| Promoting Community Stewardship | October 1999 Newsletter |
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On September 14, 1999, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a change in the zoning of 1,079 acres of ranch land zoned "General Rule to Industrial" use. The proposed rezoning was opposed by many residents of eastern Sante Cruz County, largely out of concern for the potential increase in truck traffic on Highway 82, but also because the rezoning did not conform with the current Santa Cruz County Comprehensive Plan. Supporters of the rezoning argued that the future economic development of Santa Cruz County and the potential creation of a community college were facilitated by the approval of the rezoning.
The best resolution of the Hathaway rezoning issue would have been for the Board of Supervisors to defer the rezoning until the County Planning and Zoning Department completes their update of the Comprehensive Plan. With a revised Comprehensive Plan in hand, the issues of traffic volume, infrastructure requirements, development capacity, educational financing and distribution of development impact costs would have been addressed on a factual basis. The situation as it now stands is proceeding in a contentious and counter productive manner. Citizens for Good Government, a newly formed political action committee is collecting signatures to place the issue of the rezoning on the ballot in November 2000. With or without the referendum, the County and the Hathaways can anticipate costly and time consuming opposition to each and every development proposal related to the rezoning. With or without the referendum, the County and the Hathaways can anticipate costly and time consuming opposition to each and every development proposal related to the rezoning.
But what angers the residents of Eastern Santa Cruz County the most, is not the idea of speculatively rezoning, or that Nogales economic development issues probably override rural quality of life issues, or that some people have sway with government. That stuff has been going on in Santa Cruz County since territorial days. What angered most of us was the appearance of a done deal, even before the public hearing on September 18th. Our voices, our concerns didn't matter. In some jurisdictions, statements like the one prepared by Ron Morriss before the vote by the Board would have rendered the decision invalid. The voters of Santa Cruz County and the Board of Supervisors have a big decision to make - what is the course to good government referendum or representation?
With strong support from a diverse group of local stakeholders and public agencies, Congressman Jim Kolbe introduced legislation on September 24, 1999, to establish Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (NCA). House Resolution 2941, if passed, will preserve a wide array of significant natural and cultural resources on over 200,000 acres of protected public and private lands in Southeast Arizona, and prevent further fragmentation of the landscape from isolating nine of the region's sky island mountain ranges. By linking the Canelo Hills, and the Catalina, Rincon, Santa Rita, Patagonia, Huachuca, Empire, Whetstone, and Mustang Mountains, it would safeguard critical habitat connections that are essential for he long-term viability of many wildlife and plant species. It will also create a unique network of protected areas extending from the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson all the way to south into Mexico.
It is critical that Congress act soon to protect this special place before the impacts of growth profoundly change the rural character of the landscape and its unique resources. Land development spurred by rapid population growth at the north end of this area consumes approximately 12 acres of Sonoran Desert every day, while 95% of the surface water originally present in the Southwest has disappeared due to human activities.
The NCA is a viable protection mechanism because it takes into consideration the needs of local stakeholders. Federal lands in the NCA would be managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), who would utilize and build on the multi-use management plan collaborative!: developed by the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership for BLM's Empire - Cienega Resource Conservation Area (which would become part of the NCA). Private landowners within the NCA's boundaries would have the option of selling conservation easements (i.e., development rights) to BLM, and environmentally responsible and sustainable livestock grazing and recreation activities would continue in appropriate areas.
The community has taken a great approach toward protecting its investment in sustaining these incredibly diverse natural, cultural and historical resource values for future generations to enjoy, says Jesse juen, who manages BLM's Tucson Field Office. Shel Clark, President of the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum, sees the NCA as a unique opportunity to help eastern Pima and Santa Cruz counties preserve their rich ranching heritage and open space in an ecologically sensitive manner.
Write or email Congressman Kolbe to say that you support the Las Cienegas NCA Establishment Act of 1999 -- your letter will help him demonstrate to other members of Congress that there is broad community support for this NCA.
Write or email Governor Hull in support of the NCA -- it w ill help a lot to let her know that creating the NCA is important to people down here.
The Honorable Jim KolbeThe Open Space Working Group of the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum has been meeting every other Wednesday since mid-August. The group will meet again on October 13, and October 27. Meetings are at 7:00 PM at SEESI.
The Open Space Working Group began its discussions with public lands issues, including the recent Sierra Grande Land Exchange and the work of the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership. Draft policies for how the community should work with public land managers (and vice versa) have been discussed. A revised version will be reviewed in November, along with other draft policies.
The Open Space Working Group is now defining and mapping a "framework" of public and private lands that should remain in open space use to protect the area'< natural resources. The discussion currently revolves around development patterns - large lots v vs.. open space developments where some land remains undivided and the identification of scenic areas.
No final decisions have been made.. All interested citizens are welcome to join the Open Space
Working Group at its next meeting.
The Sonoita-Elgin Chamber of Commerce and the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum are working together on a development strategy for the commercial area at the junction of Arizona Routes 82 and 83. This effort began in August, with a well-attended breakfast meeting for the business community.
The second step in the Chamber-Forum effort was an all-morning event on September 20th. The Chamber played host, while the Forum recruited speakers who could help participants understand how it might be possible to develop sewer and water systems that would support further commercial development. Speakers and resource people included Tom Belshe from the Greater Arizona Development Authority in Phoenix, Mark Dunbar, ADOT's Assistant District Engineer, Ed Geiser from Westland Resources in Tucson, Ben Stebleton from the Santa Cruz County Health Department, and Chris Stevens from ADEQ.
The next step in the commercial strategy will take place on the morning of November l, when the Forum's
professional planner, Lee Nellis, will present recommendations for more appropriate zoning for the commercial area.
All interested citizens are welcome to attend!
Zoning in a Bay Area community calls for 2.2 parking spaces per residential unit, while the General Plan for Libraries calls for 2.8 books per 1,000 residents.
Based on these figures, a new 4,000 unit neighborhood development (with 2.7 people per unit) would require 30 books added to the local library and 8,800 new parking spaces.
-from a report in Urban Ecologist
Currently, the Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum is raising money to meet various costs associated with its ongoing commitment to raise public awareness concerning land use issues in eastern Santa Cruz County, and to establish a fund to support important upcoming legal issues.
While we would like to have 100% participation and maximum donations from all members of the Sonoita community and surrounding areas, we realize e that some people are only able to donate hard work and sweat while others are only able to donate money. All donations are important and necessary. For a limited period, all monetary donations up to $6,000.00 will be matched by the Sonoran Institute through a program of assistance to grass roots community groups funded by the Packard Foundation. Please be generous and send your donations to:
Sonoita Crossroads Community ForumFollowing are some actual suggestions for improvement written by "nature lovers" and left with Forest Service employees. These people probably would have enjoyed their wilderness experience if it weren't for the ...well, the wilderness.
A selection of "water facts" from the Brita website was published in the newsletter. A larger collection of such facts may be found in the Water Trivia Archive on that website.
© 1999 Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum
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