Santa Cruz residents voice opposition to 400, 401

Many Santa Cruz residents, especially at Tubac, are working hard to block two housing developments near the resort community.

And one of their rallying cries is “where’s the water?”

The developers say there’s plenty of water in the Santa Cruz River valley with a surplus slipping away to the north.

The developers say they’re offering the benefits of the area to potential buyers just like those that have already attracted dwellers in this historic corner of Arizona, dark skies, the rural character of the area and open spaces.

Last fall, the Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to amend the Santa Cruz County comprehensive plan to allow the two developments, one immediately north of Tubac and the other near Amado near the Pima County line.

Opponents immediately mounted a petition drive to get Propositions 400 and 401 on November’s ballot to try to overturn the supervisors’ decision.

In a short interview Friday afternoon, one of the opponents to the development said there are areas where some growth would fit better in the county, such as in existing urban areas.

And Lynn Carey also said adding more and more people could be a disaster.

Carey helped draft the proposed propositions and with fellow members of Coalition for Responsible Growth in just two weeks time got them certified to be on the November ballot.

Instead of the required 800 signatures to get each item on the ballot, the proponents secured 2,000 signatures, including 700 from the Sonoita and Patagonia areas on the east side of the county away from the proposed building.

Santa Cruz County has a population of about 47,000 now, with its largest number at Nogales, the county seat and an international produce importing center.

First United Realty hopes to develop the Vistas at Sopori Ranch west of Arivaca Junction, and Tucson developer Andy Courtney hopes to build at Las Mesas just north of Tubac.

First United has said it would like to build up to 6,830 houses plus two golf courses and a commercial center.

Courtney’s Garnet Canyon/Las Mesas de Tubac would add about 2,600 homes.

The proposals would be allowed under Arizona’s Growing Smarter legislation enacted earlier this century.

Courtney’s plan would be on both sides of the Santa Cruz River and would probably require a bridge.

He has said some of the land, near Interstate 19, would be set aside for lower income houses for people who work at Tubac.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749