Group disputes Madera proposal

‘Friends’ say plans violate ordinances

TUCSON—Opponents to a proposed development near the entrance to Madera Canyon pleaded their case to a Pima County Board of Adjustment on Tuesday.

The group Friends of Madera Canyon is appealing to Pima County to reconsider the approval of a sketch that lays out a housing subdivision that members claim violates county ordinances.

“It is the Friends’ position that the county staff erred when it approved the plat plan as currently shown, because the plan does not meet numerous requirements of the Conservation Subdivision Ordinance,” Katharina Richter said in a statement to the board.

Richter cited numerous planned roadways that she claims are noncompliant with the chosen development plan.

“The plat plan creates several roadways... that are not in compliance with the CSO,” she said. Richter claims that the plan lays out new roads that would not directly serve the development area, which is prohibited. “Gradings for new roadways is permitted only for roadways and utilities that serve the development area,” she said.

The land under discussion is owned by Boston developer Michael Kettenbach, who was not present at the meeting but was represented by his attorney, G. Lawrence Schubart.

Another argument made by the Friends is that the design of the proposed development, called Cielo Madera, will be detrimental to the wildlife in the area, causing increased road kill incidences and disrupting migration paths of animals prone to use the area.

Arlan Colton, the planning director of Pima County, headed the staff that gave the approval to the plan.

“Our response is that the environmental planning staff, which is part of my staff, determined that the conservation natural areas are the optimal under the circumstances,” Colton said to the board. He noted that the plan was particularly acceptable when compared to what he called default methods of development that Kettenbach had not pursued.

Colton also noted that this was the first time he had received an appeal in the nearly four years he has been at his position.

To back up the Friends claims of possible harm to wildlife in the area, the Education Director for Friends of Madera Canyon, Douglas Moore spoke to the board.

“There are a number of reasons this habitat should be conserved,” Moore said, “but I think the most critical is for migratory bird conservation. The grassland below the canyon is an important stop-over and over-wintering habitat for dozens of migratory bird species.” Moore said that it also provided the main nesting area for what he called “Arizona-specialty” birds.

“This is about the only place in the country that you can see some of these species,” he said.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting ended in a 2-2 vote, with board member Chet Davis of Green Valley absent.

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