GVFD to annex homes near historic Canoa Ranch

The Green Valley Fire District took steps Tuesday to annex 42 homes east of Interstate 19 near the historic Canoa Ranch at Camino de La Canoa.

The fire district already has fire protection agreements with a few homeowners in the area, but recently a resident wrote a letter requesting that the development be annexed into the district, said GVFD spokesperson Capt. Melissa Smith.

On Nov. 3, the district filed a petition with Pima County with the required number of signatures — 50 percent plus one of the area voters — which the Pima County Board of Supervisors accepted Tuesday.

The neighborhood abuts a large swath of desert land owned by the state, putting the homes there at the urban-wildland interface and at risk from wild fires, Smith said, explaining why the district wants to annex the area, which is within the official boundaries of Green Valley.

The district is also responsible for fire suppression at the historic Canoa Ranch nearby.

The GVFD’s governing board will vote on the annexation at the end of the month, and it will take effect a month later if approved.

Smith said the district will likely receive about $30,000 to $40,000 per tax year in revenues from the annexation.

Tim Hull is a freelance writer for the Green Valley News.