Editorial: SCC voters to have say on two big developments

In November, Santa Cruz County voters will have the chance to override two actions by the Board of Supervisors.

By approving Propositions No. 400 and 401, they would block changes to the county’s comprehensive plan, thwarting two proposed housing developments in the northern part of the county.

The county supervisors approved changes to the county’s comprehensive land use plan last December, opening the potential for the developments.

Just changing the comp plan, as it’s called, is no guarantee the developments would be finally approved by the county.

Planning and zoning changes would also be required, and the supervisors would also be required to approve the development.

Still, opponents to the plans for development at the Sopori Ranch near Arivaca Junction and Las Mesas de Santa Cruz north of the village of Tubac on the north side of Chaves Siding Road, were cheered by the success of their signature-gathering efforts in all parts of the county.

In about two weeks time, volunteers drafted the proposed propositions and secured enough signatures to place them on the ballot.

To qualify propositions for the ballot, supporters were required to get 828 valid signatures for each proposition.

They secured more than 2,000 signatures for each of the two referenda.

If the voters approve Propositions 400 and 401 in November, they’ll override the supervisors’ approval.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Chairman Manny Ruiz on Tuesday said there is “a lot of misinformation” about the proposed developments.

He said the developments are five to six years from breaking ground, and 30 to 40 years before they’re completed.

He pointed to other subdivisions in the county, such as Rio Rico, where the county and its citizens benefit from development.

Ruiz said the money that would accrue to the county from two new subdivisions would benefit all its citizens.

He also said the developers plan to install water and sewer systems, set aside land for schools and a proposed Sheriff’s substation in the county’s north end.

The Coalition for Responsible Growth, which sponsored the petition drives, said the 6,000 acres at the Sopori Ranch could be used for as many as 12,000 houses, but developer Sopori 12,500 Investors LLC, has said its target is 6,830 houses, plus golf courses and more than a million square feet of commercial space.

The other project, by Garnet Canyon Las Mesas de Tubac LLC, covers 1,244 acres north of Tubac with portions on both sides of the Santa Cruz River.

Under current zoning, about 1,500 houses would be permitted on the Sopori land and 300 houses on the Las Mesas de Tubac land.

The Coalition for Responsible Growth said counties spend more to support new developments than they get back in taxes and development fees.

Jim Patterson, chair of the Coalition for Responsible Growth, criticized developers who seek higher densities.

“They shouldn’t be encouraged to ask for and receive huge density increases that simply exploit our communities and fatten the wallets of their investors.”

Patterson said about two-thirds of the petition signers were from Sonoita, Patagonia, Elgin, Rio Rico, Amado and Nogales. The rest came from the Tubac area.

Supervisor Ruiz said changes to the comp plan and subsequent development would be “a win-win situation” providing areas of new housing, modern sustainable developments, and support for the county.