC is prepared to answer the questions posed to them. He is concerned about people leaving with no more information than when they came. o Mr. Vella explained that a second Open House is planned for a later date. The first Open House is intended to teach the audience about the project schedule, convey the progress made thus far, and provide general information, maps and raw data. Another component will be to request input from the audience. The first Open House will answer the "what" and "where" questions; the second Open House will answer the "how" questions. o Mr. Chatfield said he sees this first Open House as an opportunity to receive input as much as to provide information. 4. Review of AG Conceptual Plan • Mr. Vella said that the Arroyo Grande information is being included based on the assumption that the Arroyo Grande area will be annexed. • Sherry Ruther, Pima County Development Services, gave a historical overview of the Arroyo Grande area. o The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan is the cornerstone being used. The area holds a high biological diversity, critical landscape, and habitat 2 connections. All of this was in place before annexation discussions began. When these discussions began, there was much concern about how this plan would address the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, particularly wildlife linkages. These concerns coincided with the NAU Wildlife Linkages Study, a study done by the Arizona Game and Fish Department which focused on, and established models for, linkages between wildlife "patches" in the area. Relative to the Arroyo Grande project, Ms. Ruther was given the assignment of mapping the wildlife linkages, while adhering to the following requirements: • Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the area was to be devoted to natural open space. • The Tortolita Mountain Park and Catalina State Park/Catalina Mountains were to be connected for wildlife accessibility. • Mapping had to maintain appropriate widths and provide buffers from development. • Information from the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Wildlife Linkages Study had to be incorporated. • Infrastructure and development footprint had to be minimized. o Ms. Ruther referred to large scale maps to show where and how the aforementioned mapping requirements and restrictions were incorporated. o The buffer standard being used is 300 meters between development and natural open space. The standard distance established between developments and wildlife linkages is one kilometer. o A proposal for underpasses and land bridges across Oracle Road, has received its first approval from the Regional Transportation Authority • The PAC reviewed a number of large scale maps that depict the recent mapping of the Arroyo Grande area. The goal is to bring all mapping elements together onto one ordinance map. • Mr. Solomon asked why there is such concern for regulation of the remaining 32% of the area if the 68% is already set aside as open space. Mr. Andrews cautioned that this plan is not yet approved by State Land. Mr. Williams clarified that the remaining 32% of the land is subject to regulation. • Mr. Adler asked if there is enough development value in the remaining 32%. Mr. Vella said that the Town has made a commitment to maintain the 68% open space. Part of the Conceptual Plan is that further work will be done, and the second part of this is to look at resources such as rock outcrops and develop incentives such as density bonuses. The Plan will not be changing the wildlife corridors, and will redefine the riparian areas. • Mr. Solomon said he would like to take a second hard look at how much value is placed on rock outcrops in the 32% developable area, taking into account that 68% of the area is already slated for preservation. • Ms. Ruther said that the NAU analysis of the Arroyo Grande Wildlife Linkages was very favorable. She also pointed out that the map has been approved by Town Council. • Mr. Solomon questioned how the density transitions work and received clarification. • Mr. Adler expressed concern that there hasn't been any resolution on whether the resort would be golf- or ecotourism-oriented. • Mr. Adler said he was unsure of whether the policy is clear on public access to Arroyo Grande trails, and said he was concerned about this. Mr. Chatfield said that Mr. Adler's comments regarding public access are both a design and enforcement issue. • Mr. Kline asked if there is a concept to create a wildlife park. Mr. Williams said that one idea was to incorporate into the Tortolita Mountain Park. 3 • Mr. Andrews said that the PAC was starting to get into issues that will come up once State Land makes a decision regarding the area. 5. Future Agenda Items • The PAC Joint Study Session with major landowners is scheduled for September 9th. • There will not be a second PAC meeting this month, so the meeting on September 17th is cancelled. • The October 1st meeting may also be cancelled. • The Open House is scheduled for September 15th. • The first cut of the Ordinance draft will be presented to the PAC on October 29th • An updated meeting schedule will be emailed to the PAC. 6. Meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Prepared by: Arinda Asper Senior Office Specialist 4