Expansion and growth of any community brings numerous challenges as well as benefits. Rancho Del Lago residents are delighted that the Las Plazas at Old Vail and Houghton Town Center are adding new stores monthly and that soon there will be a Safeway, near the Walgreens. Residents are grateful to have access to more resources for our community, without having to drive into Tucson; although we also love Tucson, it isn’t exactly right around the corner.
Various homebuilders are building on what was for centuries, vacant land in this beautiful, mountainous, rural area of Southern Arizona called Rancho Del Lago. Pulte and Meritage are two of the numerous companies building new homes in our community. In April 2017, Del Webb residents discovered that Vail Valley Joint Venture (VVJV) and Pulte Homes had made a shared access agreement for Sandy Lake Drive, allowing a non 55 community, Meritage Homes, behind our private gate.
Del Webb residents having already lived in the all-age neighborhoods, while working and raising our families, this time chose to buy into the dream of a private, quiet, 55+, gated community and the VVJV/Pulte access agreement would dynamically alter and adversely impact our 55+ community.
No one is against housing growth or business development, and many of these changes will benefit the residents and the economy of our growing community. Will this growth create construction noise, yes and restrict views and increase traffic, probably. Will we lose some of the spontaneous daily visits from wild animals, most likely. Simultaneously, we will be gaining new neighbors, increased tax revenues to support our remarkable schools, additional new stores, restaurants and medical facilities that will undoubtedly improve the quality of our lives.
After thousands of communications from concerned residents, Pulte has confirmed a resolution regarding Sandy Lake Drive that will ensure the integrity of this 55+ community and we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the following businesses and individuals for their efforts and guidance towards this resolution:
Steve Hilton, Meritage Homes President
Phil Turner, Pulte Homes VP Land Development
Steve Christie, District #4 Supervisor
Lucretia Free, District #4 Vail Representative
Carla Blackwell, Director, Development Services Pima County
Tom Drzazgowski, Chief Zoning Inspector Pima County
Challenges and opportunities abound in this scenic desert community of Rancho Del Lago. As Del Webb residents, we are proud to live where the homes are occupied by residents who truly care about their neighbors and have the courage to speak up for their neighbor’s welfare.
Sincerely,
Joy and Bill LaCombe
