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Coalition unhappy with plan
Curtis Elliott
Vail Sun
The Rincon Valley Coalition (RVC) is unhappy with Diamond Ventures' conceptual Rocking K South (RKS) development plan.
At the monthly meeting of the Rincon Valley Coalition, concerns were expressed and President Charles Stury discussed a letter that the coalition recently sent to Ken Abrahams and Diamond Ventures regarding their Rocking K South plans.
A major point of contention involving the Rocking K Ranch Estates is that RVC feels that in a public meeting held a couple of years ago, Chris Munson verbally committed to a 300-foot green belt along the eastern boundary of Rocking K Ranch Estates for pedestrian and equestrian use.
However, the current conceptual Rocking K South plan only allows for a 50-foot wide pedestrian/equestrian trail.
RVC contends that this won't allow much natural open space for a wildlife corridor, which is what they ultimately want. These and other issues were discussed in the letter mailed out last month from the RVC to Abrahams and Diamond Ventures.
The coalition is anxiously waiting for a response to their letter, said Stury.
The RVC has offered a counterplan requesting a conservation allotment of much greater width be created along the entire western boundary of RKS, from the Pantano Wash northward to Old Spanish Trail.
Rincon Valley Coalition is also proposing putting a team together to discuss the evaluation and design process. This team would consist of a wildlife biologist, environmental engineer, and representatives from Rincon Institute, Rocking K Ranch Estates, RVC and Diamond Ventures.
"We want to maintain our integrity in the Rincon Valley Coalition," Stury said at the June 20 meeting. "We're here to represent the valley."
Diamond Ventures has expressed concern that a conservation easement would scare off potential buyers. Stury and the RVC disagree.
"Conservation is the way to go," Stury said. "I think it would increase the value of the property. We believe that there are many potential buyers who would recognize the logic and value of providing for indigenous wildlife within RKS. This easement would be a win-win-win solution for wildlife, the community, and Diamond Ventures."
The RVC's mission is to protect and preserve the unique qualities of Rincon Valley, while proactively facilitating informed, environmentally and culturally responsive land use planning and development throughout the community.
Along those lines, the RVC asked Diamond Ventures, in their letter, to take the pole-mounted power lines along the Rocking K South property and bury them underground. They also thanked Mr. (Don) Diamond and Diamond Ventures for their efforts in having the power lines along Old Spanish Trail relocated underground.
In an effort to help allay some of their concerns, RVC Directors were taken on a four-hour tour of other Diamond Ventures' developments in the Continental Reserve and on Pima Canyon.
"We saw how they revegetated and how some of the natural features had been rebuilt," Stury said. "The Saguaros and the native vegetation were well preserved."
The Rincon Valley Coalition meets on the third Wednesday of every month.
Their next meeting will be on July 18. For more information, call (520) 647-3346.
Vail Sun
The Rincon Valley Coalition (RVC) is unhappy with Diamond Ventures' conceptual Rocking K South (RKS) development plan.
At the monthly meeting of the Rincon Valley Coalition, concerns were expressed and President Charles Stury discussed a letter that the coalition recently sent to Ken Abrahams and Diamond Ventures regarding their Rocking K South plans.
A major point of contention involving the Rocking K Ranch Estates is that RVC feels that in a public meeting held a couple of years ago, Chris Munson verbally committed to a 300-foot green belt along the eastern boundary of Rocking K Ranch Estates for pedestrian and equestrian use.
However, the current conceptual Rocking K South plan only allows for a 50-foot wide pedestrian/equestrian trail.
RVC contends that this won't allow much natural open space for a wildlife corridor, which is what they ultimately want. These and other issues were discussed in the letter mailed out last month from the RVC to Abrahams and Diamond Ventures.
The coalition is anxiously waiting for a response to their letter, said Stury.
The RVC has offered a counterplan requesting a conservation allotment of much greater width be created along the entire western boundary of RKS, from the Pantano Wash northward to Old Spanish Trail.
Rincon Valley Coalition is also proposing putting a team together to discuss the evaluation and design process. This team would consist of a wildlife biologist, environmental engineer, and representatives from Rincon Institute, Rocking K Ranch Estates, RVC and Diamond Ventures.
"We want to maintain our integrity in the Rincon Valley Coalition," Stury said at the June 20 meeting. "We're here to represent the valley."
Diamond Ventures has expressed concern that a conservation easement would scare off potential buyers. Stury and the RVC disagree.
"Conservation is the way to go," Stury said. "I think it would increase the value of the property. We believe that there are many potential buyers who would recognize the logic and value of providing for indigenous wildlife within RKS. This easement would be a win-win-win solution for wildlife, the community, and Diamond Ventures."
The RVC's mission is to protect and preserve the unique qualities of Rincon Valley, while proactively facilitating informed, environmentally and culturally responsive land use planning and development throughout the community.
Along those lines, the RVC asked Diamond Ventures, in their letter, to take the pole-mounted power lines along the Rocking K South property and bury them underground. They also thanked Mr. (Don) Diamond and Diamond Ventures for their efforts in having the power lines along Old Spanish Trail relocated underground.
In an effort to help allay some of their concerns, RVC Directors were taken on a four-hour tour of other Diamond Ventures' developments in the Continental Reserve and on Pima Canyon.
"We saw how they revegetated and how some of the natural features had been rebuilt," Stury said. "The Saguaros and the native vegetation were well preserved."
The Rincon Valley Coalition meets on the third Wednesday of every month.
Their next meeting will be on July 18. For more information, call (520) 647-3346.
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