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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Council Packets (1797)Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 10:41 AM To: Stine, Michelle Cc: Standish, Michael; Hynd, Jessica Subject: FW: VISTOSO TRAILS NATURE PRESERVE FYI Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Richard Bean Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2023 10:06 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Fw: VISTOSO TRAILS NATURE PRESERVE Dear Oro Valley Town Council Members, I am forwarding a letter I wrote in February to your nature preserve consultant as a reminder that this land is designated as a "conservation easement in perpetuity". Ms. Cole's preliminary plans do not honor that committment to conservation and beyond the excessve spendng of public funds issue, is not wanted by the Rancho Vistoso residents. A recent neighborly conversation with The Conservation Fund also makes it clear that you will be in violation of the easement's requirements. I hope you will come to your senses and do the minimum to allow this land to become a refuge for people and critters who crave open space rather than another city park. Sincerely, Richard Beam Oro Valley Resident ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Richard Beam To, Cc: Rosa Dailey Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2023, 10:59:53 AM MST Subject: VISTOSO TRAILS NATURE PRESERVE Dear Ms. Cole, To cut to the chase, the proposed plan for the nature preserve is over imagined and will be exceedingly expensive. It is unnecessary given the desire of the Vistoso Highlands community to keep it natural with minimum impact. I don't recall hearing about you when we were in the throws of mitigating the damage to the old Vistoso Golf Course brought on by previous TOOV Councils and two greedy land owners. If you had been here you would know that the community waged a three year battle against these entities and luckily, through Rosa Dailey's conservation network, found a willing conservation partner in The Conservation Fund. The town council was dragged along most of the way, but the community was strong in convincing certain council members that they would be voted out if they did not embrace conservation as a resolution to the whole land development mess. Are you aware that The Conservation Fund and particularly the homeowners around the old course invested thousands of dollars to convey the land to the TCF as a Conservation Corridor in perpetuity? The corridor was then ceded to TOOV to keep it just that - a conservation corridor. This is to say, that turning it into a full-fledged town park is not as intended by the TCF and probably violates the Federal requirements for said conservation projects in perpetuity. I would like to see you go back to your drawing board and start anew. Delete, delete, delete. My take on what the communities's vision has been is to honor the huge effort by the TCF. It was a mutual intention to place the emphasis on CONSERVATION. My proposal is the limit it's development to these elements 1. Improve original golf cart path to make it ADA compliant. 2. Refurbish the 3 restrooms and maintain for regular use. 3. Amend the old fairways to allow new native desert plants to successfully grow there 4. Add wildlife drinkers. 5. Either fill the pond for our feathered friends or your idea of a wetlands. 6. Limit use to sun rise to sunset only - no new lighting required. 7. No motorized vehicles of any kind, including a -bikes and golf carts. 8. No new paths for structures. Again, the idea is very limited development - improvement. Let nature have her way, with a bit of help for the plants and animals that naturally live in this desert environment. Forget the town park concept; that was never intended by residents or the TCF. This is a clear case of outside paid consultants to TOOV trying to create their own vision, to TOOV's desire to bring this land into the parks and recreation's specification. This is contrary to the vision of the stakeholders that paid the majority of the funds to just simply preserve it for nature (native plants and animals). Let's walk lightly on this sensitive land. Let it heal. Let it go natural. Limit its use. Make it a special conservation corridor, unique to our community to show others what reclaimed golf course conservation really looks like. I hope you are aware that this plan is against the TCF Agreement and the Feds can likely sue the TOOV for noncompliance. Sincerely, Richard Beam Oro Valley Resident WARNING: This email came from outside the Town of Oro Valley. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. If this looks suspicious, report it using the Phish Alert Button.