| Promoting Community Stewardship | July 1999 Newsletter |
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As part of the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum (SCCF) planning program, four training and discussion sessions were sponsored this spring. A summary of each session follows.
Approximately one-half of the land in the Sonoita Valley is public land. The Sonoita area landscape is comprised of approximately 31% USDA Forest Service lands, 10% US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, and 9% Arizona State Trust Lands. The management policies of these agencies has a profound impact on the development patterns of the Sonoita/Elgin area.
Sonoita Area Land Ownership
 National Forest |
 BLM |
 State Trust |
 Private |
Speakers from each of these agencies provided excellent presentations of their land management programs. Karen Simms from the BLM described the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership program, a model program for public participation in land use planning and management. Arlan Colton, Director of the Arizona Preserve Initiative, described the State Land Department's constitutional obligation to manage State Trust lands for funding of school programs; and Mark Kaplan from Coronado National Forest described the 1986 Coronado National Forest Plan and upcoming revision processes.
Sonoita Area Private Land Use
| Ranch |
Residential |
| Commercial |
Vacant |
The graph above sheds some light on the importance that open space plays in defining the unique character of the Sonoita/Elgin area. The dynamic elements that make up the stunning landscape around the Sonoita/Elgin area were demystified somewhat by several prominent scientists and local residents. We heard outstanding presentations on geology, grasslands, groundwater, wildlife, night skies and indigenous peoples. SCCF would like to thank all the speakers that took the time from their busy schedules to share their with us.
10,123
This number was posted at the front of the room at the beginning of SCCF's May 19 training session. Learning what it meant was part of an agenda designed to help people understand the potential for growth in the Sonoita-Elgin area.
10,123 is the approximate number of housing units that can be built in the area under the present zoning, given typical development efficiencies. It includes approximately 700 existing units. "Build out" of the area would also result in extensive additional commercial development at the Sonoita Crossroads and on the vacant commercial parcel at Canelo.
$1.77
This number sums up the fiscal impacts of residential development on the Sonoita-Elgin area on Santa Cruz county government. For every dollar in revenue generated by new housing units, the county spends roughly $1.77 providing services to those units. Commercial development helps counterbalance this deficit, but the cost of community services study being prepared by Lee Nellis, SCCF's planner-in-residence, makes it clear that providing public services to an area that is relatively remote and (at present) sparsely populated is expensive. Major investments in new facilities and expanded services will be required to serve any significant fraction of the build-out population.
Sonoita Area Buildout at Present Zoning
| Ranch Lands |
Existing Housing Units |
| Vacant Residential |
Other Vacant Parcels |
This spring's final training session was held in the friendly confines of the Elgin Club on Saturday, June 12. Santa Cruz County Planning Director Brian Friedman, Cochise County planner Judy Anderson, and representatives of the Arizona Department of Commerce joined area residents in learning about the "performance approach to managing rural land use change."
The morning began with a brief presentation on the planning process and elements of a comprehensive plan. The process can be divided into three tasks: involvement, analysis, and implementation. Implementation will be based on three types of policies: 1) partnerships (with federal land managers and other agencies); 2) investments (in public and quasi-public facilities and services); and 3) responsibilities or regulations.
The rest of the day was spent learning about an alternative to conventional zoning that has proven effective in similar areas in other states. Permit systems are a type of zoning that offers a more flexible and accurate approach to reviewing proposed developments. Following an introductory slide lecture, workshop participants worked together to design their own permit systems. After a convivial lunch, they applied the system they had designed to "Mustang Links," a hypothetical gold course development.
The hypothetical development failed to gain approval from any of the groups, but everyone left with a
basic knowledge of how the people of the Sonoita-Elgin area can make their expectations clear to future
developers. A brief refresher course on the performance approach will be offered during the policy
development process that begins on July 28.
Arizona Community Foundation, BLM and Sonoran Institute Support SCCF!
The Arizona Community Foundation has generously awarded a $12,000 grant in support of SCCF's planning effort. Funds will be administered by the Sonoran Institute.
The Bureau of Land Management continues its participation in collaborative planning in the Sonoita Valley. BLM has authorized the Sonoran Institute to bill for $25,000 worth of planning services for the SCCF effort! Some of this money will be used to fund the Institute's efforts in support of SCCF. Luther Propst, Mary Vint, Lara Schmit, John Shepard, Susan Culp and others at SI have been instrumental in publicity, fund-raising, and generally helping SCCF get its planning effort off the ground.
Your Donation Will Be Matched, Dollar for Dollar!
SCCF has received a challenge grant from the Community Stewardship Fund administered by the Sonoran Institute. The challenge is to raise $10,000 in local donations beginning on July 1. Every dollar we raise, up to $10,000, will be matched, resulting in a total of $20,000 to support SCCF's planning effort.
Double your money now! Send your donation to:
Coronado National Forest Supervisor John McGee signed a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the proposed Sierra Grande Ranch, Inc. Land Exchange (SGLX) on May 21, 1999. The SGLX would put some 500 acres of national forest on the southeastern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains into private ownership, in exchange for approximately 429 acres of non-federal holdings in Big Casa Blanca Canyon and Mansfield Canyon.SCCF is appealing the Supervisor's decision for several reasons, including failure to properly analyze the impacts of the proposed exchange and connected actions, and basing the decision on factual error. The potential for unregulated subdivision of the exchange lands is SCCF's primary concern.
For more information on the SGLX, contact Coronado National Forest at (520) 670-4552. For more information on the Forum's appeal of the Supervisor's decision, contact Shel Clark at 455-5711 or Lee Nellis at 455-5917.
Representative Jim Kolbe has circulated a discussion draft of legislation that would establish Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (NCA), and is currently revising it based upon the comments he has received. A second draft will be available for comment by the end of July. Kolbe plans to introduce the final bill after Labor Day.
There appears to be broad support for the proposed NCA, which will create a network of protected public and private lands extending across the Cienega Creek valley, and linking the Canelo Hills with the Santa Rita, Rincon, and Whetstone Mountains. The most important opposition to elements of the proposal comes from the Arizona State Land Department, which currently holds in trust a substantial majority of the lands within the proposed NCA boundaries. The Supporters of the NCA, an informal group of local landowners, environmental organizations and ranchers, has reviewed and commented on the draft legislation, and is working to alleviate the State's concerns and ensure that the ecological, geologic, and scenic richness of the area are preserved, and that ecologically sustainable grazing is allowed to continue. For more information on the status of the NCA legislation, call Mary Vint at the Sonoran Institute (520-290-0828).
The SCCF will meet at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evening, July 28 at SEESI to take a critical step in its planning process. The purpose of this meeting is to form two working groups, and get them started on developing draft policies for a new comprehensive plan for the eastern Santa Cruz County.
One working group will focus on open space and rural residential development issues, while the other will address infrastructure and the community's vision for the Crossroads commercial area. The SCCF Board will provide a "charter" and professional staff for each group. The initial members first task will be to recruit additional members to make sure each working group is as broadly and appropriately representative as possible.
The Growing Smarter Commission is sponsoring a series of "field tests" for public review of possible
Commission recommendations in June and July. The Tucson, Nogales, and Sierra vista field tests were
held in June, but there is still time to tell the Commission that you support responsible growth
management in Arizona. Send letters to:
© 1999 Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum
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