Friends of the Desert
E-News Issue #11
January 15, 2002
*A project of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection*
Please visit our website for more information: http://www.sonorandesert.org

If you know of anyone who would be interested in receiving this
newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from this list, please
reply to csdp@azstarnet.com.

IN THIS ISSUE:
*Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update: It’s Not over Yet!
*Coalition to Host Public Forum on Outdoor Recreation
*2002 Schedule for SDCP Steering Committee Meetings

***COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN UPDATE: IT’S NOT OVER YET!***
On December 18, 2001 the Pima County Board of Supervisors adopted the
county’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update, mandated by the state’s
Growing Smarter legislation. Thanks to everyone who called, sent
letters or attended the public hearings!

This is a general rundown of what was accomplished at the meeting:

The original recommendation from the county staff was, for the most
part, very reasonable. It consisted of approximately 51,300 acres of
up-planning changes from the 1992 Comprehensive Plan and 45,800 acres
of down-planning changes. Over =BD million acres of rural land was also
added to the Comprehensive Plan that was not considered at all for
planning purposes in 1992.

Most of the changes to higher densities were recommended for one of
two reasons: the changes simply reflect what already exists in those
areas, meaning the areas had previous hard zoning and may even already
be built out; or, the up-plannings lie in designated "growth areas,"
an element that was mandated in "Growing Smarter Plus," state
legislation mandating the comprehensive plan update.

The Coalition’s concerns focused on the conflicts between up-plannings
in sensitive areas that have been mapped by the SDCP team of
biologists, as well as critical corridors between protected areas.

The Board of Supervisors accepted the Coalition’s written requests in
a motion, and voted to adopt all our recommendations unless they were
superceded by another, earlier vote of the Board on parcel-specific
decisions. These couple of exceptions include a Board vote to provide
up-plannings to portions of Don Diamond’s Rocking K development in
Rincon Valley, and a 1000 acre parcel inside the biological reserve in
the southeast subregion called Empirita Ranch.

There is additional opportunity for input =96 the Comprehensive Plan
will be going back to the Planning and Zoning Commission this month
for a public hearing and again to the Board of Supervisors in early
April 2001. There are also 2 meetings being held by county staff
prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission to obtain public input.

Following is the schedule for meetings regarding the Comprehensive
Plan Update:

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Public Meeting, Pima County Planning Staff
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
City/County Public Works Building
201 N. Stone Avenue, basement conference room C, Tucson

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Public Meeting, Pima County Planning Staff
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
City/County Public Works Building
201 N. Stone Avenue, basement conference room C, Tucson

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30
Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing
At or after 10:00 a.m.
Tucson Convention Center, Leo Rich Theater
220 S. Church Ave., Tucson

***COALITION TO HOST PUBLIC FORUM ON OUTDOOR RECREATION***
Please join us for a free public forum sponsored by the Coalition for
Sonoran Desert Protection:

"Outdoor Recreation and the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan: Impacts,
Benefits, and How to Better Plan for Our Future"

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2002
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Four Points by Sheraton
1900 E. Speedway (southeast corner at Campbell)

Come participate in a community discussion seeking solutions for
natural resource-based outdoor recreation and it’s relationship to
wildlife. You will also have the opportunity to share with the Pima
County’s Recreation Technical Advisory Team (RecTAT) what your
favorite recreation uses are and provide input to map specialists
working with the county.

Speakers:
*Donald Weir, Environmental Assessment Professional, "Impacts of
Recreation"
*Steve Wishart, Graduate Researcher, Natural Resource Economics, U of
A, "Benefits of Recreation"
*Rod Mondt, Lecturer/Coordinator, Biosphere 2 Center, "Successes in
Recreation Planning"
*Randy Gimblett, Professor, Renewable Natural Resources, U of A,
"RecTAT’s Role in the SDCP"

Facilitator: Carolyn Campbell, Executive Director, Coalition for
Sonoran Desert Protection

Contact Susan Shobe at 388-9925 for more information.
Child care available=97please RSVP if you need child care.

***2002 SCHEDULE FOR SDCP STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS***
Following is the schedule for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
Steering Committee meetings for the remainder of 2002. Locations have
yet to be determined for all the meetings except for the next meeting,
which will take place on February 2. We will provide you with updated
information on these meetings as soon as that information is available
from the County. As always the public is welcome to attend these
meetings, so please join us!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Elk’s Lodge
2404 E. River Rd., Tucson 85718
*The Science and Technical Advisory Team is scheduled to present their
work to date

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Study Session

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Steering Committee Meeting

SATURDAY, MARCH 16
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Study Session

SATURDAY, APRIL 6
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Steering Committee Meeting

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Study Session or Steering Committee meeting

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Steering Committee Meeting

SATURDAY, MAY 18
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Study Session or Steering Committee meeting

SATURDAY, JUNE 1
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Steering Committee Meeting

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Steering Committee Meeting

MONDAY, JULY 1
(Time and location to be announced)
Steering Committee Preferred Alternatives Recommendation forwarded to
Board of Supervisors