The original Green Valley Community Plan was prepared by the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council (GVC) and approved by the Pima County Board of Supervisors in March 1989. In November 2004, the GVC Board of Representatives approved a recommendation of the Executive Board to update the Community Plan and review the existing boundaries of Green Valley. In April 2005, two subcommittees were formed to undertake these tasks. This report contains the recommendations of the Community Plan Update Subcommittee.

In preparing this Plan, these three underlying assumptions were used:

1. The Plan takes a neutral position on the issue of incorporation by neither recommending nor rejecting it. However, if Green Valley is incorporated during the 10-year Plan period, none of the following objectives or recommendations would change, only some of the implementation methods.
2. Green Valley has a recognized boundary accepted by Pima County in 1989.  In 2007 The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved the Green Valley Planning Area, extending the planning boundaries.  As with most other communities, development extends outside these boundaries in areas which the US Postal Service considers Green Valley. The population of this Greater Green Valley area, utilizing services within the community, will continue to grow from a permanent population of approximately 29,000 in 2005, with a winter population of approximately 35,000, to a permanent population of approximately 39,000 in 2015, with a winter population of approximately 47,000. Although the entire population of Greater Green Valley does not lie within the 1989 Green Valley boundaries, it will have an impact on the demand for services and the economy of the community.
3. Green Valley will remain a retirement community, which is primarily age-restricted. Over the next 10–years, however, the fastest growing segment of permanent residents will be younger retirees with a more active lifestyle and greater interest in self- or part-time employment.

Three basic Green Valley area trends and challenges emerged. They are central issues addressed in various elements of this Plan.
Challenge to maintain a volunteer-driven community

Green Valley is a unique place with a high reliance upon volunteer versus paid employees. One challenge is to maintain the historical level of volunteer participation.

While it is not an incorporated city or town, Green Valley is perceived by its citizens as a cohesive community. This is in large part due to the community-wide recreational and educational facilities, as well as community affairs volunteer leadership provided by two unique and successful non-profit organizations — Green Valley Recreation (GVR) and Green Valley Council (GVC). The latter provides community-wide representation to county, state and federal agencies promoting the overall interests of Green Valley. It is significant that these two long-lived organizations have been able to carry out their broad agendas because of their large corps of dedicated community volunteers. In addition, more than 90% of our residents live in age-restricted neighborhoods managed by self-governed homeowner associations.

Maintaining and enhancing the volunteer character of the community requires planned strategies to engage more of the full and part-time resident population. The ability to motivate all Green Valley residents to participate in volunteer service will enhance their sense of identity and belonging to their “community.”
Impact of growing proportion of new, permanent residents

The next 10 years will be a time of great change in the demographics of Green Valley. While the total population will increase by 26% during the period, the year-round population is projected to grow by over 35% due to new and more expensive homes being built that will primarily house permanent residents. Green Valley will have a more noticeable split in demographics between the growing proportion of younger, more active retirees, and older residents. These newcomers bring higher household incomes and demands for more upscale and new goods and services. At the same time there is a portion that desire to continue working, even if only part-time.

The Town of Sahuarita borders Green Valley on the north and east. With its plentiful supply of land and more youthful population, it will continue to add to an already younger environment in Green Valley’s immediate neighboring area. This young population is expected to grow at a greater rate than Green Valley’s 55+ age population.

Green Valley is not only an age-restricted residential community, but also serves as a short-term visitor attraction and destination, though it is most widely known currently as a haven for winter season residents. However, this part of southern Arizona is experiencing significant tourist-related investments and facilities for shorter-term individual and family vacationers, as well as business and professional groups from around the state, region, country and world. While the growth of tourism may not yet be as visible a trend in Green Valley as new home building or winter visitors, short-term tourism is and will continue to be a major socioeconomic impact in this community and region of southern Arizona. Spas, resorts, recreation, restaurants and hotels with accompanying meeting facilities will attract not only individual recreation and health-focused visitors, but also more conferences and meetings for visiting groups and organizations.

Representatives of the Plan subcommittee met with:

• County Development Services officials
• Standing committees of the GVC
• Green Valley Recreation
• Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce
• Green Valley Economic Development Commission
• Sheriff’s Department and the Fire District

Subcommittee members have also attended briefings by the

• Regional Transportation Authority, County and State transportation officials
• State Department of Environmental Quality

To all of these groups and individuals, the Plan subcommittee extends its sincere appreciation for their cooperation and assistance in helping the subcommittee complete its task.

Members of the Plan subcommittee have read hundreds of pages of documents to prepare this report. Among these are:

• “1989 Community Plan”
• “Vision 2020″ prepared by The University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (2002)
• “Pima County Comprehensive Plan Update” (2004)
• “Population and Community Characteristics” prepared by the Pima Association of Governments (2003)
• Green Valley Chamber of Commerce “Business Climate Report” (2004)
• GVC “2004-5 Goals” (2004)
• “Population Estimates 2002 and 2004″ prepared by the GVC and Green Valley Chamber of Commerce (2004)
• “Green Valley Recreation Strategic Plan” (2004-2006)

(Not in priority order)

• The needs of the residents and businesses of the community will be effectively communicated to the county, state and federal levels and the actions of those organizations will be communicated back to the community.
• The Community Plan, community boundaries, and standards for construction and maintenance of properties will be evaluated, updated and incorporated into the Pima County Comprehensive Plan.
• A wide range of educational offerings, cultural events and recreation to support a physically and mentally active lifestyle will be available and communicated to all the members of the community.
• Greater Green Valley area will have a complete array of medical facilities, service and retail businesses, high quality utility services, and enjoy the benefits of growing as a tourist destination.
• Green Valley residents and businesses will be safe from crime and fire, will be confident of assistance in any emergency and will be assured of a mode and means of safe and efficient transportation within the community and to Tucson regardless of physical abilities.
• Green Valley residents will participate in environmental programs and Green Valley agencies will protect and improve our environmental resources.
• Homeowner Associations will be assisted in becoming more responsive, effective and efficient in providing services to their members.
• Green Valley residents will actively participate in the community ensuring that volunteer programs are fully staffed and functional.

Communication

• A Community Survey was coordinated among multiple organizations including the Town of Sahuarita
• $25,000 has been set aside for the next community survey by GVC
• GVC continues to coordinate the publication of the Community Directory
• Members of the Community Survey Consortium agreed to make up the core of leadership group which will meet quarterly to discuss joint strategic and tactical community issues

Community Standards

• The 5:15 Community Plan’s Implementation Strategy was initiated
• Pima County established a year long study of Manufactured Housing standards and Eddie Peabody will participate

Culture & Education

• Pima County provided funding to complete Phase II of the Community Performing Arts Center
• Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold put up a $250,000 “all or nothing” matching grant for the Community Performing Arts Center

Economic Development

• The Chamber of Commerce held the Business Expo & Taste of the Valley
• GVC authorized the creation of “Green Valley Tomorrow” to facilitate community projects

Environment

• The Upper Santa Cruz Providers and Users Group (USC/PUG) has been formed to develop broad-based, long-term solutions to the region’s water concerns
• The Arizona Attorney General’s office provided a shredder at no cost for a Shredfest in Green Valley

Government Relations

• Rich Richey has been appointed to a seat on the Pima County Planning and Zoning commission
• Tom Ward has been appointed to a seat on the Pima County Public Library Board
• Lisa Israel has been appointed to a seat on the Tucson Airport Authority Board

Health & Human Services

• The Annual Health Awareness Fair was held and will continue
• Casa de Esperanza’s State-Licensed, Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic is now providing services to the general public
• Screening at “Heart to Heart – Woman to Woman” is scheduled in March with Carondolet

Public Safety

• The Green Valley Fire District will replace fire station in the Government Center
• The Green Valley Fire District will build a new fire station INSIDE Quail Creek
• Pima County Sheriff’s Department has created a Border Crimes Unit to assist in dealing with Border issues
• The Fire District has 24 trained members in the Fire Corps
• The Green Valley SAV increased their numbers
• The Sheriff’s Department has implemented an E-Link to get notices out to community members on criminal activity, patterns and trends
• The Chamber & GVC participated with the Border Patrol on the Border Check Station Task Force
• GVC Representatives met with Federal Railroad Safety and Union Pacific Railroad representatives about concerns on the line running along the eastern side of Green Valley. Those concerns which were deemed outside the guidelines of the Federal Railroad Safety were remedied quickly by Union Pacific.
• PCDOT agreed to select 6 intersections for larger intersection and advance meridian signs in order to validate if there is a difference when larger signage is used on Green Valley Roads
• The Annual Safety Fair was held, but low attendance is prompting a change or cancellation of future events

Recreation

• The segment of the San Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail was opened between the historic Canoa Ranch and Elephant Head Road

Volunteerism

• The first Green Valley Volunteer Summit was held
• Volunteer Task Force was reincarnated and organized

Sorted in no particular order of importance

2009 Green Valley Accomplishments Referenced in the 5:15 Plan

In 2009, a number of items that the 2005 to 2015 Community Plan identified for action were, in fact, accomplished. A list of these accomplishments follows:

• A New Needs Assessment Survey is under way for March, 2010 with a report of findings scheduled for April, 2010.
• The current community directory was published in February 2010.
• Annual Plan Review has established a new structure for the activity review:
  • Subgroups meet May and November:
    • GVC Organizations
    • Culture, Education, Recreation and Volunteerism
    • Economic Development and Business Leaders
    • Health and Human Service Providers
    • Public Safety
  • Group leaders will report August 12, 2010
  • All meet again February, 2011
• Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce now in partnership with Tucson Metropolitan Tourist Bureau. Funds derived from Green Valley are now flowing back to Green Valley for local promotion.
• An I-19 Coalition for Development is being created involving both Sahuarita and Green Valley.
• Continental School is adding solar panels to provide 100% of power needs. Funded by supplier with tax subsidies.
• 9100 acres are in process to be designated as the West Desert Preserve.
• The GVC Traffic and Arroyos committee is working with the County on the East Frontage road re-do to ensure noise reduction.
• The GVC provided opportunities for the “Save the Santa Ritas” and the Rosemont Mine to give presentations to their member HOAs.
• Asarco is now sending a representative to the meetings of the GVC Environmental Committee.
• 02/2010 – Upper Santa Cruz/Public Utilities Group has now incorporated.
• GVC Household Hazardous Waste Team successfully convinced Pima County to continue the hazardous waste collection including electronics despite budgetary problems. Community participation is increasing. The next collection will be in March.
• The GVC Health and Human Services Committee will support the annual Health Fair.
• The Border Patrol is now holding stakeholders meetings at GVC offices.
• GVR provides “55 Alive” for GVR members. GVC will sponsor “55 Alive” later.
• Green Valley Fire District provides smoke detector battery replacement service and Key Lockbox for emergency entry.
• GVC Health and Human Services has created a Fall Awareness Assessment program with training for evaluators to be followed by evaluation of local homes as requested.
• Two new fire stations have been built and Green Valley Fire District will move into them in the Spring of 2010. SAV has added a bike patrol-Resulting from a Traffic and Arroyos committee request, the east bound turn lane into the Continental Shopping Center has been changed to a green turn light only – to help the merging problem.
• Median Green continues to find sponsors and add medians to their beautification program. They also sent letter to all the HOAs encouraging them to volunteer to handle the maintenance for the medians near their association. Several associations have stepped up to care for their medians.
• The Environmental Committee now has a Beautification committee that addresses HOA concerns. The AZ AG will provide an anti-crime seminar at La Posada in April. GVC has a representative to the county cable permit committee.
• GVC now has a representative to the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Commission.
• 02/2010 -A local bicycle map has now been published and distributed using funds from the bed tax.
• Sun Shuttle ridership continues to increase. With 39,000 riders in prior nine months. Connector had 6,000 riders. Dial a ride continues to all areas.
• Santa Cruz Valley Bicycle Advocate Committee representative named member of RTA Bike/Pedestrian Working Group
• Santa Cruz Valley Bicycle Advocate Committee member named “2009 Bicycle Advocate of the Year” by the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee.
• The Green Valley/Sahuarita Volunteer Center is now operational at the Pima Community College Green Valley campus. Current accomplishments:
  • Creating Database of area organizations and needs
  • Created Memorandums of Understanding with organizations
  • Actively placing volunteers. 68 in last half of 2009.
  • Former Volunteer Task Force is now Green Valley/Sahuarita Volunteer Clearinghouse Advisory Board. By-Laws drafted.
  • Advertising through Directory, Green Valley News.
  • Sponsored Volunteer Fair 1/29/2010. 173 prospective volunteers.

Sorted in no particular order of importance

2/23/2010