HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Council Packets (107) Standish, Michael
From: Arellano, Rosevelt
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 1:11 PM
To: Bower,Julie
Cc: Standish, Michael
Subject: 3/4 Town Council Meeting -Item No. 3 (Miller Ranch Rezoning)
Julie,
Please forward the below email to our Mayor and Council.
Thanks,
Rosevelt Arellano
Planner
Development and Infrastructure Services
Town of Oro Valley
Office: (520) 229-4817 Fax: (520) 742-1022
www.orovalleyaz.gov
Caring for our heritage, our community, our future.
From: Gregory Patchen [
Sent:Tuesday, March 03, 2015 12:22 PM
To: districtl@pima.gov
Cc: Arellano, Rosevelt;
Subject: Northwest Corner of La Canada Drive and Tangerine Road, Oro Valley,AZ.
Yesterday I had a lengthy conversation with Ryan of Supervisor Miller's Office in connection with my concerns and
comments on the proposed development of the Miller Ranch property.This development has many ramifications for
residents of unincorporated Pima County residing on the western boundary of the proposed 37 home subdivision. It also
has to do with the tone and quality of residential/commercial development in Oro Valley; effects that I believe to be
deleterious.
First off I want to thank and congratulate Rick Ellis of the Pima County DOT(724-6385)for digging into this matter at my
behest yesterday and calling me back today with a situation report(sitrep). It was extremely courteous of him to do so
and he gave me a bird's eye view of the matter from a traffic/circulation perspective.
This property is owned by an entity called Desco-Miller LLC. Desco-Southwest is the parent of"Desco". In turn Desco-
Southwest is owned by a grocery enterprise in Chicago, IL. Property development is not their"long suit" as I understand
it.The variety of proposals that have been submitted to Oro Valley over time on this matter attest to that.They have
varied in mix(commercial/residential),concept, ingress, egress, etc.The proposal promulgated at the latest rezoning
meet included 37 small homes crowded, in linear fashion, onto a sliver of land bordered by a rural environment to the
west and a wash to the east. Beyond the wash a commercial/retail/office "park" ( I will call it) bookends the housing
area.This is not a configuration that I believe is worthy or compatible with the development aesthetics of Oro Valley(as
a matter of information my wife and I lived in Oro Valley for about 6 years; we are now at 1751 West Sunkist Road,
Tucson,AZ.)
Aesthetics is the operative word here.While the development plan may conform to Oro Valley regulations, it does not
do so in its essence.Very obviously these homes have been "shoe-horned" into this site in an unwelcome fashion.To
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wit,the plan is founded upon a modified review process and reduced front building setbacks (a 50% reduction in fact).
Hydraulics and drainways through and under Tangerine Road have been given short shrift in my estimation, by the way.
A substantial cost will come to be associated with the resolution of that critical matter....Runoff from the business park
and the housing should be calculated and evaluated in toto. I did not see evidence that that was the case.
An additional overhang of this project is the traffic circulation in and out of the housing units, its impact on the
intersection of La Canada Road and Tangerine Road, and the potential, indeed the likelihood,for Sunkist Road to
become a thoroughfare between La Canada Road and La Cholla Road.According to my chat with Mr. Ellis part of Sunkist
Road may be privately owned. Medium density housing on the Miller Ranch sliver of land will generate unforeseeable
origin-destination traffic pairs that would degrade quality of life for residents of Pima County to the west of the housing
tract.Along Sunkist Road to the west of La Canada all the way to La Cholla Road.
I live on Sunkist Road and am therefore a party of interest in this matter, regardless of its geographic totality being inside
Oro Valley Town limits.
Accordingly I urge Arlan Colton and his deputy, Chris Poirier,along with Supervisor Miller to establish or strengthen
coordination with officials of Oro Valley,especially Mayor Hiremath, in the review and implementation of the
development of this parcel adjaced to unincorporated Pima County so that citizens of both Oro Valley and the County
are well served by their officials and officers.
My view is that more should be expected from the owner of this parcel than has been offered in the past as well as what
is currently on the table for the Town Council to consider. It is a very key piece of property within Oro Valley and should
be developed accordingly.That means, inter alia, no loose ends.
Please pass my thanks onto Rick Ellis.
Respectfully,
Gregory M. Patchen
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