The Neighbors
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Nancy Shemroske had to cut our phone conversation short. A coyote was chasing her dog. Alarming, but it happens here on Saguaro Shadows road. Saguaro National Park is just down the hill. And right behind Nancy's house lie 44 acres of untouched desert exactly like that preserved in the Park. Nancy has walked her dogs there nearly very day since she and her husband Jack bought their home in 1985. It keeps her fit and centered, especially now after Jack's passing last May. The wildlife and big sky views are a comfort. She did know that the land is privately owned; and that some day it would be split into 3 acre parcels and sold. Then her daily walks might end. But except for a few houses her grand view of the Rincon Mountains would remain unspoiled. Her neighbors knew that too. That was the understanding when they all bought land zoned in a way that values wild desert and its life. But in a 3-2 decision the Pima county Board of Supervisors changed that. They said the land can legally be the site of a "minor resort”, complete with 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 can follow its natural course. Nancy and her neighbors felt helpless and distraught. You can fight city hall. You can't always win.
Nancy Shemroske had to cut our phone conversation short. A coyote was chasing her dog. Alarming, but it happens here on Saguaro Shadows road. Saguaro National Park is just down the hill. And right behind Nancy's house lie 44 acres of untouched desert exactly like that preserved in the Park. Nancy has walked her dogs there nearly very day since she and her husband Jack bought their home in 1985. It keeps her fit and centered, especially now after Jack's passing last May. The wildlife and big sky views are a comfort. She did know that the land is privately owned; and that some day it would be split into 3 acre parcels and sold. Then her daily walks might end. But except for a few houses her grand view of the Rincon Mountains would remain unspoiled. Her neighbors knew that too. That was the understanding when they all bought land zoned in a way that values wild desert and its life. But in a 3-2 decision the Pima county Board of Supervisors changed that. They said the land can legally be the site of a "minor resort”, complete with 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 can follow its natural course. Nancy and her neighbors felt helpless and distraught. You can fight city hall. You can't always win.
Nancy Shemroske had to cut our phone conversation short. A coyote was chasing her dog. Alarming, but it happens here on Saguaro Shadows road. Saguaro National Park is just down the hill. And right behind Nancy's house lie 44 acres of untouched desert exactly like that preserved in the Park. Nancy has walked her dogs there nearly very day since she and her husband Jack bought their home in 1985. It keeps her fit and centered, especially now after Jack's passing last May. The wildlife and big sky views are a comfort. She did know that the land is privately owned; and that some day it would be split into 3 acre parcels and sold. Then her daily walks might end. But except for a few houses her grand view of the Rincon Mountains would remain unspoiled. Her neighbors knew that too. That was the understanding when they all bought land zoned in a way that values wild desert and its life. But in a 3-2 decision the Pima county Board of Supervisors changed that. They said the land can legally be the site of a "minor resort”, complete with 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 can follow its natural course. Nancy and her neighbors felt helpless and distraught. You can fight city hall. You can't always win.
