Annexation a potential issue for The Loop development

July 9, 2012 • Posted by: Michael McKisson

A development at Craycroft and River Roads and an impending annexation by the City of Tucson is raising red flags about development of The Loop through that section of the bike path.

The Arizona Daily Star has a good story on this issue:

On Tuesday, the City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on whether to enter into an agreement with Broadway Realty and Trust to annex and rezone land for a seven-story hotel and other mixed-use development.

The problem is most of the language in the city’s preannexation agreement is vague, Huckelberry said; it ignores parts of the City Code; and it lacks any firm requirements on the part of the developer for river-park trail improvements, flood control and road expansion and upgrades.

“If you’re a developer in the county, you’d have to grant the right-of-way for free and you’d have to pay half of the bank-protection cost,” Huckelberry said. “(Cesare) said sure, he would grant the trail easement, but you’ve got to build me several millions of dollars in bank protection. It’s not the public’s responsibility to build erosion protection necessary for his hotel.”

The story goes into more detail about the path:

If the agreement is approved, Huckelberry fears river-park expansion may never come to fruition since nothing in the contract mandates the developer provide an easement for a bike loop. Alley said his company isn’t obstructing park expansion but is waiting for all of the proper agreements to be in place before ceding any land.

“We want this river park,” Alley said. “We have agreed to provide any necessary dedication to the Tanque Verde Wash with the understanding there has to be in place agreements with all of the owners and ownership parcels on the north side of the bank all the way to Sabino Canyon.”

Huckelberry said he has sent 12 letters to Tucson’s mayor and council outlining his concerns, but all have been “fundamentally ignored” except for a lone email from council member Steve Kozachik stating he would look into the matter.

No public money will be spent on the project for erosion protection and Cesare, the developer, has agreed to connect the bike loop once the county finishes its obligations on the east side of the property, said Mayor Jonathan Rothschild.

“The loop is important to the city,” Rothschild said. “And when it can be connected, it will be.”

Read the rest of the story here.

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6 comments

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3wheeler

Strawhouse is right, the loop would be a big amenity for the hotel. The developer knows that but he's hoping he can get his bank protection payed for by us tax payers if he plays it cool. I hope the loop gets finished and I hope the developer is firmly told he can't build on flood-prone land.

StrawHousePig

They could sell the hell out of that bike path in their marketing. Keep a stable of CX bikes for rent and put it near the top of the amenities list. *BAM!* There's your incentive. Is the free market or the free ride that's important here?

Frank Tellez

How is progress on the rest of the Loop coming along? Skip the hotel section, I'll just ride through the parking lot, or go around. Seriously, it's not worth millions. With millions we could do lots of bikey projects.

Took a gander at that piece of land on Saturday's bike ride....it's erosion city. Must be the last piece of land available to build a hotel on. Everybody's so focused in on Rosemont, but the city's mining efforts for revenue are really doing a hack job on neighborhoods and surrounding areas. No one is safe.

Martha Retallick

And it's not like Tucson has a shortage of hotel rooms already, Zeez. Methinks this is another case of a developer who can get access to financing. And since he can do that, well, he's just gotta build something!

Martha Retallick

Here's the money quote: “If you’re a developer in the county, you’d have to grant the right-of-way for free and you’d have to pay half of the bank-protection cost,” Huckelberry said. “(Cesare) said sure, he would grant the trail easement, but you’ve got to build me several millions of dollars in bank protection. It’s not the public’s responsibility to build erosion protection necessary for his hotel.” Pay close attention to the final sentence.