| Promoting Community Stewardship | December 1998 Newsletter |
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The unique grassland and mountain setting and the sense of community that grows from the people and activities of our area are assets that will continue to draw people to this special place. They are also assets that can be lost if they are not actively maintained as land uses continue to change at an ever increasing pace.
A locally-driven, participatory planning effort will help the citizens of Sonoita decide what kind of community and landscape theirs should be in the future. It will also help us learn how to realize that vision.
The planning process will equip us with a lot of knowledge about our place, about trends that will inevitably affect it, and about tools that can be used to manage change. Most important, we will learn more about each other, especially about the reasons why we have chosen to share this special landscape. The reasons that emerge will be used to set a direction that recognizes everyone's stake in the land and the community. This sense of direction will be reflected in the plan, but the process of getting to that document will be what really counts.
With a good sense of united community effort behind it, a land use plan can play several important roles in our community future.
The experience of similar communities makes it clear that we, the residents of eastern Santa Cruz county. have limited choices. We can hope that change will pass us by. We can wait until the future of our community i; determined by others. Or we can say, "there are things about this place we care about, let's do what it takes to keep those things in place."
What it will take - as a first step - is a well-designee planning process that is open to everyone and supported with sound professional advice. The Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum is prepared to sponsor that process and do what we can to ensure its success. We fool forward to your support and participation.
In August of this year, rural planner Lee Nellis spoke to our community about the planning process and the tools available to manage land use changes. We asked Lee to briefly describe the steps involved in the planning process.
The estimated time frame and cost for this type of planning process are one year and S30,000 $40,000, respectively. The time frame can be compressed or expanded depending on the nature and timeliness of the input of the stakeholders and the amount of participation and financial support the process receives from the community and from Santa Cruz County.
The rumor mill has it that Sonoita will soon have its very own golf course. Community reaction seems to be mixed. What kind of course will it be? Where will it go? How much water will it use? Will locals be able to afford the green fees? Will it be an asset to our community? These are some of the questions we've been hearing. We'd like to hear from more of you. Do you think a golf course in Sonoita would be a community asset or a detraction? Drop us a line at P.O. Box 1274, Sonoita AZ 85637.
People and most kinds of wildlife do not mingle well. Some wildlife species, such as quail and rabbits, may do well in areas where housing density is not too great. Others such as coyote and javelina may coexist with humans until the humans perceive a threat - then public sentiment often demands that the animals be removed. People create four major kinds of problems for wildlife.
Each year thousands of wild creatures, from snakes to elk, are killed on intercity highways and on city streets. Wild creatures are also removed or killed as a result of perceived threats to people or their pets. In many neighborhoods, people feed animals such as coyote and javelina, who become accustomed to free food (including small pets) and then become aggressive. Some residents then pressure the Game & Fish Department to remove the dangerous creatures. Removal is usually unsuccessful because areas of good habitat for that species is often already occupied by others, and because some animals have become so accustomed to human hand outs that they quickly return to an area with free food.
An even more destructive impact of population growth is loss of habitat. Animals need sources of food, shelter, and safe places to rear their young. A significant loss of any of these habitat elements will significantly reduce the animal population. Planting of non-native vegetation in residential landscaping can mean reduced food for nearby wildlife if the plants escape into natural areas and replace native species.
A less obvious consequence of population growth is fragmentation of habitat. When habitat areas get too small or are isolated, some wildlife populations can no longer reproduce well and these species may be lost even if there appears to be enough food and shelter. Species like antelope that need to roam over large distances to graze or browse are highly affected by fragmentation.
Fragmentation of habitat is of less concem where adequate corridors are left between proper habitat. Riparian areas and even dry washes are natural corridors for many species. Road crossings that allow travel under bridges are highly desirable. Unfortunately, little is known about minimum corridor requirements for many species.
If your community has not yet identified important wildlife corridors and habitat, you can uork with the Arizona Game and Fish Department or other wildlife experts to map critical natural open space and connections. You may be able to obtain Arizona Heritage or Water Protection Fund Grants to help pay for this type of study. If you can persuade the local planning department and elected officials to participate in the project, they will be more likely to use the results. Incorporating protection of valuable habitat and corridors should become part of an area's comprehensive plan. In some cases, people can appeal to both aesthetics and economics. Developments which maintain open space and drainages in their natural conditions often result in higher property values than do high density developments which deplete prime habitat.
Did you know that Santa Cruz County, in an effort to promote astronomy, and provide residents an enjoyable dark night sky, has lighting regulations that apply to businesses and residences? The benefits are our local observatories at Mt. Hopkins, Kitt Peak and Mt. Graham, their investments in our communities, tourists, our reputation as a world center for astronomy, astronomy and optics research at the U of A, and the esthetic elimination of residential light pollution. Eliminating bad lighting by all such users in the Crossroads, Sonoita and Elgin area will have its advantages. Our view of the night sky and the Milky Way are spectacular. Let's keep it that way.
The County Code is titled "OUTDOOR LIGHT CONTROL," and specifically notes that the purpose is to "...restrict light from undesirable sources that have a detrimental effect on astronomical observation." The code addresses outdoor illuminating fixtures that are used in business, security, landscaping, parking and recreation. The major issues addressed and required by the code are adequate shielding, and filtration. The shielding of light is defined as no or minimal horizontal light coming from the fixture or bulb sideways, from the lowest point where light is emitted. In other words, the light is going in a downward direction, and when moving away from the light, the bulb and reflection material becomes less visible. Filtered fixtures are required for certain bulbs, like Mercury Vapor, Metal Halide and Fluorescent lights. It is noted that the preferred light source is Low Pressure Sodium, and that maximum shielding is encouraged in all lamp designs and installations. All outdoor lamps having 150 or more watts of output should be shielded. Recreational use of lights, such as sports facilities, past 11 PM is discussed.
The code gives the requirements for new construction, permits, etc. With self regulation by each of us in the community, we can help to keep our skies dark see the moon brightly, and enjoy the night shadows that play on the evening landscape. The code is available from the county complex in Nogales, Planning and Zoning. Also, International Dark-sky Association (IDA) lists recommended fixtures. They can be found on the Internet, or e-mailed at ida@darksky.org.
Some Ground Rules Mother Nature has set for the Sonoita Area and their implications for successful building design.
We would like to acknowledge Gary and Jerri Ross for their great remodel of the former La Gare Gallery. Their store and the Marshall's newly remodeled Equestrianistic Arts help set the standard for commercial design in the Crossroads area. Congratulations! We are very lucky to have builders like the Rosses, the Marshalls and Danny Smith whose Karens' Cafe location reflect a true commitment to the future of Sonoita.
Four positions on the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum Board of Directors will become vacant
in early 1999. Nominations for replacements of the outgoing board members or vacancies can be
submitted in writing to:
Join the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum! Activities of the Forum are supported by dues, grants, proceeds of fund raising activities and contributions. Your membership dues can help launch a successful participatory planning process. Annual dues are S15.00 per voting member. Renew or join today by filling out the membership form on the inside of the mailer jacket of this newsletter. Please use the extra space to share with us any comments, suggestions or criticisms of the Forum's activities! Thanks for your continued interest and support, and have a safe and happy holiday season!
© 1999 Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum