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HomeMy WebLinkAboutState of the Town 2005 Marana: the State of the Town Address by Mayor Bobby Sutton, Jf. March 30, 2005 I want to ope· today by planting a simple thought in your heads: We can do better. In the late 19 Os, a builder named William Levitt started a revolution in a Long Island potato field. Levitt b Ült 2,000 simple, identical houses for returning GIs in the midst of a nationwide housing crisi . Levittown, as the development became known, was the first emblem of a new American lifdstyle -- suburbanism. I The homes bJild by Levitt & Sons were monuments to standardization. The Levitts' most popular mode ¡ was a two-bedroom detached Cape Cod home with an unfinished, expandable attic, built on la concrete slab on a 60- foot by 100- foot lot. They all had a picture window across the kitchen, altwo-way fireplace, a Bendix washing machine, and a built-in, 12 Y2 inch Admiral TV. I I ¡ For decades, 1he suburban lifestyle was synonymous with the American Dream. Ward and June Cleaver and qzzy and Harriet Nelson were TV icons for the millions of families who moved to the s~burbs t9 own their own houses, with lawns and driveways and supermarkets, but precious few sldewalk~. We can do bter. In 1953, Austian architect Victor Gruen unveiled his design for the world's first modem shopping mal~: Southdale Mall in Minneapolis. It cost twenty million dollars and had seventy- two stores an~ two department-store tenants. Until then, most shopping centers had been what architects lik~ to call 'extroverted,' meaning that store windows and entrances faced both the parking area . nd open outdoor passageways. Southdale was introverted: the exterior walls were blank, and all¡the activity was focused on the inside. Gruen had the idea of putting the whole complex und1r one roof, with air-conditioning for the summer and heat for the winter. Almost every other rqajor shopping center had been built on a single level, which made for punishingly long walks. ~ruen put stores on two levels, connected by escalators and fed by two-tiered parking. In thr middle he put a kind of 'garden court' under a skylight, with a fishpond, enormous sculpted treesp balconies with hanging plants, and a café. The result was a sensation... "One person tho wasn't dazzled by Southdale was Frank Lloyd Wright. 'What is this, a railroad station or a b1Ìs station?' he asked, when he came for a tour." So, for a time at least, the country developed in ~trip malls and shopping centers. I Car orientate1, cookie-cutter type developments of strip malls and seas of rooftops began to sprout all ov~r the farm fields of the west, and have sprawled for as far as the eye can see. For decades this ~as continued, each decade seemingly more mindless than the last, under the auspice that t~is is what the home buyer wants. The proof, they say, is in the fact that it sells. i I I I I I I I i And truth be ~old, those types of developments do sell, because for the most part, they are the only type of development we have. I I We can do be!ter. On the back all of our council chambers, just to the right of my view of the new Municipal Complex frorp the dais, is a printed poster of what we are trying to achieve. I can't help but notice the po*er and think of it as a reminder of the ideals we hold for the future of Marana. The poster lists thf themes we value for our Town. They are: .. Creatiþg the feel of community .. A ran e of density with diverse and quality design .. A var ety of housing options for a variety of people .. Pedes rian friendly neighborhoods .. Strate ic preservation of open space .. A vib ant, pedestrian oriented unique town core; and I .. A bolf new direction A bold new d~rection indeed. I know that we have already set the bar for this endeavor and we have set it hi~h. Our new municipal complex is more than just a building full of nice offices and new furnitureþ it is an impressive example of what we can achieve when we put our goals and ideals into prtctice. We believe iJ ideals that further the best interests of Marana's citizens by promoting the protection of þur natural heritage without unduly burdening our competitive economy. If we lose the bure~ucratic jargon, that means we want places to work, live and play without losing the natural desertlbeauty, the heritage of the area, and the spirit and history of what Marana was and always will b~ about. These are our values as citizens of Marana, what we want for ourselves and ?ur families. lAnd the question has always been how do we grow and yet keep these values mtact. I You have tol4 us that we must be responsible and realistic. We must look well beyond the next election cycld, the next fiscal year as we turn to the future. We do our best work when we keep our eyes on t~e coming decades. Every decision we make should be grounded in its impact on the next gen;E. ation and beyond. As leaders, we must also carefully align our expectations with our ability to I eet them. Learning from the pains and problems of other growing communities, Marana has ied to establish a well-rounded and diversified economic base with a proper balance of retidents and businesses. We must have ample and convenient choices for Maranans to shop, find ell-paying jobs, and to spend leisure time with their family and friends close to their homes. hese are the elements of a true community. I As Lyndon Jdhnson once said, "The American city should be a collection of communities where every membet has a right to belong. It should be a place where every man feels safe on his streets and in ithe house of his friends. It should be a place where each individual's dignity and self-respect i strengthened by the respect and affection of his neighbors. It should be a place where each 0 us can find the satisfaction and warmth which comes from being a member of the I I I I I community. this is what man sought at the dawn of civilization. It is what we seek today." As Mayor of Mafana, my life belongs to the community, and it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I knO\' that my fellow Council members feel equally as passionate about their service to Marana and s¡o we are about to take the boldest steps Southern Arizona has seen to achieve the best living sitation for our residents. This council, this town, this community will implement the highest impact fees in Southern Arizona, not to stifle growth, but to ensure the residents of this community get everything they need and des+rve without the taxpayers subsidizing development. Growth will pay for itself. The Town ofiMarana is embarking on a new town center plan and a new blueprint for residential design that W111 make our town a town, not a subdivision. We say to you, the builders and the developers, t . at this is not a project, it is a place. This community will build in an aesthetically pleasing, fun tional, liveable way. We are on the brink of the most important change in housing quality that t*s area has seen and it will be successful because the Town of Marana and the private sectoi. will be partners, not rivals. Together we can deliver to our residents a neighborhoo, not a subdivision; a town, not sprawl. Together, we will build this right, or not at all. I believe'] this council believes, and we need you to believe. For those who fear what lies ahead, I say~.. ere are plenty of opportunities to build that same old product with that same old design elsew I ere. This is far too important for Marana. We in this room have the ability to build a com unity that will be a model for Southern Arizona and the entire West. I i It is an ambitious vision we have set for Marana, but we are confident about the results because, when you ge~ right down to it, the state of the town is as good as it has ever been. Our finances are solid, ourlresolve is tested, our vision is clear. This council has done a wonderful job of assuring that the necessary infrastructure and sustainable community plans are in accord with the development· hat is occurring. With the investments we have made in sewer, security and fire suppression s stems at the Marana regional airport and another $24 million dollars in grants anticipated 0 er the next four years, we have created a magnet for major commercial and industrial deelopment in the town. In addition to our water park, dude ranches and golf courses, the Town of arana has recently welcomed a number of national retail outlets to our community, om Wal-Mart and Lowe's to Kohl's and Safeway. And although we will not abandon our gribusiness, we will seek out opportunities such as convention space, performing arts, offices, aIls, restaurants, hotels and resorts. Oh, and lets not forget about In-N-Out Burger or our new N rthwest Medical Center Urgent Care Facility. But with all this building comes the need for road~. In the past four years alone, Marana has spent $20 million dollars on transportatioq projects and by 2010, we will spend another $80 million dollars with the help of the Regional ransportation Authority, Pima County, the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Fede I Government. In my role as Vice Chairman of the RTA I will pursue as a number one priority t e new $78 million dollar Twin Peaks/Linda Vista interchange and Dove Mountain Blvd. extensi n. We are well on our way to creating the Town we envision. We have 92 acres of parks now op n with over 145 acres in design and another 155 acres planned for the future. We will soon be qonnected by over 66 miles of paths and trails. Last, but certainly never least, the Town will coµtinue to work with the Marana Unified School District to provide students at all grade levels With computer equipment, curriculum support and after-school and summer programs an~ to obtain land from developers for school sites. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Every Single1 rogram or project I have just mentioned required strong community partnerships. Partnerships ike that which we have with our friends at Pima County, whose vision and leadership wi h the open space bond package has given this community the tools to achieve are goals. To Sh ron, Ann, Ramon, Richard and Ray, we all thank you for the job you do. That is what we in t~is room represent and that is the key to the future of the town; private and public partners shariþg a vision for our community. Solidarity, for the benefit of all of those that we serve. I I This council,lwith the assistance of our partners, will implement the most comprehensive and stringent resi~ential design criteria that southern Arizona has ever seen. We will reward innovation aqd creativity and prevent sameness and monotony because it is what this community deserves. Welunderstand the pressures on government and builders to supply housing to meet the growing dem¡.l nd of new Arizonans. But we will not allow our focus to drift from the quality to quantity. We d. emand quality, not solely in the homes of our residents, but in the site design, subdivision lyout and functionality of the community. The goal is simple. To build a town we have the opp rtunity to build; to build one like no other in Southern Arizona. And we will, because we kp.ow that we can do better. I I The overall pþrpose is to foster a look of a community - creative and unique - to avoid the look of sameness dnd monotony. I I ./ We wrnt to incorporate parks and open space into the fabric of the neighborhood, not simplf as an after thought in a drainage way. ./ W e w~nt to integrate paths and trails that link neighborhood components and amenities toget~er, not insert isolated trails on the outskirts of subdivisions. ./ We wflnt to visually enhance the character of the neighborhood and complement the com~unity with more entry landscaping, and avoid pavement oriented hardscapes. ./ We w nt to introduce more visually interesting perimeter landscape scenes instead of repeti we vertical walls. And any perimeter walls must add character and attracrive detail to wi. the Town's approval. We don't want barriers that make you ask whether we are wallidg something in or out. ./ We ~. st make our collector streets more friendly and attractive, not isolated and desol~e. We will implement a local street tree plan to accomplish this, not a sparse or spora lC arrangement. ./ We wjll have narrow streets that create a pedestrian friendly environment, de- emphfsizing cars and pavement but still appropriate for emergency vehicle access. ./ We w 11 have alley and courtyard parking access so that main streets feel more like pm1 of the community than one big garage, but not at the price creating new "parking lots" behin homes. ./ We w 11 incorporate more elevated front porches and courtyards that encourage neighbors to be . nd act as just that, creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. ./ We wpl incorporate smaller lot sizes provided that they compliment the character of the neighforhOOd and add high quality design variation; we will not allow smaller lots for a build . just to cram more in. ./ We w II allow more multi story dwellings that provide a framework for street variety throu h different building height and massing, not a sea of endless two-story rooftops. I I I I I I i I , I ./ We w II permit buildings to exceed our height restrictions when they incorporate unique, featur elements that enhance our community. We will not repeat the same vertical eleme t over and over. ./ We w II increase the available color palates to ensure true variety. ./ We w 11 require a range of details and massing conditions for each residential unit that, when laced together, will provide an attractive and unique community. We will not allow ~lements, even if they are very good, to be repeated over and over. I In short, we ~ill reward those with unique and creative design, and those will be the people who will join us tq build our community. But the design of the building is only half the story. I I We want the farmers and people who have lived here for generations to be able to stay in the community t~ey know and love. We want the empty nesters and those just starting out to have the space, OP~I' ortunity and lifestyle they crave, to begin a new generation of Maranans here in our communi . We want the young leaders of tomorrow who have newly left the nest to find comfortable ousing choices that fit their needs and allow them to remain close to home.. .altho'gh not too close. We want parents to feel comfortable raising their children here and retirees tQ find all the amenities they need within walking distance from their homes. We want an area,lno, the community deserves an area where all of this can happen in a close-knit, walkable, liv1able, sustainable neighborhood we call "The Marana Town Center". The Town Cd,nter Development Plan shows how the various components of the Town Center work togethe~ to create a unified district that has a retail core, medium and high density housing alternatives, nedestrian and bike accommodations, and additional parking to meet new demands. The Plan willlserve as a long-term guide that provides a framework for decision-making once property becqmes available for redevelopment or reuse. I The Plan inclµdes expansion of existing land uses, such as retail and office, recommends the introduction 1f new uses such as medium-density condominiums and apartments, and encourages redevelopme1t of vacant and underutilized properties. The Plan also identifies logical locations for gateway np.onuments and signage, streetscape improvements, additional parking, and connections fur pedestrian and bike paths. A variety of development opportunities focusing on specific key ,reas are also addressed in the Plan. To diversify +e land uses and increase the intensity of development in the Marana Town Center, the Town mu t implement a detailed plan that includes property entitlements and public participation. This way, we meet the needs of the community while still ensuring that the plan will work for the private sector. We see these objectives as integral steps toward achieving the overall Devel pment Plan, while maintaining the existing character of the Town of Marana and developing t future identity of our community in a village setting. As part of this undertaking, we will work ¡towards a number of goals: 1. To retain, dxpand and attract small to medium size businesses and public and community organizationslthat serve the full-time day-to-day needs of our residents. i I i i ~ i I I I I I I I I I 2. To create a~pedestrian oriented commercial core, encouraging mixed-use development at a maximum hei ht of 3 stories, with retail on the first floor and office or residential uses on the second and th rd floors. i 3. To developla variety of housing options, including medium-density condominiums and town home residen· es that are owner-occupied, to meet the community's diverse housing needs. 4. To create u cable public spaces for events and community acriviries that foster social and civic gatherings. I I 5. To establis~ a comprehensive pathway system for pedestrians and bicyclists within the Town Center that cqnnects with residential neighborhoods, parks, schools, and regional trail systems. I 6. To encour,e more compact and centralized parking locations, behind buildings instead of on main streets, ~ncluding a multi-level parking structure, rather than scattered surface lots. 7. To encour~e public and private investments to coordinate and improve the appearance of public areas tllrough attractive building design, quality maintenance, signage, landscaping, theme lighting, masfnry pavers, and street furniture. We believe t~at these are important goals and that the Town Center Plan will enable us to accomplish t~em. This plan allows the flexibility of keeping existing houses and uses while developing rionally and sensitively. With a deep sense of responsibility and our community ideals at the fì refront, we will incorporate this plan with impact fees and residential and commercial d sign standards into the fabric of how we approach development in this Town. I This council ¥cognized that we had some tough choices to make about how growth would come to Marana, b~t then again, were they really difficult choices? Sprawl or smart growth? RepetitiveneS~1 or variety? Status Quo or a true sense of community? When you put it that way, those seem liFe easy decisions to make, but now the work begins. It is change, continuing change, inevilable change, which isth edo m inan t factor in society today. We wi mess that every day. It is dif cult at the time to grasp something radically new and impossible later in life to imagine a ti,~ without it. No sensible decision can be made without taking into account not only the worl. as it is, but the world as it will be, the world as it should be... which is why we will continue. 0 set our sights forward to 2025 and beyond, even at the price of the gains today. The group as~.embled here today, the builders, developers, educators and service providers; the leaders, busi . ss owners, policy makers and neighbors; come armed with the ability to bring this plan to life, fì m a document to reality. Ifwe start today and come together with this one goal in mind, the go of a better tomorrow, then I know we can do better.. . We will do better! I i I I I ¡ I ..