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Douglas Trudeau , Assoc. Broker
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Tubac debate! What does it have to do with Tucson?

I read an article in the Arizona Daily Star this morning about Tubac, titled Tubac debate, stay rural or go suburban. So, my wife and I took a trip to refresh our memory. I remember my late father-in-law talking about the areas of Tubac, Tumacacari, and Arivaca. I remember the stories my wife would tell me or a romantic era in when they would travel to Arivaca, swim in the pool (now covered), row boats in the lake (now dry), and enjoy the festivities at the Cow Palace. I remember stories from a fellow worker who was a Highway Patrolman in the 1950’s chasing as he put it, “Old man Kinsley,” because, if he every caught him speeding my friend would get the biggest steak in the Cow Palace restaurant. Stories of the weekend rodeos at the Cow Palace. I remember working that area in the 1970’s after getting out of the Marine Corps, and envisioning the stories they had told me.

For those of us who live in Tucson it is nice to get away to the south and visit Tubac. A serene location densely populated with a golf course that takes you away from the traditional golf courses of Tucson and an artists dream. Most Tucsonans view Tubac as historical and with a market that has a lot of shops for pottery, artifacts, and other niceties to decorate our homes.

The surrounding hills are a pleasure to see while in Tubac. To some it is romantic. To others you can feel the history that dates back centuries. Tubac’s history has an important link with San Francisco. So, protecting this area is important to Tucsonans. It gives us a place to get away from hustle and bustle, from neighborhoods where you see nothing but houses.

All this is being threatened by developers who want to change the density requirements that were established to protect the area. Developers who can take a lesson from Chris Ansley, who redeveloped Starr Pass to make the community conform with the beauty of its surrounding nature. Lessons from Peter Backus who developed the lovely Coyote Creek Community of Vail. Lessons from John Wesley Miller who developed Civano and Armory del Sol.

Development of the area of Tubac and its surrounding hills should, in my opinion, embrace the natural beauty, culture and history of the area. Embrace and protect. Poor planning will destroy the area. If developers want higher density, go north of Canoa Road or go south to Rio Rico where permissiveness of the Santa Cruz county officials has already begun to destroy its beauty. But, leave Tubac alone.

Santa Cruz County officials should consider creating an environment unlike any other. An environment that is unique, enticing, and inviting. An environment to put them on the map as true leaders. Here is what I would propose.

Rather than increasing density, decrease it. One home to every 5-10 acres. Leave the majority of the natural land untouched as Peter Backus did (and then some) at Coyote Creek, and Chris Ansley did in Starr Pass.
Restriction on the type of architecture to compliment the area. Primarily (flat roofed) Southwestern, Santa Fe, Mission Renaissance, and Spanish Style. Not unlike what John Wesley Miller did at Armory del Sol to compliment the historical community of Armory Park.
Green homes like Civano and Armory del Sol. However, go a step further with rain harvesting, solar assisted electric, solar water heating, and structurally designed to accept and compliment solar heating and lighting.

Santa Cruz can make Tubac a model for the world to come and see, or they can allow the natural beauty to be destroyed. I don’t live in Tubac, I live in Tucson. I see a golden opportunity for the area, the right developers, and Santa Cruz County. If I could vote, I would vote “STAY RURAL!”

Let Tucson and other areas absorb the dense communities. Give all of us something to enjoy when we go to Tubac. If Tubac is not protected one of Tucson’s greatest tourist attraction will be grossly diminished.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 12th, 2007 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Tucson News & Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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