Imagine Greater Tucson 2010-11 Phase I Community Conversation and Survey Statements Related to Well-planned and managed land use and growth |
1 | Assist developers with infilling areas in Tucson - change zoning if needed, clean up brownfields, etc. This goes to preventing sprawl. |
2 | Because it is nearly always sunny, you never have to make allowances for the weather changing your plans. |
3 | Better (and improved) short and long-term transportation plans. |
4 | Better land use codes |
5 | Better planning/zoning |
6 | Better zoning. |
7 | City gov't. dictating businesses. Offer more varied zoning. Residences over shops. Mom and Pop food and drug stores. Free parking areas. |
8 | City of Tucson needs to enforce all of its codes (land use, building & ordinances) instead of looking the other way or interperting their codes in favor of special interests, which they currently do. This includes getting compentant staff in lieu of the current system of nepitism and good old boy hiring practice. |
9 | Commutes are long, waste gas. Sun tran is inefficient with empty buses. Portland model would be good to look at re - smaller buses. cross town freeway does need to be invested in but the neighborhood groups (see above) prevent that. RTA is a farce despite community involvement. e.g. why is houghton going to be a four lane road instead of a freeway/state route? opportune time to pick up the land on either side of the arterial (federal and private) and build a freeway. Think forward not present time. As for mass transist eg. trains, subway, light rail Tucson does not have the population to support that need but that should not prevent the city from long range planning e.g. rezoning land, build parks where depots will be, for the eventuality of that need |
10 | Decisions should be based on what makes economic sense overall. for example - Grant Rd widening. While it makes sense to help existing biz owners stay in place, will the end result be hodge podge properties that aren't worth much? Why not do what Phx did - decide where a freeway is going and blade a path that makes transportation sense. another example is sign codes - it is difficult to go to COT dept and get a different answer each time as to whether or not your sign is to code or temporary or which fee is applicable. If they can tell you you are out of compliance, why do 2 different people give you 2 different answers on how to comply? |
11 | Develop a stricter interpretation of R-1 zoning, or give some teeth to NPZ guidelines |
12 | Fix the zoning! It looks terrible having businesses in between houses and trailer parks. |
13 | Follow through with plans |
14 | For all the costs associate with trying to put mass transit into an existing constricted transportation infrastructure - a subway could be built without disruption of any existing land uses. |
15 | Having migrated here from Ohio and a gloomier, colder climate nearly 30 years ago I find I have never stopped appreciating the fact that it is rare that we have to structure our plans around the weather |
16 | Home builders presently use one how water heater per home. My 2000 home requires 11 litres/3 gal of water down the drain before hot water arrives in the master bathroom. An 'In Line' 6 gallon heater would solve this. Solution: Change building code (Tucson and the County) requiring builders to arrange that no hot water tap is more than 3 quarts from hot water. Accomplish this by additional hot water heater, instant heaters, or receive pump. IGT must prepare a presentation to counter professional builder lobby trying to prevent this change in codes. |
17 | I believe sprawl is our region's number-one destructive force, and that smart regional planning, zoning and development laws should aim to counteract sprawl. In terms of resources, we're headed for a crisis already. |
18 | I have seen the city government deny building requests, get overly aggressive on sign code issues and generally delay or imped efforts by churches to be a positive influance in the community. |
19 | I know of at least 5 downtown masterplans that were paid for and not implemented. |
20 | I live in midtown but still have to drive most everywhere I go. Need more business infill, mixed use developments, relaxation of zoning regs to allow these. (Relax the sign code too - I want interesting neighborhoods, not cookie cutter) |
21 | I remember how nice it was back in the 1930's and 1940's when we had lots of desert. We need a better land use plan. |
22 | I would like to see limits put on sprawl in the region (i.e. establish a growth boundary) and zoning changed to encourage higher mixed-use density. I believe it is better for the community and the surrounding desert as a whole. It would also help support more efficient, eco-friendly modes of transportation. |
23 | I would like to see more mixed zoning. |
24 | I would stricter land zoning regulation to protect saguaro stands, and natural habitats. |
25 | I'm frustrated by the waste of fancy plans that don't happen. I'm frustrated by the loss of our best political leaders to bigger offices farther away. I'd pay more taxes for the services we need or want, but not for a planner from far away with a grandiose notion. I continue to hear unbelievable stories about bureacracy's opposition to business and development. |
26 | Increase code enforcement and property clean-up |
27 | It appears as though every time someone new comes along the previous plans change. Rio Nuevo, for example, has been changed so many times. It does not appear as though the city really has a clear understanding of its vision for Tucson. |
28 | It is a bit confusing to have such lax zoning. You have million dollar homes less than a mile from the 'worst corridor' in the city, apartment complexes located in the middle of housing developments, etc... |
29 | Its relaxed lifestyle and dress code |
30 | Lack of leadership to take a strong stand on water supply and plans for the future will affect the environment and future of Pima County |
31 | Land use planning |
32 | Less sprawl into what used to be pristine areas without mixed zoning |
33 | Less stringent building/land use code to allow more small businesses build/adaptive reuse downtown |
34 | Let's face it - development in a desirable is a powerful engine. We seem to do more to reverse development than encourage with government regulations/restrictions; zoning and resource issues; lack of support for existing businesses (professional baseball); etc. |
35 | Low key dress code |
36 | Mixed zoning would integrate areas, thus making certain things more within walking distance for me during my lunches or while at home and decreasing the chances of having 'food deserts'. |
37 | More consistent zoning rules would increase the attractiveness of our streets & city. |
38 | More efficient transportation is needed. The Tucson area is so close together that we need a 24 hr underground metro rail to easily get around. Any plans made for public transportation are only partial and frankly halfassed plans won't work. There needs to be a plan for MAJOR overhaul of the entire city (and yes, it will require a MAJOR investment of money). |
39 | More mixed use zoning |
40 | Nothing ever gets accomplished as plans keep changing |
41 | One of the best things about Tucson is that it may have the feel of a smaller town, but it has amenities that you would find to Big 'concrete jungle' cities like Phoenix without feeling like Phoenix. This, I believe, has to do with the zoning and development codes that hold Tucson business and residents to a higher standard. |
42 | Our community does not need more master planning, more visioning, more talk. We need to dust off old plans, see what progress has been made/level of completion, and either agree to move forward by fine tuning existing plans or agree to permanently end certain pursuits. We need to do things. Gathering community input to help guide decisions is also a good thing, but round after round of it in a process just bogs things down. If a jurisdiction has a policy, it needs to run with that policy or adjust it instead of every new project needing a special exception. Elected officials need to be fair, but firm, in what their residents and business constituents expect out of the process. Sometimes politicians need to take the risk to say, no we're not making an exception to the rules when it doesn't serve more than a narrow interest. |
43 | Over population, land use, water use |
44 | People without ownership of land should not be able to tell people who own land what they are going to do with their land. They should ask/work with/encourage/educate land owners of what the best ways to develop their land are. And land owners who participate in smart/sustainable development practices should be REWARED in some way for their vision. Rewards could be tax cuts, quick approval of development plans, etc.... |
45 | Perhaps I would prefer more zoning/regulations on buildings and their appearance. |
46 | Really! Need i say more! When you allow one or tow 'neighbors' to vocalize and stop an adjacent commercially-zoned proeprty from redevelopeing within its zoning code or allowing it to revitalize to meet its full potential due to one or two vocal neighbors, that does not who any leadership in how the City staff or City elected officiial handle the center core. Shameful. |
47 | Rio Nuevo dollars have been wasted on plans for items that weren't in the original proposal. |
48 | SO many people do not maintain their yards. Weeds, junked vehicles, mattresses, garbage. ARGH! Why do so many people take not pride in their property. Why do so many landlords (slumlords) get away with not maintaining their property? Why are there not really any consequences to all those code violations we turn in? |
49 | Smart land use means we can maintain open spaces |
50 | Sprawl--building/zoning codes. |
51 | Stronger zoning or something to prevent more homes being built up on the mountain slopes. |
52 | THere are large urbanized unincorporated areas in Pima County. It hurts us because we do not get revenue we could otherwise get. Plus the county residents of incorporated areas have to unfairly carry the burden for the unincorporated areas in paying for their law enforcement, courts, zoning and planning, road maintenance and other services. As a city resident, I am unhappy about it. County residents should be taxed extra for those services if they don't want to incorporate. |
53 | The car-centric land use/transportation planning |
54 | The concern is development and the correlation in densities. There are area plans, but they are inadequate. There are master plans that look good but do not take into consideration the neighboring areas. |
55 | The enire zoning process |
56 | The land of the free, home of the brave. This means I can hike by myself without fear. Freedom to think, build, discover, create,... It requires a balance of governmental protection and courage. Anarchy is a fight to survive; true freedom without dreams or hope is not free. Hume said it was brutal and short. Those on both sides of a social contract have a part. People need to define government. The size battle is tricky. I would split the money from the plans. Ideas should not be encumbered by cost. An expensive idea can change, people can be wrong about costs; a plan could inspire T Boone Pickens... |
57 | The single use nature of land use in the suburbs |
58 | The university area looks united because of the simple requirement that each new building have red bricks somewhere. Some cities have very strict zoning requirements on what buildings can look like (e.g., Santa Fe). Even businesses like McDonalds have to comply and they find a way to do it. I don't know what kinds of rules would be helpful to this process, but having some kind of theme or general direction for new buildings might be helpful to unify the look of downtown and the city. |
59 | The zoning is strange-houses next to storage facilities etc |
60 | There are millions of dollars set aside to improve the downtown. Do it already! Get a new plan, new people, new ideas! Rio Nuevo is old and dead! New plans are needed. |
61 | There are pot holes, medians that aren't maintained, schools that can't afford textbooks ... yet the city spends millions on a rattlesnake bridge, a trolly car to no where, practically free rent to art groups and Rio Nuevo plans (where has all that money gone?) |
62 | There are too many areas of segregation. For example: one area is primarily industrialized, one area is neighborhood, one area is businesses. Often times, this mixed zoning leads to a further distance between destinations and leads to the need to drive a car rather than walk. |
63 | There are very education plans, and the communication between the students, teachers, and parents about directives are very good |
64 | Though I appreciate the regulations in place to protect Tucson's environment, zoning and development are too rigid and complex. I feel that more leniency would result in more positive and creative development. |
65 | To minimize the sprawl by better land use planning and infill. |
66 | Too many zoning laws that prevent business infill |
67 | Try to clean up some of the industrial area sprawl. perhaps restrict this activity through more deliberate zoning laws |
68 | Tucson always takes the quick fix instead making sound long term goals. We should be giving resources and create new code to infill projects, boosting independently run small businesses and keep our surrounding environment a place where all creatures can live. Take on stweardship of our environment seriously. |
69 | Tucson does not have an adequate transportation system that meets the current or future demands of the community. Current plans are short sighted and focus on Pima County not the City of Tucson. Additionally, the Mayor and Counsel are too focused on maintaining their positions to make hard decisions concerning transportation improvements. |
70 | Tucson has a reputation for low pay and a lot of low-class employment opportunities. Raising the standard of this community is a multifaceted project that requires education, opportunity and investment in work that means something to the individual as well as the nation. More partnerships with the University Of Arizona and clean businesses should be formed and long-range plans for creating fertile start-up incubator parks must be laid down. |
71 | Tucson's layout makes this a hard one to figure out, I know, but it would make all the difference. I have enjoyed just such a difference in Denver and Phoenix. This type of transport interferes with regular traffic much less and is much faster than the buses. It truly is in the city's interest and the transportation departments need to have more foresight in anticipating the needs of the city according to the way we are growing. They need 10 & 20 year plans. |
72 | We are a community of entreprenuers and as such, we do not seem to know how to work together to achieve common goals (like supporting schools, development plans, sports teams, etc.) |
73 | We currently have three separate vision plans being created: the Green Valley - Vision 2020, Imagine Greater Tucson and Sahuarita Farms Land/River. Each has its own focus. |
74 | We desperately need a better way to travel east-west. I know the budget is a disaster, but honestly, major streets were in horrible condition prior to 2009. Quit studying and restudying major route expansion plans and downtown links plans and move on it already! |
75 | We have dozens of long range strategic plans sitting on the shelf and haven't implemented any of them to any degree. |
76 | We have had opportunities to make changes in the areas where we know people and industry are moving and we talk about getting ahead of some services / infrastructure needed - but instead of implementing our plans in advance or concurrrently we wait until it is a crisis before action seems to happen. |
77 | We need downtown redevelopment, but paying for plans gets us nothing. We need to build meaningful infratructure and buildings. Even if they are not perfect, we would be better off with an Arena, hotel, expanded Convention center, SOMETHING, rather than bills for plans that never materialize. |
78 | We need people to inspire us with forward thinking. Leadership that can move us beyond the lackluster grind of city council. We seem to spend too much time and money on plans and studies and not enough time on implementation. That says to me we do not have the leadership in place to move us forward. |
79 | We need to base our community plans, systems, and decisions on a foundation of long-term environmental sustainability. We need incentives for people to change their businesses and lifestyles and dissentives for the status-quo. There will not be a Tucson for our great-grandchildren without a new sustainable plan. |
80 | We need zoning! |
81 | We seem to have an 'eat your own' mentality. To much money going to too many conflicting organizations, all just fighting for the money. No solid plan and everyone out to protect their own interests. How many strategic plans do we need if we don't have the guts to do anything once we get them? Oh I know, let's visit Portland again! |
82 | What was the City of Tucson zoning and development review process thinking. Our post-WWII architecture is ugly and disorganized. |
83 | When I first came to Tucson (in my early 20s), I didn't like it at all. The first few days, I was already making plans to head somewhere else. Then I visited the UA campus and fell in love. More than 30 years later, I now live just a few blocks from the campus, and almost every time I walk down to the mall, I feel that same way. |
84 | Years of strategic plans continue to fall away and are never executed. We need a committed plan to preserve, enhance and engage multiple entities. We need more public/private partnership agreements that will create a more dynamic downtown and cultural presence for business growth, retail development and tourism. |
85 | Zoning and development |
86 | Zoning. |
87 | Zoning/rezoning |