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This page is designed to provide an overview of the effort to preserve the quarry slope of A-Mountain.


September 2006 Article in the Arizona Daily Star
Thank you to reporter Tony Davis, for this informative article detailing a surprising turn of events. The city has uncovered evidence that the 2.7 acres O'Hare parcel may already be owned by the City.  The desire of this group is for the land to be preserved for future generations, and also that the entire process be win-win and mutually beneficial for all involved, including the land owners. 
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/147143

All A-Mountain Slope Land on 2008 Bond List
A great milestone was reached in August 2006 when the land we are working to preserve was placed on the 2008 County Open Space Bond list.  Much thanks to the committee for including the A-Mountain land on the list.  The land will be preserved this way if and only if voters approve the package and the land owners are willing to sell at a mutually agreed upon price. 
It is a step in the right direction. 

June 2006 Article in the Arizona Daily Star
Thank you to reporter Tony Davis, for writing this article detailing the effort to preserve what is left of the north slope of A-Mountain!
Please click the link below to see the article.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/132142.php

May 2005
Despite the recent change in focus, (please see update March 2006) the group is still determined to uncover a solution to preserve what remains of the slope of A-Mountain.  Information has been sent to Kerry Baldwin of Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation to learn how we can get the land on the 2008 Open Spaces Bond.  Also, Councilman Ibarra is conducting meetings to seek a solution which would preserve this important space.  Please visit the maps section of this web site to see the two parcels under discussion. 

March 2006
 We learned that the smaller, flatter parcel (please see update November 2005) was sold to a developer.  Therefore, the concept to package the two parcels into a develop/preserve deal will not be possible.  

Please revisit the maps section of this website to see the parcel that was sold to developers. It is colored in red. The parcel that was to be preserved in the package is marked in green. 

November 2005
Early November 2005, a meeting was called with Mike Hein, Andrew Greenhill and Jose Ibarra to discuss progress with the acquisition and preservation of the two parcels we are working to preserve.  A number of us supporting preservation attended.  At this meeting we learned that the City has exhausted almost all  avenues for preservation. There will be no funding from the County.  The City does not have sufficient funds to purchase the property. There is not a parcel that was considered a fair trade by the land owner. 

What was proposed is a compromise.  The two parcels in question consist of A) a small, flat parcel which is along Sentinal Peak Road.  This parcel is connected to the south of the Sentinal Shadows housing development.  This area is already divided for development, and has all the sewer and water lines ready. Outlined in red in the maps section of this web site.  And B) A larger parcel that is on the northern-most hillside area of the slope. Outlined in green on the maps section of this web site.  It was proposed at this meeting that the small, flat, roadside parcel be developed in order to save the larger, more sensitive hillside portion.  This would occur by working with the developer to purchase and then donate for preservation the larger parcel.

A meeting was called for Tuesday 11/15 and public discussion took place.  Everyone in attendance and Menlo Park Neighborhood Association all support the concept of a compromise IF THERE IS AN IRON CLAD CLAUSE THAT THE LARGER PARCEL (B) WILL BE PROTECTED.

We also have the following questions which will be submitted 11/16 to the City for clarification.

The City responded very quickly with answers to the questions as listed below.  Big thanks to Karen Thoreson for providing these answers so quickly!

1.  Has Tucson Public Land been involved and asked to help?
I believe she is referring to Trust for Public Land, and they have not
been involved. Arizona Open Land Trust was taking the lead.

2. How much land and/or financial resources did the city devote to the recent purchase of the Fort Lowell property?  What did the people of Tucson get in return, and how does that relate to our efforts? The city has not contributed any cash to the acquisition. Pima county voters approved $3M for this acquisition in the 2004 Pima County Bond program, however the total cost of the project is more than $5M. There were not sufficient funds in the bond program to acquire and make necessary improvements to the historic parcel and connect it to the adjacent park. The value of the City trade parcel was approximately $2.8 M.

3.  Travis Bean from Tumamoc noted the Starr Pass Resort agreement and that it is generating thousands of dollars each month for preservation.  How does this relate to our effort?
There is an environmental enhancement fee (eef) added to the room
rental rate at Starr Pass. The City collects that "eef" and passes the
funds on to the County which uses them for Trails and Open Space.

4.  What assurances do we have that the larger parcel will be donated and thereby preserved? That is what is currently being negotiated.

5. Can the City work with AOLT to use their experience to create and oversee the "IRONCLAD CLAUSE" for preservation of the larger parcel? (My original wording on this was incorrect  - have re-submitted for clarification)

6. Have we worked with the Pima County Acquisition Commission? Could they be helpful in this effort? The County has declined to be involved in this effort.

7. Can the group have some oversight on the development? (Also re-submitted for clarification)

8. Can this effort spur the City to take a more pro-active stance on open spaces in the future? Can we create a bond fund or work with TPL toward future open spaces including the remainder of the A-Mountain slope?  I won't speculate on how this impacts the future.

 

A-Mountain Slope Preservation PROGRESS
From 2004 - Summer 2005 


Late 2004: I moved to the A Mountain area and was poking around on the city aerial map computer program looking to see what areas of A Mountain and Tumamoc Hill were public and which were privately owned and potentially to be developed.  I learned that the slope to the north of A Mountain (really part of A Mountain) is privately owned.

A group of neighbors and active citizens gathered to discuss all new building in the area as well as the overview of ownership and potential development of the quarry slope. It was decided that preserving the slope is a priority for the myriad of reasons it should remain undeveloped.

A second meeting was gathered, with representatives present from AOLT, Menlo Park , Councilmen Jose Ibarra, and others.  It was determined that the group should deliver an appeal to the office of the Mayor in early 2005 with letters of support from groups and individuals.  Contact was made to the land owners (maps enclosed with ownership noted) and the owners are continually copied on all meeting minutes and progress.  We also researched the zoning and restrictions of the parcels.

January 2005:  I delivered to the Mayor's office a packet of support letters from individuals and groups, maps, and a letter from me saying a group was organized with interest to start the process of land swap and asking for advice on how to proceed. I received a letter from Karen Thoreson, Assistant City Manager, advising that we add specific request/direction regarding the request and welcomed me to contact her at any time.

February 2005:  A large meeting was hosted at the Ward 1 office by Councilman Jose Ibarra. Panorama Estates Board presented the PEA position paper on the quarry, it was discussed that it is important to preserve open space and the wildlife corridor.  It was determined that the group should address slope preservation one owner at a time. At this meeting it was clarified for many attendees that the preservation of the slope is a separate effort from the potential development of the inside of the quarry.  We all agreed that this is an important project and that the neighborhood associations should present official position papers on the issue.

Background: The inside of the quarry (the hole) has been donated by R&M to the Artists in Recovery Project. It is not the intent of this group to interfere with the plans by the owner.  For more on this project see the Tucson Citizen 1/19/2005 .

February 2005: I attended the Menlo Park Neighborhood Meeting and presented maps and concept with Ellen Paige, President of PEA.  It was reiterated that this effort is in no way related to potential projects for INSIDE the quarry, just the undeveloped natural land around the quarry which is privately owned.  The people present agreed that the land is all precious and we should go one step at a time.  MPNA submitted a position letter stating that they agree with a land swap or purchase and that in general they support open space and preservation.

Council Member Ibarra forwarded a memorandum to the Mayor requesting that City staff work with the neighborhoods and the property owners to acquire or trade for parcels for open space preservation. He noted that some parcels need immediate attention we will need to move swiftly. He also noted that we need to be respectful of the private property owners, and he asked if the issue could be put on the Mayor and Council agenda. 

March 2005:  The item was placed on the March 1 agenda. I contacted Council members individually to brief them on the concept and emailed a complete overview of the effort in advance of the Mayor and Council meeting.  I also prepared a packet of information and delivered it to the meeting.  The motion was made to study the concept and come back with ideas for how to preserve this land. The Council voted unanimously to direct city staff to look at opportunities and come back to the Council with a list of potential opportunities.

April 2005:  I asked if there was any effort or communication I could make to increase our chances for preserving this land.  This resulted in an extremely positive and productive meeting with Andrew Greenhill, Jose Ibarra, Mike Hein, Pete Rico (from Ward 1 office) and John Updike to review where we are to this point and consider options and ideas.  Vera Pfeuffer and Gayle Hartmann (concerned and active citizens) also attended this meeting. It was determined that at the next Mayor and Council meeting it should be proposed that the city research and work with other entities that may be able to collaborate to make this effort a success.

May 2005:  Mayor and Council vote unanimously to research this for a maximum of 6 months and come back to the table with ideas and hopefully a potential solution. 

The entire process has been positive and collaborative.  I’ve been encouraged by great neighbors and residents who have made this progress possible – especially Lillian Lopez, President Menlo Park Neighborhood Association and other people from the Menlo Park Neighborhood Association and Panorama Estates Association.  Also, Jose Ibarra has been a huge supporter from the start, attending our meetings even when they were small, and providing advice and effort. All the people present at the April meeting really communicated openly and were very motivated to help.  It has been a great process throughout and we are all cautiously hopeful that we will be able to preserve this important piece of land for generations to come.  

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