Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum
Meeting of March 31, 2007
An open community meeting of the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum was held at
Pioneer Hall (Fairgrounds) from 9:30 to noon on 31 March, 2007.
The agenda included:
- Introduction, meeting goals and recent Forum activities (Steve Strom: 930-945 (this page)
- Reports from SCCF Partners: 945 - 1030
- Comprehensive Plan Implementation Team (CPIT: our friends from the west side of the
Santa Ritas who are working on a similar range of issues as the Forum)
- Focused on land use issues on the west side of the Santa Ritas to ensure the integrity of the SCC Comprehensive Plan (2004)
- Informal, but highly active and visible organization
- Broad expertise and experience
- Works closely with Planning & Zoning and Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
- Recent issues include:
- Provide analysis of several proposed Plan changes (e.g. PADs)
- Tubac Historic District
- Tumacacori Highlands
- Integrated housing for various income levels
- Bike and walker-friendly routes
- Cienega Watershed Partnership (CWP - a new umbrella organization whose goal is to ensure the
continued health of the Cienega watershed)
- Encompasses land surrounded by Cienega Creek and bounded by the
Santa Rita, Whetstone, Canelos and Rincon Mountains
- The Cienega Watershed contains one of ArizonaÕs last & most intact grassland
- Cienega Creek is a key recharge source for groundwater
- CWP was formed to:
- Help maintain the integrity of rural landscapes
- Work with citizens, land managers, ranchers and developers to preserve
and protect the watershed's natural and cultural assets
- As a 501[c]3 corporation, CWP can raise funds to achieve
these goals, and educate local, state and federal officials
- It will serve as an umbrella organizations for multiple "informal"
groups such as SVPP and CCCC
- Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership (SVPP: who will provide update on the status of the
Las Cienegas NCA and other issues re the Cienegas Watershed)
- Voluntary association of federal, state and local agencies, & groups with
a common interest in the future of public lands in the Sonoita Valley
- Agencies included are the BLM, Coronado National Forest, USGS, AZ Game and Fish, AZ Land
Department, Natural Resources Conservation Service, AZ Water Resources
- Supporting/interested groups include conservation organizations, biking and hiking clubs, grazing and mining
interests
- Purpose: Allow groups to come together to achieve community-based resolution to
local and national issues affecting public lands
- Focus: Allow groups to come together to achieve community-based resolution to
local and national issues affecting public lands
- Planning activities in Patagonia - Jeffrey Cooper 10:30 -10:45
- Brief announcement re mines (A. McGreevy)
- John Rowlinson - Arizona State Fire Marshal
- Bill Miller - Area representative for the Arizona Fire District Association and Fire Chief for the Fry District in Sierra Vista
- Kevin Keeley - Fire Chief, Tubac Fire District
- Pete Daniels - Chair, Board of Directors, Sonoita-Elgin Fire District
- Weekly Bulletin story on the meeting [PDF]
Current Forum Activities
- Working with SSVEC to ensure that new power line placement
is consistent with the ForumÕs 2002 plan objectives
- Working toward a landholderÕs meeting
- Working toward a land use "tools" meeting
- Developing a "frequently asked questions" resource guide for
newcomers
- Appeal to people to join SCCF
© 1999 - Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum