Peter Howell Neighborhood Association (PHNA)

Densification & Rezoning: Call for Participation in Upcoming Public Meetings

2012-02-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

Though the information below focuses specifically on the Grant Road project, please consider that precedence will be established. All of us need to be aware of the potential negative impact rezoning changes can have on established neighborhoods if densification isn't done correctly.

Dear NSN members:

I hope that your neighborhood will consider participating in Public Meetings regarding rezonings. It is important that neighborhood associations get involved, even those not immediately abutting Grant.

The city's current vision for Grant Road does not include the setbacks, parking, and landscaping buffers currently required for intensive commercial uses. This is a significant departure from current code, and it's not what the community asked for in the Grant Road planning meetings many of us attended several years ago. The community vision included more landscaping than is required by the current code, not less.

Why this change?

The city is in the process of applying a new approach, called form-based zoning, to arterials and collector streets. Form-based zoning specifies the shape of the building, not the use.Therefore, it is important that new zoning includes setbacks and parking that would be appropriate for intensive uses that generate high-volume vehicular traffic.

Grant Road Rezoning Meetings

Focus area: I-10 & Main Ave
Wednesday, February 29th
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Ward Three Office
1510 E Grant Road
Tucson, AZ 85719

Focus area: Stone & Country Club
Monday, March 5th
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Salpointe High School Cafeteria
1545 East Copper Street
Tucson, AZ 85719

***There will be additional meetings scheduled for points east of Country Club.

Protect existing neighborhoods, do densification the right way.

This Grant Road effort and my call for neighborhood involvement in specifying details is very much in line with one of our shared regional values as identified through Imagine Greater Tucson: Appropriate infill development or redevelopment that is sensitive to protecting existing neighborhoods.

If we don't stand up now, we can expect Campbell, Euclid, Stone, Speedway, Sixth, Broadway, every block along the modern streetcar route, and some of the nearby collector streets, to get the same treatment that Grant is currently getting.

Our City Council has for years made clear their support for densification along arterials and collectors. Densification is coming to your neighborhood, probably sooner rather than later.We need to send the message that densification must be done right, with adequate setbacks, parking, landscape buffers, stair-stepping of building height adjacent to neighborhoods and pedestrian ways, etc.

Tall buildings, zero setbacks, inadequate parking, and a massively wide Grant Road are about as pedestrian-unfriendly and as disrespectful of the community as it gets.

We must speak out now or forever live with the consequences of our passivity.

Sincerely,

Diana Lett

Treasurer & Co-Chair, Neighborhood Preservation Committee

Feldman's Neighborhood Association

Save the Date! PHNA Spring Meeting 3/22

2012-02-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

Peter Howell Elementary
6:30 p.m.

Details to follow in a later post!

Brush & Bulky for PHNA: March 12, 2012

2012-02-21T17:56:00.002-07:00

Per Tucson Environmental Services: Please do not put your items / brush & bulky out on the curb weeks ahead of time. Please wait until (at most) 2 weeks before the scheduled pickup.

What will they pick up?

Brush, tree trunks, branches and other green waste (up to 5 feet long and 24 inches in diameter)
Lumber (up to 5 feet long and stacked in a separate pile, no remodel materials or old fence)
PVC and metal pipes (up to 5 feet long)
Railroad ties (limit 5)
Furniture, carpet, and doors
Lawn mowers with fuel tank and crank case removed
Scrap metal (bicycles, swing sets, etc., broken into 5 foot lengths)
Cacti (must be boxed - up to 25 lbs. per box)
Appliances (remove freezer/refrigerator doors)
Car tires (limit of five automobile tires)
Metal drums (empty and cut in half)

Complete info, including what ISN'T pickup up, what to do if you need a special pick up, visit the TES website.

Take "Imagine Greater Tucson" Survey by February 29th

2012-02-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

This easy to complete online survey will provide helpful information in guiding Tucson'sfuture development.

We Need You to Join the Effort: Take The Imagine Greater Tucson Online Survey

Now through February 29, you have an opportunity to help define the GreaterTucson Region. This survey allows you to influence the future of land use,transportation, and conservation in your community. Ultimately, the surveyprovides a community vision developed by local citizens to guide our localinstitutions in decision making and for our jurisdictions to considerincorporating into their respective general or comprehensive plans.

Your voice is critical.

Working from community conversations held in 2010 and the compilation ofexisting trends, Imagine Greater Tucson found that growth projections anddevelopment patterns are at odds with a number of our "Shared RegionalValues." Last spring, more than 600 people attended mapping workshops toshare their vision for what they want the future of the region to look likebased on these values.

Several key themes emerged from the public workshops that supported:

More infill and density near urban centers,
An interest in mixed-usedevelopments that promote a lifestyle of more bicycling and walkingopportunities to work, schools, and amenities and
Conservation of ourdesert environment.

Want to have your say?

Here is the survey link.Paper survey copies are available at all local libraries, and the IGT officelocated at 700 N. Stone Ave.Imagine Greater Tucson is a community-based effort dedicated to protectingand enhancing the quality of life in the Greater Tucson Region. Our goal isto involve the people of greater Tucson in creating a shared vision for ourregion's future, and develop the strategies to realize this vision.

ImagineGreater Tucson supports establishing a values-based environment that keepsus in tune with the lifestyles we prefer.

For more information:call (520) 209-2448
email Imagine Greater Tucson
or visit Imagine Greater Tucson website

More IGT Info

Survey Open House Information
Alternatives for Tucson | Progress
Open Shared Regional Values PDF
Phase I: Values data gathering - What do you most like about ourcommunity/region? What do you most want to change or improve? and Why?

Thank you,
Don Ijams, Coordinator
Neighborhood Support Network
http://nsn.soaz.info/

Neighborhood Casita for Rent | Nightly Rates

2012-02-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Only $75 per night!

Contact: Bree or Claude at 520.461.3733
hawthorne.heights.az@gmail.com

Amenities

Cable TV
Free Wi-Fi
Central Heating & A/C
Full Kitchen
Queen-sized Bed
Washer/Dryer on site
Handicap Accessible
Central locale
Covered parking

Need a Handyman? Contact Neighbor Bear Bailey

2012-02-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

Local Handyman, right in Peter Howell!

Contact: Bear Bailey, Owner & Lead Craftsman
Cell # 801.750.5539 or local #520.461.3733
colonelrexford@gmail.com
rexfordhomeservices.com

Second Annual Karla Ember Memorial Concert

2012-01-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

An involved neighbor asked we share the following information with you.

Please join us on for the Second Annual Karla Ember Memorial Concert.

When: Saturday, January 28th, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rincon-University High School Auditorium
How Much: $10 donation suggested

It is a kick-off fundraiser for our new non-profit "Karla Ember Foundation for the Arts" or "KEFA." Our goal is to provide support for underfunded Fine Arts programs in Tucson. Please visit our website at www.kefatucson.org.

The concert will feature the Tucson Girls Chorus Advanced Choir, the Rincon-University High School Jazz Band, the Tucson Jewish Youth Choir and Kol Shirah Adult Choir and an ensemble of students from the U of A Dance program.

Feel free to pass this information on to all your friends and family!

Hope to see you there,
Karen Spencer

Tucson's Animal Noise Complaint Process

2012-01-16T18:59:00.002-07:00

The Pima Animal Care website provides useful information on the steps involved in the "Animal Noise Complaint Process." Many pet owners are unaware that pet noise - barking, yowling, squawking - can cost money. The site also has a number of helpful links for pet owners, as well as public health and safety tips and resources. Be sure to check it out!

Keep Your Tax Credit Dollars in Tucson!

2011-12-05T15:10:00.001-07:00

If you pay some of the state income tax you owe (up to $200 filing single; up to $400 married, filing jointly) directly to a TUSD school, you'll keep that tax money here in Tucson.

Remember, Arizona lets you get your entire tax credit contribution back when you participate now and then file your tax return. Just make your contribution by December 31st. So help Tucson's kids with your tax credit!

General Information on how the Tax Credit Program works
Printable Forms for Download
School address: Peter Howell Elementary, 401 N. Irving Ave., Tucson, 85711

A Letter from Principal David Overstreet, Peter Howell Elementary

Dear Neighbors,
You can cut your taxes, and support your neighborhood school. How? By filling out a Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) School Tax Credit Form. Your taxes can be reduced up to $200 for a single filer, or as much as $400 for a married couple filing jointly. Your donation needs to be made by December 31st, by bringing it or mailing it to:
Peter Howell Elementary School
401 N. Irving Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85711
Peter Howell Elementary School is the gem of our neighborhood. It provides education to the kids who could be our future Council Member, Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Congressman, Musician, Doctor, Senator... you name it.
Peter Howell is the place we have neighborhood meetings. The school grounds are like a park. We have fun of all kinds here. It is a place where everyone is welcome.
Your support will be most appreciated.
David Overstreet
Principal
Peter Howell Elementary School

Tucson's UDC Reorg: Mini Dorms & Talking Points (see previous blog on related topic "What Could Be Next Door")

2011-11-30T14:53:00.001-07:00

Joan Hall JPNA President, also provides the following info:

Stakeholder meetings on the Code Amendment on the group dwellings (mini-dorms) are coming up –
Dec 12, Dec 19, and Jan 9, 6 – 8 pm
at Mayor and Council Chambers, 255 W Alameda.

You can review the draft language presented at the November 2, 2011,public meeting at the following link -Planning Commission:Draft Language

Below points provided courtesy of Neighborhood Leaders

Talking Points for Lobbying Mayor & City Council

Residential neighborhoods, especially those in the core central historic areas, have been increasingly damaged by mini-dorm construction over the last ten years, resulting in the demolition of historic properties, loss of the character of these neighborhoods, flight of single families, diminished quality of life.
Tools to regulate behavior, like red tags, are not working.
This code amendment is based on existing code, and as such, does not trigger 207 claims.
Other municipalities have enacted similar laws, some with even fewer numbers of unrelated people. In Tucson, we need it to be no more than 4 unrelated people.
It will not affect group homes, which are a different category and protected by federal law.
It does not discriminate against nontraditional families (same sex unions, for example).
The conditional use waiver clause needs to be worked on further, and needs to protect vested rights of property owners while protecting neighbors as well. Any enforcement should focus making property owners comply, not only through assessed fines, but also by temporarily revoking the conditional use waiver.
We need to keep the “on site” language for parking requirements.
It does not prevent an arrangement where there is a family in the main building and tenants (if unrelated and fewer than 5) in an additional structure. The family counts as “1”.
Enact this as of Sept. 28th or earlier (for example, to the date of the first determination – March 17th).
The “grandfathering” of existing mini-dorms should not extend to plans for which permits have not been issued.
It’s not about the students. Jefferson Park and other neighborhoods do not dislike students.
There is not sufficient demand for student housing that bulldozing historic homes and putting up mini-dorms is necessary.
Historic neighborhoods add value to a city, and cohesive communities do too. Neighborhoods need your support.
Thank you for voting “yes” on this code amendment.

We need everybody to be on the same page for this, so we are asking interested folks to stay after the UDC meeting on Dec 8th to learn about the issue and prepare to lobby for the amendment. For more info on this meeting, please contact Bob Schlanger, rlsbcs@liveline.com, or Steve Prendergast, sprenderga@aol.com.

Tucson's Unified Development Code Reorg: What Could Be Next Door?

2011-11-30T08:56:00.001-07:00

A message from Donald Ijams, Coordinator
Neighborhood Support Network

There is a great deal of activity these days relating to the futuredevelopment of our community. Construction for the modern streetcar projectis now underway as is planning for residential development along thestreetcar route. Overlay zoning is being considered, neighborhoods aroundthe University are leading the way in efforts to clarify residentialdevelopment issues in historic areas, the City is renewing its comprehensiveplan and Imagine Greater Tucson is preparing to present alternative urbandesigns for guiding development in the Tucson region.

One of the most influential documents in guiding the way in which Tucsondevelops is the City's Land Use Code. This document has been under reviewand revision for several years now. One of our long time neighborhoodleaders, Ruth Beeker, has been quite active in this review process. Sheasked me to make the following information available to you for yourconsideration.

----------------

Neighbors,
The City of Tucson is concluding the simplification and reorganization ofits existing Land use Code (LUC). The resultant document, the UnifiedDevelopment Code (UDC) is in its final draft. As a member of the LUCCommittee representing neighborhood interests, I have two major concernsabout content in Article 6: Dimensional Standards and Measurements.
First, all new construction in our residential zones of R-1 and R-2 will berequired to have 7' side setbacks from the property line. This is incontrast to the LUC which has a sliding scale depending on building height.Under current code, a 25' tall building would be required to have a 16.6'side yard setback. The proposed change is a notable reduction which willimpact the distance to the house next door.
Second, a new section, 6.5.3 Mitigation of Multi-Story and TallerStructures, has been added to address some of the more troubling aspectscreated by the major reduction in side setbacks. While I appreciate staffefforts to address these problems, I find the solutions totally inadequate.
I have attached a position paper, "Beware!! It Could Be Built Next Door" inwhich I attempt to put the issues into a broader context. If you find theproposed changes undesirable, please make your voice heard.
Attend the UDCNeighbors' Meeting next Thursday, Dec. 8
6-8 P.M. at the Ward 3 Office
1510 E. Grant Rd.
Email the Planning and Development Services Departmentdirector, Ernie Duarte, at ernie.duarte@tucsonaz.gov.
Let your council office know that you are concerned, and pass this e-mail on to other Tucsonresidential property owners so the community knows what is being proposed.
Thanks,Ruth Beeker
Position paper: Beware!! It Could Be Built Next Door

----------------

The broader context Ruth mentions is captured by her comments at the end ofthe position paper: "intrusive development within single-familyhousing areas... If it is a desire for greater urban density, the Citymust identify areas where density is appropriate. Squeezing a few morepeople into new construction which is incompatible with existing norms isneither an efficient solution nor an ethical practice. It destroys thecharacter of the established neighborhood for a pitifully small populationgain."

Some of the broader questions include:

Where is higher density residential development appropriate? How shouldthese areas be decided?
Should inner-ring suburbs evolve toward a more urban character or shouldthey substantially remain suburbs?
Should strip malls be bulldozed and replaced by higher-density mixed-usedevelopments with good transit connections?
Are mixed-income, walkable cities and suburbs with nearby amenitiescompatible with historic, single family residential areas?

Also of possible interest:Death of the Fringe Suburb

----------------

The meeting on Thursday December 8 6-8 PM at the Ward 3 Office may be aninteresting one. You are invited to come participate and to learn where landuse code revisions fit with higher level concepts of urban design.

http://nsn.soaz.info/

Board Meeting Notes 10/13/11

2011-10-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

View the Board Meeting Notes

Water Service Area Policy | Wastewater Study

2011-10-14T17:51:00.001-07:00

One of the policy outcomes of the City/County Water and Wastewater Study was the City's formal adoption of a Water Service Area Policy in August of 2010. The Water Service Area Policy establishes a water service boundary for Tucson Water based on economic, social and environmental considerations as recommended in the Study. The City is in the process of conducting its first annual review of the Policy, as called for in the adopted ordinance, to determine if refinements to the Policy are needed. City staff and Tucson Water's Citizens Water Advisory Committee (CWAC) are requesting public and stakeholder comment as part of this review process.

Comments may be provided in the following ways:

Website: Visit www.tucsonaz.gov/water/service-area-policy to review information on the Water Service Area Policy and submit your comments electronically.

Public Meetings: Attend either of two public meetings to hear a presentation on the Policy, ask questions of staff, and provide comments about the Policy.

Thursday, October 20th
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Ward 6 Council Office Conference Room
3202 E. 1st Street

OR

Monday, October 24th
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mesquite Room at Reid Park
900 S. Randolph Way

The public comment period extends through October. During November, CWAC will consider potential refinements to the Policy, with draft recommendations expected in December or January.

Links Mentioned at PHNA's September 29th Meeting

2011-10-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

Ward 6, Steve Koazchik's newsletter:
You can view Council Member Kozachik's newsletter by clicking the link Ward 6 Newsletter

Ward 6 Staff
3202 East First Street
Tucson, AZ 85716
520-791-4601
520-791-3211 Fax
Ward 6 Staff

Environmental Services, or Tucson Clean and Beautiful:
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
(520) 791-3171
www.tucsonaz.gov/esd

Tucson Clean and Beautiful - Home
... Tucson Clean & Beautiful PO Box 27210 Tucson, AZ 85726 (520) 791-3109

Tucson Clean & Beautiful website 2011. All rights reserved. ...
www.tucsonaz.gov/tcb/

Pitbull that Attacked on 4th & Columbus

2011-10-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

If anyone reconizes this adult male pitbull, or the puppy please contact Nancy, PHNA president. Thanks!
and read about the ordeal: http://helpformaia.chipin.com/maias-treatment-and-care-fund

Melanie Emerson
You're invited to an evening of fun, wine and MAIA!

Yes, Maia will be hosting wine tasting at the CataVinos Wine Shoppe on Sunday, November 20th. Bring friends! Enjoy wine! Indulge in snacks! Share your love with Maia! And help support her recovery fund. JOIN US! Tickets at the door (online tickets coming soon!).

Please repost and invite widely!

Donations in lieu of attendance are graciously accepted at: http://helpformaia.chipin.com/maias-treatment-and-care-fund
Wine Tasting - FUNdRaiser for Maia's Recovery
Sunday, November 20 at 2:00pm..

New PHNA Blog!

2011-08-26T20:14:00.003-07:00

Fall Annual Meeting......September 29 at 6 pm at the PH school library
Agenda

Councilmember: Steve Kozachik

Dave Overstreet: principal at Peter Howell

An officer from TPD

Evren from Tucson Clean and Beautiful to discuss Alvernon Park, “Adopt a Park” program

Melanie Emerson: her dog was attacked at 4^th and Columbus by a pit bull and puppies on the run, we will discuss this recent problem of dogs being out of their yards.
Gary Stone: Potholes/cracks and reclaimed water