Marana's Tortolita Preserve protected from development, for now

A nature preserve in Marana that was slated for housing development will remain open space, at least until the next century.

At last night's final public hearing on the town’s 2040 general plan, the Marana Town Council voted unanimously to protect the 2,400-acre Tortolita Preserve. The town’s decision comes after vocal opposition from residents and conservation groups against a plan that would have earmarked parts of the preserve for future development.

“The Arizona State Land Department had proposed to rezone and reconfigure the Tortolita Preserve,” said Mark Johnson, a member of a group of residents called the Tortolita Alliance. “That sequence of events was kind of disturbing.”

Marana leased the acreage from the State Land Department nearly two decades ago to set aside habitat for an endangered species of cactus-dwelling pygmy owls.

The owl was removed from the endangered species list in 2006. The Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity is working to get the species relisted due to threats by habitat loss and climate change.

The town’s annual lease payment has increased year over year. The current payment is $575,000 and the town staff projects it to grow to at least $2.6 million by the end of the lease in 2099.

Marana mayor Ed Honea said the preserve will remain protected until the lease ends.

The town’s 2040 general plan is set for voter ratification in August of next year.