🌊 Water Wars: North Oro Valley Secures Controversial Pond Despite Sustainability Concerns
🏙️ Church Height Showdown: Oro Valley Council Reverses Course on Reconsideration
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
🛖🏛️ The Oro Valley Town Council had a big meeting where they talked about two main things. First, they decided to stick with their earlier decision to let a church ⛪ build a taller building 🌆, even though some council members wanted to change their minds. Many church members came to speak about why the building was important to them. Then, they decided to rebuild a pond 🦆 at a nature preserve 🌿, even though some people worried about wasting water 💧 in the desert. The council also approved borrowing money 💵 to build systems that will bring more water 🚰 to the town. Some people felt that the north part of town 🌄 wasn't getting as much attention as the south part 🌇.
🗝️ Takeaways
🔁 The Council voted 4-2 to deny reconsidering the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene height variance, upholding their previous 7-0 decision allowing a 36-foot height.
💧 Despite water scarcity concerns, the Council approved a 2.5-acre pond at Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve using reclaimed water in a 4-2 vote, prioritizing aesthetics over conservation.
💰 North Oro Valley residents repeatedly emphasized inequitable distribution of tax funds, noting their half-cent sales tax contributions have primarily benefited southern areas.
🏛️ The Water Utility Director warned that in the future, the town might need to fill decorative water features with potable drinking water if reclaimed water becomes unavailable.
👥 The meeting demonstrated effective community mobilization, with dozens of residents speaking on two significant issues, showing how organized citizen action can influence outcomes.
📄 The Council unanimously approved a $12 million Water Infrastructure Authority loan to complete projects delivering 4,000 acre-feet of water resources to Oro Valley.
Power, Process, and Privilege: Oro Valley Council Meeting Exposes Community Divides
The voices of marginalized community members clashed with institutional power as the Oro Valley Town Council navigated contentious debates over religious expansion, environmental justice, and resource allocation in the desert Southwest.
In what can only be described as a masterclass in local government theater, the April 16, 2025, Oro Valley Town Council meeting laid bare the uncomfortable tensions between religious institutions, neighborhood rights, environmental sustainability, and geographic equity—all playing out against the backdrop of a region facing existential water challenges.
The Church vs. The Neighborhood: A Tale of Power Dynamics and Procedural Manipulation
The evening's dramatic centerpiece—a sudden reconsideration of the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene's previously approved height variance—brought over 30 community members to the microphone in a display of democratic participation rarely seen in municipal governance. The church had secured a unanimous 7-0 vote on April 2nd for a 36-foot height variance (down from their original 40-foot request), only to find that victory threatened by a parliamentary maneuver initiated by Councilmember Robb and seconded by Councilmember Nicholson.
It's remarkable how quickly the government machinery can move when powerful interests feel threatened, yet how slowly it crawls when serving marginalized communities.
The procedural move triggered palpable anger from church supporters, many of whom expressed frustration at being forced to mobilize with only 24 hours' notice—the bare minimum required by law—and during Easter week, no less.
Valerie VandeVort, a special education teacher and church member, captured the sentiment: "I'm dismayed that we're all here, but I understand that you guys are concerned about things. I feel like this is a time where we can all come together."
One church member after another approached the podium, sharing deeply personal stories about how the church had supported them through crises, provided community services, and served as a spiritual anchor. Julian Benitez II spoke directly to the whiplash effect of the council's reconsideration: "I really, really pray to all of you that you keep your original word that was 7-0 to allow us to build the church structure that we all came to a compromise on."
Sally Gray, a longtime resident, didn't mince words: "To change your minds now sets a very troubling, dangerous precedent. I've never seen this happen at Oro Valley Council, and I've watched and listened to the council all these years. I've been here since 1974. I've never seen this happen. Will we ever trust decisions again? Will it change again next week? And what good is a vote?"
The emotional testimony continued for nearly an hour, with church members emphasizing their community services—from free summer camps to packing 91,000 meals for needy children. One of the most poignant moments came when Donna Burlingame, fighting back tears, shared how the church supported her family after her husband's death and her daughter's traumatic experience.
The contrast between the composed, professional church members and the chaotic procedural politics couldn't be more stark. But whose voices matter most in these chambers? Those with institutional backing or affected neighbors?
In a rare moment of institutional transparency, Councilmember Nicholson openly acknowledged his role in the situation: "I apologize. I am sorry to every single one of you... I did it very last minute. It wasn't on purpose, and it wasn't really with much forethought, and I apologize."
Vice Mayor Barrett offered her perspective on the reconsideration, emphasizing legitimate governance concerns: "I take a little bit of exception at attacking council members for feeling like they need to do their due diligence or consider things. And one of the reasons for a reconsideration can be an intervening change in prevailing law."
Yet Councilmember Jones-Ivy cut through the apologetics with a crucial observation often lost in these debates: "I can appreciate what you're doing, but I have to be considerate of the people also that live in that community because they will be impacted. And you come out in numbers with the prevailing feeling that because there are so many of us, I should not be concerned about what the neighbors feel, who have—some have been in that community for years."
This is the crux of environmental justice concerns that pervade land use decisions—whose comfort, whose views, whose peace matters? The few neighbors or the many worshippers?
John Gillespie, the land use attorney representing the church, emphasized their commitment to continuing discussions with neighbors as the development process moves forward: "We've established a meeting with the neighbors. We're going to continue to work with the neighbors to find ways to address concerns that have been raised."
The debate ended with a 4-2 vote against reconsideration, preserving the church's height variance. Councilmembers Jones-Ivy and Robb voted to support reconsideration, centering the concerns of neighborhood residents despite the overwhelming show of church support.
Environmental Justice and Water Equity in a Desert Community
As the church supporters filtered out of the chamber, another constituency filled the empty seats—residents from north Oro Valley advocating for the restoration of a pond at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve, abandoned when the golf course closed in 2018.
The debate crystallized a fundamental tension in southwestern environmental policy: the desire for water features in a region facing catastrophic drought.
Suzanne Vinsky described the dried-up pond as "blighted, defunct, horrible, eyesore. It's a blight." This language of visual pollution reveals a deeper issue—the aesthetic preferences of affluent communities often supersede sustainability concerns.
Richard Beam directly addressed the water usage comparison with other town amenities: "The town's three golf courses use more water in one month than this pond will use in a year. Some of the water that's used for the golf courses is very expensive potable water. It's not all reclaimed water. This small static pond we're asking for is the drop in the bucket compared to what the three golf courses consume monthly."
Ken Chaney, a homeowners association president, framed the issue as one of geographic and economic equity: "With the recent million dollars of expenditures at the Naranja Park and Oro Valley golf courses, it's important now to spend some capital dollars into this critical green space preserve. This is especially true since homeowners in the preserve areas have been impacted by the half-cent community center fund sales tax. Still, comparatively little expenditure has been spent on the preserve compared to the parks and facilities south of Tangerine Road."
In a rare countervailing perspective, Charles Stack, the town's environmental representative to the Pima Association of Governments, offered scientifically grounded opposition to the pond: "Reclaimed water from Tucson is filthy with PFAS contaminants. It also has residues of pharmaceuticals and many other types of chemicals. PFAS water goes in, pure water evaporates out. You're just going to concentrate this industrial chemical waste in this pond."
Rebecca Field from Kimley Horn presented two pond options: a one-acre pond at approximately $3.7 million and a 2.5-acre pond at approximately $3.8 million. Both would use reclaimed water, which immediately raised sustainability red flags.
Water Utility Director Peter Abraham delivered perhaps the most consequential testimony of the evening, explaining that Oro Valley already exceeds its reclaimed water entitlement from Tucson: "In 2024, the town purchased 112 additional acre-feet of effluent and the cost that was paid for that was the effluent plus 251 acre-foot of the additional water."
When pressed about future water availability for the pond, Abraham laid out the stark reality: "Moving into an uncertain future, things we think are available now might not be available five years from now or two years from now... Worst case scenario is we begin filling it with drinking water."
Think about that for a moment—a community considering using drinking water for a decorative pond while the Colorado River system collapses. This is why climate justice work matters at the local level.
Mayor Winfield provided the most comprehensive environmental critique, noting that reconstructing "an artificial water feature in the desert community at a time of regional drought runs counter to both policy, common sense, and our communities' values about water conservation."
Nevertheless, Vice Mayor Barrett's motion to move forward with the 2.5-acre pond using reclaimed water passed 4-2, prioritizing community aesthetics over water conservation concerns.
Water Infrastructure: The Contradiction of Resource Planning
In a stunning display of cognitive dissonance, the same council that approved a decorative pond unanimously approved a $12 million loan from Arizona's Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to secure Oro Valley's water future.
Water Utility Director Abraham explained that the Northwest Recharge Recovery Delivery System project would "deliver 4,000 additional acre-feet of water resources to the town of Oro Valley" and complete "a 10-year cradle-to-grave project that will ensure this community's sustainability."
We're simultaneously building infrastructure to secure water while creating new water-consuming amenities. Make it make sense.
The loan includes over $1 million in forgivable principal, a 3.45% interest rate, and will cost approximately $800,000 annually in debt service paid through utility revenues.
Chief Financial Officer David Gephart explained that "there would be no rate adjustment necessary to support the debt service," a politically convenient claim that masks how water infrastructure costs are distributed across the community.
Recognition and Performative Governance
Amid the contentious policy debates, the council engaged in ceremonial governance activities, proclaiming April 19, 2025, as Tohono Chul Day in recognition of the park's 40th anniversary, May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month, and April 13-19, 2025, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
The Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation took on particular poignancy following Council Member Nicholson's emotional sharing about recently losing a friend to suicide. "It's a hard thing for parents to talk about," Nicholson said. "It's very painful. It's very hard for parents, family, and friends... Sometimes people are very lonely. They just called a whole bunch of times."
The council also recognized graduating Youth Advisory Council members, showcasing students heading to prestigious universities, including UC Berkeley, UNC Chapel Hill, ASU's Barrett Honors College, and Cal Poly.
These ceremonies serve important community functions, but we must always ask: are we balancing recognition with substantive policy action?
The Real Power Map of Oro Valley
What became clear through the evening's proceedings is that Oro Valley's power dynamics are complex and multi-layered. Despite neighborhood concerns, the religious institution ultimately prevailed in maintaining its height variance. The affluent north-side residents secured their pond, despite environmental concerns. Water infrastructure planning continues, despite contradictory amenity decisions.
In a moment of unintentional clarity during the pond discussion, Councilmember Nicholson expressed the town's true priorities: "Every city lives and dies on tax revenue. And I talked to the president who owns the Stone Canyon, and they're still growing Stone Canyon... The more million-dollar homes we can build up there, the more tax revenue for the town."
And there it is—the naked truth behind the politics. Property values, tax base, and development drive decisions far more than sustainability or neighborhood concerns.
The meeting adjourned at 10:41 PM, having laid bare the contradictions, power imbalances, and environmental challenges facing this desert community as it grapples with growth, climate change, and competing visions of community.
Hope Amidst the Desert Politics
Despite the frustrating contradictions in Oro Valley governance, the meeting demonstrated the power of community mobilization. When residents organize quickly and speak with unified voices, they can influence—even if they cannot determine—outcomes.
The church supporters successfully defended their variance through mass mobilization, and the north-side residents secured their pond through years of persistent advocacy. These examples show that engaged citizenship matters, even in systems that often prioritize development and aesthetics over sustainability and equity.
For residents concerned about water justice, environmental sustainability, and equitable resource allocation, the path forward involves continued organization, coalition building, and persistent advocacy at every council meeting, not just when a crisis erupts.
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What's your take on the water politics in Oro Valley? Do you believe it's justifiable to create new water features in a region facing climate-induced drought, or should aesthetics take a back seat to sustainability?
How do you feel about the balance of power between religious institutions and neighborhood residents when it comes to land use decisions? Should the desires of many worshippers outweigh the concerns of a few nearby homeowners?
Leave your comments below to join the conversation about water justice and land use equity in our community.
This analysis was prepared by Three Sonorans Substack, your progressive voice for social and environmental justice in Southern Arizona.
Quotes
"To change your minds now sets a very troubling, dangerous precedent. I've never seen this happen at Oro Valley Council, and I've watched and listened to the council all these years. I've been here since 1974." - Sally Gray, longtime resident opposing the reconsideration
"Moving into an uncertain future, things we think are available now might not be available five years from now or two years from now... Worst case scenario is we begin filling it with drinking water." - Peter Abraham, Water Utility Director, on potential future water sources for the pond
"Every city lives and dies on tax revenue... The more million-dollar homes we can build up there, the more tax revenue for the town." - Council Member Nicholson, revealing economic motivations behind town decisions
"Reclaimed water from Tucson is filthy with PFAS contaminants. It also has residues of pharmaceuticals and many other types of chemicals... PFAS water goes in, pure water evaporates out. You're just going to concentrate this industrial chemical waste in this pond." - Charles Stack, environmental representative opposing the pond
"I have to be considerate of the people also who live in that community, because they will be impacted. And you come out in numbers with the prevailing feeling that because there are so many of us, I should not be concerned about what the neighbors feel." - Councilmember Jones-Ivy, addressing church supporters
"The town's three golf courses use more water in one month than this pond will use in a year. And some of that water that's used for the golf courses is very expensive potable water." - Richard Beam, resident advocating for the pond
People Mentioned and Quotes
Mayor Joseph C. Winfield: Meeting chair who opposed the pond. "Reconstructing an artificial water feature in the desert community at a time of regional drought runs counter to both policy, common sense, and our communities' values about water conservation."
Vice Mayor Barrett: Proposed the pond motion. "I completely understand, and I think this is not a simple issue. However, there are a lot more amenities on this."
Councilmember Nicholson: Shared personal story about losing a friend to suicide. "Sometimes people are very lonely. They just called a whole bunch of times."
Councilmember Jones-Ivy: Advocated for neighbor concerns. "I have to be considerate of the people also who live in that community because they will be impacted."
Councimember Robb: Requested church variance reconsideration. "I felt like I had not had a chance to fully consider what 36 feet meant."
Peter Abraham: Water Utility Director, who has concerns about water sustainability. "Worst case scenario is we begin filling it with drinking water."
John Gillespie: Land use attorney for the church. "We've established a meeting with the neighbors. We're going to continue to work with the neighbors to find ways to address concerns."
Charles Stack: Environmental representative opposing the pond. "Reclaimed water from Tucson is filthy with PFAS contaminants."
Sally Gray: Longtime resident since 1974. "Will we ever trust decisions again? Will it change again next week? And what good is a vote?"
Donna Burlingame: Emotional church member who lost her husband. "Just have been so much to me and my daughter."
Julian Benitez II: Church member. "I really, really pray to all of you that you keep your original word that was 7-0."
Rebecca Field: Consultant presenting pond options. "When you take all of that information, you see the number there about 1.2 and then it jumps up."
Ken Chaney: HOA president advocating for pond. "Homeowners in the preserve areas have been impacted by the half-cent community center fund sales tax but comparative little expenditures have been spent on the preserve."
Jamie Maslin Larson: President/CEO of Tohono Chul Park. "Today, it stretches across 49 acres, alive with cactus blooms, hummingbirds, quiet corners, and a spirit that welcomes all."
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