Council to hear Sahuarita Road overpass issues, bingo request

The Town Council will hear some of the rough costs and benefits of pedestrian overpasses and underpasses for Sahuarita Road at its Monday meeting.

The council also will conduct a public hearing on a request for a bingo license by the Green Valley American Legion Post No. 66, and will hear an update on the town’s fiscal impact study and market analysis, tools that could be useful in economic development efforts.

The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, at the Sahuarita Town Hall Council Chambers.

Road work on widening Sahuarita Road is expected to begin this year and officials want a better idea of the pros and cons of building one or more overpasses or underpasses before the road work begins. Advocates say a pedestrian bridge or tunnel would save lives and reduce accidents, particularly among young people.

Town Council skeptics say such a project would involve serious security issues and some say it should be paid for by the developer promoting it, Rancho Sahuarita. Advocates say the town staff under a previous public works director simply brushed aside the idea without giving the Town Council an in-depth examination of the issues.

The American Legion is at 1560 W. Duval Mine Road in Sahuarita. The council is expected to make a recommendation to the state Department of Revenue regarding a Type A bingo license. The legion has requested permission to hold bingo games at its building every Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.

The fiscal impact study and market analysis is being conducted by the consulting firm TischlerBise, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and is intended to help the town evaluate development plans and requests for development incentives. Rancho Sahuarita has submitted a development request to the town that is expected to be evaluated with the help of the TischlerBise approach.

The council also will consider the recommendation of council member Scott Downs to appoint Diane Murphy to the Planning and Zoning Commission to replace Patrick Devine, and to spend $27,304 on a shade structure at the as-yet unnamed park across from Quail Creek.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738