ARIZONA DAILY STAR:  Tues., Oct. 21, 2008

Four projects denied city water service

Developers upset Tucson Water limited to current coverage areas

By Tony Davis

 

A city water policy that had been described as "trick-or-treat" for new developers has been replaced by a tougher stance in which City Hall has denied service to four projects in unincorporated areas.  The new policy denies water to developments outside existing city service areas. It triggered a recent legal claim for $46.25 million by the developer of a saguaro-rich property in the Tucson Mountain foothills.

The developer of the 260-home Painted Hills project said the city is wrong and that this project would lie inside the service area.  The city has frustrated other developers by turning down a 3,500-home project on the far Southwest Side, and two industrial parcels on the South Side.

Some outside experts question whether it makes sense for the city to deny service to developers in unincorporated areas who can then form service areas and drill their own wells to serve themselves. Such new wells would go against efforts by local and state governments to push the use of Central Arizona Project water from a more renewable supply — the Colorado River.

"I don't see that it accomplishes anything unless it's sort of a blackmail technique," said Priscilla Robinson, a retired Tucson Water consultant and environmental activist. "Limiting water to control growth is not very practical. All water law in this state has been written so it can't be used to control growth."

FULL STORY:   http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/263399