The Nature of Loss - The Landscape
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Take a good look at what may be the last pictures of this land as wild, unspoiled desert. It sits just across the street from Saguaro National Park (East). Soon the bulldozers and builders will convert it into a “minor” resort. For the native animals who visit and live here, just as their ancestors have visited and lived here for millenia, it won't be “minor”. Nor will it be minor for the surrounding neighbors. They had generally assumed, or at least hoped, that when the land was finally developed there would be only 1 house per 3 acre plot in keeping with the local zoning. Instead an allowance in the zoning ordinance will permit 29 casitas (17 two stories high), 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, a restaurant, and a cafe among other things - an operation requiring dozens of employees in a neighborhood zoned “Suburban Ranch” meaning a place where wildlife is free to roam and water is meant to follow its natural course.
Take a good look at what may be the last pictures of this land as wild, unspoiled desert. It sits just across the street from Saguaro National Park (East). Soon the bulldozers and builders will convert it into a “minor” resort. For the native animals who visit and live here, just as their ancestors have visited and lived here for millenia, it won't be “minor”. Nor will it be minor for the surrounding neighbors. They had generally assumed, or at least hoped, that when the land was finally developed there would be only 1 house per 3 acre plot in keeping with the local zoning. Instead an allowance in the zoning ordinance will permit 29 casitas (17 two stories high), 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, a restaurant, and a cafe among other things - an operation requiring dozens of employees in a neighborhood zoned “Suburban Ranch” meaning a place where wildlife is free to roam and water is meant to follow its natural course.
Take a good look at what may be the last pictures of this land as wild, unspoiled desert. It sits just across the street from Saguaro National Park (East). Soon the bulldozers and builders will convert it into a “minor” resort. For the native animals who visit and live here, just as their ancestors have visited and lived here for millenia, it won't be “minor”. Nor will it be minor for the surrounding neighbors. They had generally assumed, or at least hoped, that when the land was finally developed there would be only 1 house per 3 acre plot in keeping with the local zoning. Instead an allowance in the zoning ordinance will permit 29 casitas (17 two stories high), 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, a restaurant, and a cafe among other things - an operation requiring dozens of employees in a neighborhood zoned “Suburban Ranch” meaning a place where wildlife is free to roam and water is meant to follow its natural course.
This scene across the street from Saguaro National Park (East Unit) will soon look very different. It was bound to change eventually because the land was zoned to have one house on each 3 acre lot. But in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors allowed the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. This “minor resort” requiring dozens of employees will be built on a place where wild animals were meant to roam. Perhaps they will. The developers are leaving much of the property untouched. That may satisfy the critters, but not the neighboring landowners who never imagined their big sky views would be changed in such a drastic way.
This scene across the street from Saguaro National Park (East Unit) will soon look very different. It was bound to change eventually because the land was zoned to have one house on each 3 acre lot. But in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors allowed the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. This “minor resort” requiring dozens of employees will be built on a place where wild animals were meant to roam. Perhaps they will. The developers are leaving much of the property untouched. That may satisfy the critters, but not the neighboring landowners who never imagined their big sky views would be changed in such a drastic way.
This scene across the street from Saguaro National Park (East Unit) will soon look very different. It was bound to change eventually because the land was zoned to have one house on each 3 acre lot. But in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors allowed the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. This “minor resort” requiring dozens of employees will be built on a place where wild animals were meant to roam. Perhaps they will. The developers are leaving much of the property untouched. That may satisfy the critters, but not the neighboring landowners who never imagined their big sky views would be changed in such a drastic way.
This scene across the street from Saguaro National Park (East Unit) will soon look very different. It was bound to change eventually because the land was zoned to have one house on each 3 acre lot. But in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors allowed the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. This “minor resort” requiring dozens of employees will be built on a place where wild animals were meant to roam. Perhaps they will. The developers are leaving much of the property untouched. That may satisfy the critters, but not the neighboring landowners who never imagined their big sky views would be changed in such a drastic way.
BR - Brittlebush, Prickly Pear, Dead Paloverde With Parasitic Mistletoe
Brittlebush blooms on a vacant east-side lot. This scene may soon be gone forever. Everyone knew that would happen. The land is zoned so that each 3 acre property would have portions of wild desert bulldozed away and possibly built over for a single family dwelling. But now the size of those portions will be much bigger because in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors gave the go ahead for the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. They'll be a fair amount of open space too. But will it be enough for the animals migrating from Saguaro National Park (East) which lies just across the street. It likely won't be enough for the neighbors surrounding the lot who never expected the wild desert where they walked their dogs, birded, and enjoyed wild flowers in their wild settings, would be changed so drastically.
BR - Bike Ranch Site - Paloverde & Brittlebush
Brittlebush blooms on a vacant east-side lot. This scene may soon be gone forever. Everyone knew that would happen. The land is zoned so that each 3 acre property would have portions of wild desert bulldozed away and possibly built over for a single family dwelling. But now the size of those portions will be much bigger because in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors gave the go ahead for the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. They'll be a fair amount of open space too. But will it be enough for the animals migrating from Saguaro National Park (East) which lies just across the street. It likely won't be enough for the neighbors surrounding the lot who never expected the wild desert where they walked their dogs, birded, and enjoyed wild flowers in their wild settings, would be changed so drastically.
BR - Bike Ranch Site - Cholla & Brittlebush #3
Brittlebush blooms on a vacant east-side lot. This scene may soon be gone forever. Everyone knew that would happen. The land is zoned so that each 3 acre property would have portions of wild desert bulldozed away and possibly built over for a single family dwelling. But now the size of those portions will be much bigger because in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors gave the go ahead for the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. They'll be a fair amount of open space too. But will it be enough for the animals migrating from Saguaro National Park (East) which lies just across the street. It likely won't be enough for the neighbors surrounding the lot who never expected the wild desert where they walked their dogs, birded, and enjoyed wild flowers in their wild settings, would be changed so drastically
BR - Bike Ranch Site - Staghorn Cholla & Brittlebush #1
Brittlebush blooms on a vacant east-side lot. This scene may soon be gone forever. Everyone knew that would happen. The land is zoned so that each 3 acre property would have portions of wild desert bulldozed away and possibly built over for a single family dwelling. But now the size of those portions will be much bigger because in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors gave the go ahead for the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. They'll be a fair amount of open space too. But will it be enough for the animals migrating from Saguaro National Park (East) which lies just across the street. It likely won't be enough for the neighbors surrounding the lot who never expected the wild desert where they walked their dogs, birded, and enjoyed wild flowers in their wild settings, would be changed so drastically.
BR - Bike Ranch Site - Staghorn Cholla & Brittlebush #2
Brittlebush blooms on a vacant east-side lot. This scene may soon be gone forever. Everyone knew that would happen. The land is zoned so that each 3 acre property would have portions of wild desert bulldozed away and possibly built over for a single family dwelling. But now the size of those portions will be much bigger because in a 3-2 vote The Pima County Board of Supervisors gave the go ahead for the construction of a restaurant, cafe, 49 guest rooms, parking spaces, and 29 casitas 17 of which will be two stories high. They'll be a fair amount of open space too. But will it be enough for the animals migrating from Saguaro National Park (East) which lies just across the street. It likely won't be enough for the neighbors surrounding the lot who never expected the wild desert where they walked their dogs, birded, and enjoyed wild flowers in their wild settings, would be changed so drastically
