EXPLORER NEWS: Weds., Aug. 22, 2007
Marana takes a hard look at annexations
By Eric Beidel
Marana long ago stopped looking like itself. A steady diet of annexations has taken the town from 10 square miles to more than 120 stretching across the Pima-Pinal county line.
Last week, officials gave a public presentation on eight pending and possible annexations encompassing more than 3,500 acres. Some have been talked about before. The residents of Happy Acres, a blue-collar neighborhood in Avra Valley, have been split about becoming part of the town.
The town planned to hold a public hearing on Aug. 21 on the pending annexation of 1,550 acres in northern Marana, east of Trico Road and north of Trico-Marana Road.
Officials soon will file paperwork with the county recorder's office to move forward with the annexation of 30.5 acres just south of Pima Farms Road and east of Interstate 10. The Pima Farms annexation would provide job opportunities to residents, Marana Town Manager Mike Reuwsaat said. The property owner has plans to turn the 30 acres into an industrial development.
The town council discussed other areas that might be annexed, including 78 acres near the future site of the Twin Peaks interstate interchange.
Though not listed as a possible annexation for last week's meeting, Councilman Tim Escobedo asked about Rillito, a mostly low-income area between I-10 and the Santa Cruz River.
Marana has tried several times to grab Rillito, and each time its residents told the town to get lost.
While not in the town limits, Rillito “is still part of our community,” Escobedo said. The town should look into annexing the area and “cleaning it up.”