July 1st

Public Meeting Notice

410 Acre Private Airfield Construction proposed for

North Manville Rd., Marana.

A recent email from Jennifer Allen, Vice Chair, District 3 Supervisor, Pima County Board of Supervisors, was sent to leading community environmental organizations concerning a project outline and July 1^st public meeting notice from Lazarus & Silvyn, P.C.

The meeting notice, required by law, outlines their intention to represent Mr. Patrick Nikitenko, in his attempt to construct a private airfield (the “Project”) on approximately 410 acres of undeveloped land he owns, located north of Manville Rd. in Marana.

Allen's email received responses from several recipients, including Christina Mc Vie, President of Community Water Coalition of Southern Arizona. In her response, she shares her concern that the entire parcel lies within the Conservation Lands System area and within a flood control resource / flood hazard area. Mc Vie also raises other important issues that need to be vetted as part of any plan to develop this area. Click here to read her entire response.

Living Desert Alliance encourages our members to attend this meeting to learn more about the implication of this project and to ask important questions concerning its impact on our community and environment.



Meeting Info:

Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 6:00pm

Skydive Marana at Marana Regional Airport

11700 W. Avra Valley Rd. #301, Marana, AZ 85653

Please contact Supervisor Allen directly if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns. It is important that our community has an opportunity to voice opinions and challenge the project if need be.

We'll keep you posted!

Linda Vista 52 Annexation

Meeting Date Correction

In our last newsletter, we mistakenly announced an incorrect date for the next Marana Town Council meeting.

The Next Marana Town Council Meeting is

Wednesday, August 6th.

5:45PM (start time 6pm)

Ed Honea Marana Municipal Complex

11555 W Civic Center Dr.

Marana, AZ 85653

(NOTE: These meetings are usually on a Tuesday; however, Town code requires Council meetings to be held the following day when there is an election. In this case, it is due to a Tucson election.)

At this meeting, unless something changes in the interim, the council will vote to accept or reject the Linda Vista 52 Annexation Plan, which includes the re-zoning and development of over 50 acres of land to include:

• 13 three-story apartment buildings (306 units)
• 142 single- and two-story houses as noted in the above photo.

We encourage all members to attend this meeting to voice your concerns and offer alternative suggestions about this project.

Don't want to speak? No need to! Just showing up sends a clear message to the council that the community does not support the plan as it is currently presented.

Learn more by clicking below:

*** Alert *** Linda Vista 52 Annexation ***

Communities working together can make a difference!

We'll keep you posted

Sonoran Institute Announces

Great News for Middle Santa Cruz

The Sonoran Institute announced that The Santa Cruz River team has unveiled a science-based plan to restore flows to the middle Santa Cruz River, a historically dry stretch from the Santa Cruz-Pima County line to the southern edge of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s San Xavier District, using high-quality treated effluent from the Green Valley Water Reclamation Facility.

This approach will increase surface flows, enhancing native vegetation, wildlife habitats, and public access. Supported by the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program and the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative, the project has developed conceptual designs for flow reintroduction.

Pima County is advancing permitting processes to implement the initial phase. This initiative exemplifies how federal investment, and regional collaboration can lead to sustainable, community-supported environmental restoration.

Congratulations Sonoran Institute for your continued efforts to protect and preserve our waterways. Those efforts Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving.

Save Money,

Save the Air:

Pima County’s Cut Down Pollution program

Save cash, cut noise and breathe cleaner air? 

Whether you’re environmentally conscious, budget-savvy, or just tired of dealing with smelly, noisy gasoline tools, this is your chance to upgrade to cleaner, quieter zero-emissions lawn and garden equipment – and get financial help while doing so. 

The Cut Down Pollution program, run by the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ), lets residents and commercial businesses exchange working gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment toward vouchers for electric, battery or manual models. 

Residents can turn in one gas mower and up to five different handheld devices, such as leaf blowers, trimmers, and chainsaws. Commercial businesses can exchange an unlimited number of mowers and devices. 

Voucher values: 

• $200 for commercial use mower 
• $150 for personal use mower 
• $50 for handheld equipment

This is a great program not just for residential users, but for professional lawncare experts as well. Please share this information with them if you use any of their services.

Click here to learn more and to apply.