In the Catalina Foothills, an unincorporated area north of Tucson, much-needed housing is being built despite neighborhood concerns about road safety and potential destruction of critical wildlife habitat.
In the Tucson area, serious housing inequalitythere is a shortage of affordable rentals and single-family homes.
California-based developer UIP Quail Canyon LLC wants to build over 300 homes in a highly sought-after area. Catalina Foothills is a popular area to live in, known for its beautiful mountain scenery, fine dining, vast desert landscapes, and expansive grounds.
On July 11, the developer asked the Pima County Board of Supervisors to approve a request to rezoning 53 acres of land to allow for the construction of single-family homes and multifamily homes.
The company proposed to construct a 3-story, 7-building, 210-unit apartment complex at the northern end of the site, and 116 two-story detached houses at the southern end. Pima County officials said 22 acres of land to be developed are classified as riverfront areas and will be left untouched except for the construction of a bridge.
The land sits on the former Quail Canyon Golf Course, which opened in the 1960s and closed five years ago, and is located near the intersection of Oracle Road and Rudasil Road, crossed by Pima Wash.
The oversight board approved the rezoning 4-1, with supervisor Adelita Grijalva voting against.
Grijalva reiterated the many concerns expressed by local residents, ranging from wildlife impacts to emergency access to roads, and wondered whether the company would continue to work with neighborhoods after board approval. rice field.
“Quail Canyon is an unsuitable location for high-density projects.
District 1 Superintendent Rex Scott, who includes the area as a district, supported the proposal.
He called the project a “proper infill development” because of its proximity to the main north-south corridor, Oracle Road, and its location close to retail, employment and services. It will also increase the housing stock in the county, he said.
Scott said the company has worked with the Sonoran Desert Conservation Coalition, which is backing the project to protect the riparian areas.
Traffic and flood control managers support the project
Despite residents’ concerns about traffic safety on Rudasil Road, including blind spots, dangerous curves and steep slopes, the county transportation authority said there were no traffic concerns. Staff reports say Oracle and Rudasill are undercapacity.
The Pima County Regional Flood Control District also endorsed the project, noting that the development does not disturb intact riparian habitat and exceeds flood mitigation standards.
“The proposed development will meet and exceed federal, state and local flood mitigation standards for developments of this type and will minimize the risk of flood damage and prevent adverse impacts on other areas. We can build on it,” the school district said in a June 15 memo.
Developers are also using low-level pedestrian lighting, maximizing rain harvest, introducing renewable energy sources, using gabions to protect the Pima Wash embankment, and greening the wash to protect wildlife. We are also working to implement measures to reduce the impact of
The developer said it would also restore an area of Pima Wash previously obstructed by the golf course.
The project has left much of the wildlife habitat pristine, preserving half of the 62 saguaros. But county officials report that five acres of riparian habitat will be blocked for parking lots and driveway traffic.
Residents Ask Board to Reject City Change
Many local residents voiced their opposition to the development, citing its location in riverside habitat and concerns that nearby roads would not be able to accommodate more traffic.
The June 16 memo said the county received 730 written comments opposing the rezoning request.
At a public hearing on July 11, many residents of the area expressed concerns about the riparian habitat.
“This development will turn an important wildlife corridor into a fear zone for wildlife,” Joan Scott said. He noted that the development will affect the resilience of wildlife habitats and that increased population means more disruption near important wildlife corridors.
Some said the already busy streets would become even more congested with more people living nearby.
But some residents voiced their support, citing the Tucson housing crisis.
“I am here to speak for the hundreds of people struggling during this affordable housing crisis who will benefit from this development plan,” said Miranda Lopez. “We believe this project will help address the housing shortage across the region, especially the need for landfill development near existing jobs, schools and infrastructure.”
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