County answers charges it slights southeast for conservation

One of the leaders opposing more housing development near scenic Madera Canyon southeast of Green Valley has complained Pima County isn’t doing enough to conserve that area’s natural beauty.

Luis Calvo, a lawyer and operator of the Chuparosa Inn at Madera Canyon, said in a recent message to the county administrator’s office “I was very disappointed to learn the county has given up on Madera Canyon and the Santa Cruz Valley.”

In a reply, County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said an advisory group, the Conservation Acquisition Commission, has recommended site acquisitions in the county’s Southeastern area including the western flank of the Santa Rita Mountains and in the Santa Cruz River valley.

Developer Michael Kettenbach, who owns land in the area, hopes to build a 180-unit subdivision north of Madera Canyon’s entrance.

The county’s Board of Adjustment No. 4 has accepted the County Planning Department’s approval of the plan.

Calvo and other opponents say the vote to overturn that approval failed on a 2-2 vote with one adjustment board member absent and not voting.

Friends of Madera Canyon said the motion didn’t fail on items of fact, but on a procedural technicality.

And at a subsequent meeting of Board of Adjustment No. 4, no motion was offered to reconsider the earlier action, so the approval stood.

In Calvo’s e-mail message to Huckelberry’s office, Aug. 12, he also asked, “Where can I look to learn more about the broader agenda of the CAC (Conservation Acquisition Commission) and maybe get an answer or two as to why the western flank of the Santa Ritas does not seem to be on Pima County’s radar screen?”

In his reply, Administrator Huckelberry enclosed a list of completed acquisitions funded by a 2004 conservation bond package.

For purposes of acquiring land for conservation, the county is divided into seven areas—Avra Valley, San Pedro, Southeast, Tucson Basin, Altar Valley, Tortolita, Santa Cruz Basin.

Since 2004, the county has acquired 40 parcels totaling 26,118 acres worth more than $75 million.

That includes 11 parcels in the areas designated as Southeast or Santa Cruz Basin.

Two of those were Canoa Ranch properties, totaling 85 acres that sold for about $3 million.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749