Oro Valley, AZ

OV Council Passes Ordinances to Encourage Green Development
Grey Water Harvesting, Solar Heating requirements good for business

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (June 18, 2009) - The Oro Valley Town Council passed two amendments to current ordinances in an effort to further the Town's goals for resource conservation. The unanimous decisions were made during a regular meeting of the Council June 17.

Oro Valley Councilmember Salette Latas led the effort to update the ordinances.

"Green homes sell better," Latas said. "Building green is a market advantage in tough economic times and environmentally-friendly construction continues to grow even in the current economy."

One report she cites is market data found in the new SmartMarket Report, "The Green Home Builder: Navigating for Success in a Down Economy," which covers market opportunities, key triggers and obstacles and trends in green home building practices from 2001 to 2007, including the impact of the down market on this sector. Major findings include:

• Forty percent of builders find "building green" makes it easier to market in a down economy; 16 percent say it makes green construction much easier
• In 2009, 21 percent of builders expect 90 percent of its projects to be green
• Sixty percent of builders claim homebuyers are willing to pay more for green homes. This is greater than the opinion in 2006 (56 percent)

Latas said Oro Valley's changes were modeled after Tucson's recent ordinances which were adopted with support from both homebuilders and the public.

"We hope that our efforts will help direct a regional approach that will ensure uniform codes that establish environmentally sound building practices," Latas said.

Ordinance 09-11 Residential Solar amends Chapter 6, Article 6-1-7, "Residential Code" to add "Residential Solar Ordinance," which now requires installation of solar-ready measures in residential construction. The ordinance will take effect 30 days from the approval, or July 17.

The second ordinance, 09-12 Residential Gray Water (you can find the addendum here), now requires the installation of gray water plumbing in residential construction, amending the Oro Valley Town Code, Article 6-1, and the 2006 International Residential Code. This ordinance will take effect June 1, 2010 and does not apply to building plans submitted and approved prior to June 1, 2009.

I have received many emails and phone calls and people are always asking about golf in the Tucson - Oro Valley areas. Here are two very good web sites where you can get some idea of what golf clubs are here and in some cases even get discount coupons and make tee times.

http://www.arizonagreatliving.com/TucsonGolf-TeeTimes.html

www.golfnow.com

Richard Lecinski

Long Realty Company

520-834-4663

http://rlecinski.longrealty.com

www.arizonagreatliving.com

$250 Economic Recovery Payment for Government Program Beneficiaries

Mainly geared toward retirees, the one-time $250 Economic Recovery Payment will be doled out to the following government program recipients.

* Adults eligible for Social Security benefits and anyone eligible for Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) except those who receive them while in a Medicaid institution.
* Adults eligible for Railroad Retirement benefits
* Adults eligible for veteran's compensation or pension benefits.

To cash in, you must have been eligible for at least one of the programs listed above for at least a month during the three-month period that includes November and December of 2008 and January of 2009.

The IRS is figuring out how to get payments underway within the next four months.

Note: If you receive the $250 Economic Recovery Payment, it gets subtracted from any Making Work Pay credit that you would otherwise be entitled to collect.

Isakson Amendment Passed!! Thanks to all of you who weighed in, the Isakson amendment - which provides a tax credit of up to 15,000 to all homebuyers - passed by voice vote in the Senate last night with bi-partisan support; it will now be part of the final Senate bill. Truly your voice made a difference. This is an important victory but our work is not done. Other amendments are expected to be offered today which embody parts of the Fix Housing First plan and we need to support those as well. The plan is to have a bill on the President's desk by February 13, so our efforts this week will be concentrated on the Senate and next week on the conference committee process. Today Senator Ensign (R-NV) will offer what he is calling the “Fix Housing First Act” (amendment #353) which is much broader than our agenda but does include a mortgage rate buy down program which could lower mortgage rates to as low as 4%. While the plan is not exactly what we have been advocating for, it is another step in the right direction. So please urge your Senators to support the amendment – particularly its rate buy down provisions. Here are a few things you can do: Click here to send a letter. You can also call your Senators' offices. Click here for a directory of Senate phone numbers. Thank you so much again. The Fix Housing First coalition has been extraordinary in its activism and response, and it's working. Keep the pressure on!

Pristine Stone Canyon Luxury Home for Sale

This pristine Stone Canyon luxury home has breathtaking views of Catalina and Tortolita mountains and wonderful privacy and seclusion with natural open space behind tremendous separation from other homes. Relax by negative edge pool or take in views from greatroom with stone covered indoor fireplace or through walls of windows. Travertine floor through-out, Alder interior doors. Kitchen with 6 burner range ovens.

Check out price per sqft at $321! Listed 17% below any other sold properties in Stone Canyon in last 6 months.

The Luxury Home community of Stone Canyon is one of a select few communities that have private golf Courses in Tucson, and the surrounding areas of Oro Valley and Marana. It is the only truly private golf course in Oro Valley

Luxury homes range in price from $1,300,000 to over $3,000,000 and the deserrt views are stunning, with majestic Saguaros studded in the landscape and around the pristine Gold Course.

This particular Stone Canyon Luxury Home has wonderful ambience and you can relax by the negative edge pool and spa. The home has gorgeous views of two mountain ranges, the Catalinas and the Tortolitas plus incredible privacy.

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