HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Council Packets (114) 418 North Toole Avenue 1111.01irri
Tucson,Arizona 85701
520.622.9565 NORIS DESIGN
Planning I Landscape Architecture
February 4, 2015
Bayer Vella
Town of Oro Valley
Development and Infrastructure Services
11000 N La Canada Drive
Oro Valley,Arizona 85737
RE: Modified Review Process I ESL Code Amendment
Dear Bayer:
I appreciate the opportunity to present our support for the proposed code amendment to allow minor changes to the
Tentative Development Plan(TDP)as part of the modified review process.As a consultant actively involved with the
entitlement process in Oro Valley,we are proponents of the modified review process for a rezoning. During this
process, it is beneficial for all parties involved to have a productive public process to discuss the details of a project.
As part of the modified review process,we are required to submit a highly detailed rezoning package and tentative
development plan similar to the criteria set forth for the contextual site plan.The team focuses on addressing the
comprehensive issues at this point in the process.As with any project, unforeseen issues or program refinements
may require minor modification to a plan. From our perspective, if the refinements do not alter the overall intent and
character of the project then the changes should be considered minor in nature and in conformance with the
approved plans.The ability for staff to evaluate project modifications on a case by case basis under the modified
review process is critical to maintain a streamlined entitlement process. In addition, providing staff with the
administrative authority is reasonable as the current review criterion requires an administrative approval of the plans
conformance.
We request Town Council's support to request staff to assemble an ESL Code Amendment to define a process to
allow administrative approval of minor changes to the TDP under the modified review process.
I addition to requesting staff to review an amendment for the modified review process, I request your support to
reconsider the lot width modification.The lot width modification is an important development incentive for the Town to
consider for future planning projects in Oro Valley. Staff, Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council has the
authority to determine if an incentive is justified.The lot width incentive promotes planning flexibility while maintaining
the spirit of the ESL to encourage design flexibility to maximize open space.The development community is
supportive of this incentive and would like the opportunity to revisit the discussion with you as part of an amendment
to the ESL.
Thanks for your time and consideration. Please contact me with any questions or if you need additional information at
520.622.9565 or sweaks@norris-design.com.
Respectfully,
Norr' Desi•n
Stacey Weaks, PLA
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Austin TX I C i:.e o..IL Denver, : nnsco3, P ,ent;.AZ Tucson,AZ
Standish, Michael
From: Bower,Julie
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2015 2:15 PM
To: Town Council
Cc: Caton, Greg; Sidles, Tobin; Kelly Schwab (kschwab@cgsuslaw.com)
Subject: Regular Agenda Item 5b
Attachments: 02 03 2015 Flexible Design Options MPA SAHBA Council.pdf
Council,
Attached is a letter and an email below regarding regular agenda item Sb on tonight's agenda.
Thanks,Julie
Julie K. Bower, MMC
Oro Valley Town Clerk
11000 N. La Canada Dr.
Oro Valley, AZ 85737
520-229-4740
From: Keri Silvyn [mailto:ksilvyn@lsblandlaw.com]
Sent:Wednesday, February 04, 2015 12:13 PM
To: Keri Silvyn
Cc:Amber Smith; Vella, Bayer
Subject: ESL
Mayor and Oro Valley Councilmembers: First, happy new year(yes I know it is February but I have not seen any of you
since the first of the year.)
I am writing to support Town staff's current efforts to modify the ESL, and MPA/SAHBA's position to modify the ESL
relative to the lot width issues. I cannot attend the hearing this evening, but wanted you to be aware of my support of
this effort. I am not representing any specific project or development in these comments. My support is based on years
of work in Oro Valley and my understanding of the need to clarify the ESL on these issues.
Thank you.
Keri Lazarus Silvyn, Esq.
Lazarus, Silvyn and Bangs PC
4733 East Camp Lowell Drive
Tucson, Arizona 85712
ksilvyn@lsblandlaw.com
520-207-4464
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:This transmission may contain information that is privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure
under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient,you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of
the information contained herein(including any reliance thereon)is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error,
please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you.
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§ Southern Arizona Home Builders Association
Metro litimaAlliance
The Honorable Satish Hiremath
Town of Oro Valley
11000 N La Canada Drive
Oro Valley, AZ 85737
RE: February 4th Public Hearing,Agenda Item#5b:To Amend the Approval Process for ESL
Flexible Design Options
Dear Mayor Hiremath,
MPA and SAHBA appreciate the efforts of staff and stakeholders to recognize the need for
increased flexibility to fully maximize the potential of the Town's Environmentally Sensitive
Lands (ESL) Ordinance. We encourage you to support the staff recommendations designed to
provide necessary flexibility while preserving the original intent of the ESL Ordinance.
This joint letter is sent as a nod to our earlier efforts when SAHBA and MPA partnered with the
town and other stakeholders in the creation of the ESL. While we often sat on other sides of the
issues, we worked hard with staff to create an Ordinance that encourages development while
conserving open space. It was a very difficult balancing process in which tradeoffs were made
to try to identify appropriate incentives that are both obtainable and substantive in order to
encourage participation. We believe the amendments as proposed help to refine this goal in
creating added certainty and predictability for all impacted parties. To this end, we request one
additional amendment. When originally drafting the ordinance we focused on reduced lot sizes
as an incentive; unintentionally, we did not specify that reduced lot widths to achieve the
reduced lot size is an allowable incentive. In keeping with the original intent of the ordinance in
identifying tradeoffs, we request Administrative Approval to the Ordinance to correct this
oversight allowing for lots widths and lengths to be any size within the parameters of allowable
total square feet.
Providing administrative approval of select Flexible Design Options will encourage development
participation to maximize open space conservation while preserving neighboring property
owners. Again, the real estate and business industry appreciates this effort and we welcome
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the opportunity to continue working with staff and stakeholders on identifying additional ways
to maximize the potential of the ESL Ordinance as they are identified.
Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact either of our organizations should
you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Sincerely,
Shawn Cote Amber Smith
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association Metropolitan Pima Alliance