Local Projects and Proposals

Casita Village at La Mariposa

This proposal by the Planning Center is for the 36 acres west of Houghton Road, south of Tanque Verde Road, and adjacent to the La Mariposa Resort. As of December, 2024, we learned that the proposal was being revised, but have no details as of this writing. The original proposal was for 179 luxury rental casitas and would require rezoning 20 acres from SR to R-2. The remaining acreage would remain open space. The property is located along the Agua Caliente Wash, and would require a modification to the flood plain map. They currently have a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR), which is a letter from FEMA stating that the proposed project, if built as proposed, the proposed hydrology changes would meet minimum National Flood Insurance Program standards. There are local concerns that this development would increase flooding issues in the area and downstream. A map of the area can be seen here. The presentation from 2021 for the original proposal can be found here.

Mister Car Wash

This is a proposal for a Mister Car Wash on the vacant land immediately to the west of the Speedway Gas Station at Tanque Verde Road and Bear Canyon Road. The location is shown on this map. There was a public meeting before the Planning and Zoning Commission, but the proposal was not approved. On August 7, 2024, the proposal was heard before the Mayor and Council regarding the rezoning and BCNP amendment requests. The rezoning was approved with the condition that the developer include a deceleration lane as part of the rezoning. This proposed car wash would violate the Bear Canyon Neighborhood Plan and would need an amendment to that Plan to move forward. As of December 2024, we have no updates on this project. 

Jacaranda Way Rezoning

There is no new information regarding this property as of December 2024. The property owner at 8800 E. Jacaranda Way had been investigating new options for developing that property, and was working with The Planning Center. A map showing the location can be seen here.

Previously, they submitted a request to change all 11.2 acres from SR (1 home/3.3 acres) to RX-2 (8.7 homes/1 acre). They also requested an amendment to the Bear Canyon Neighborhood Plan to allow for this zoning change. There was a Neighbor Meeting on January 4, 2023, at the Ward 2 Office, 7575 E. Speedway (Councilman Cunningham's office). Related information can be found here. The Neighbor Notice can be found here.

The Zoning Examiner recommended against this zoning change. Here is the their conclusion:

The proposed rezoning is not consistent with the policy direction provided in Plan Tucson. The property is surrounded almost exclusively by neighborhoods with existing, low density residential, SR or RX-1 zoned homes. Under Plan Tucson, the policy goal for development within an existing neighborhood is to maintain the character of the existing neighborhood, and to promote environmentally sensitive design that protects the integrity of existing neighborhoods, complements adjacent land uses, and enhances the overall function and visual quality of the street, adjacent properties, and the community. The proposed development does not meet these policy goals. The requested R-2 zoning should not be approved.