ORO VALLEY, ARIZONA – Roughly two years ago, The Conservation Fund (TCF) and its partners, the Town of Oro Valley, residents and community leaders, Ross Rulney and members of the organization Preserve Vistoso, set out to acquire and protect the former Vistoso Golf Course so it could be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary and public recreation destination. Thanks to the generous contributions of over 600 individuals in the community, over $1.8 million dollars was raised by TCF, and a challenging negotiation and successful acquisition are now complete.
In addition to the 202 acres, the former golf course also included a 6.14 acre parcel formerly used for clubhouse operations. As a condition of the sale, the agreement required both the 202 acre and 6.14 acre parcels be sold simultaneously.
The final agreement shows the seller, Romspen Vistoso LLC, the seller, received an aggregate amount of $4.25 million for all former golf course parcels. In separate purchases and sales agreements, The Conservation Fund (TCF) and Rulney paid a combined $3,365,000 for approximately 202 acres and the 6.14 acre parcel respectively. The Town agreed to settle its disputes with Romspen for $885,000.
The initial closing date was December 31, 2021, was extended to February 17, 2022, due to the parties waiting documentation from the Pima County Assessor that verified future use of the 202 acres would not be subject to a tax recapture as specified in state law and a zoning variance agreement with Vistoso Community Association (VCA).
Rulney purchased the 6.14 acre parcel with clubhouse and parking lot for development of a multifamily residential project, paying $1.75 million ($6.54 PSF) and an opportunity to acquire an additional 6.15 acre of open space later. Rulney anticipates beginning construction by year end.
Rulney agreed to limit its construction of an allowed multifamily residential complex to a maximum of two stories, up to 132 units. The Town agreed to provide zoning site relief, and the Conservation Fund and the Town agreed that approximately 1.5 acres of adjacent property to be used for drainage, public parking, utilities, open space/passive recreation and related uses.
In order to preserve the open space and passive recreation in perpetuity, required the Vistoso Community Association (VCA) Board of Directors to consider a variance to a legal classification designation of “Commercial” within the 1996 land tract declarations (related to private CC&R’s) for the 6.14 acre clubhouse parcel and a classification consistent with current Town zoning. The variance request was made by Mr. Rulney to the VCA Board, and supported by Town as a condition to the sale.
The Conservation Fund paid Romspen Vistoso $1.615 million for the golf course.
“Support from the community was phenomenal,” said Mike Ford, The Conservation Fund’s Southwest Director. “We want to thank the Town of Oro Valley, led by Mayor Joe Winfield and Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett, as well as Preserve Vistoso and the hundreds of people who donated to this effort. Thanks to you, Arizona has gained another natural, cultural and recreational resource for all to enjoy.”
The former Vistoso Golf Course property is a crown jewel in Oro Valley. Mountain views and varied desert vegetation, wildlife such as mule deer, bobcats, and birds, and rock formations bearing Native American petroglyphs can all be found on the site’s grounds. When the Vistoso Golf Course ceased operations in 2018, many in the community envisioned a future nature preserve in its place. It has become a popular open space for outdoor activities such as hiking and biking.
The Conservation Fund will temporarily hold the property, place a conservation easement on the land, and donate it to the Town of Oro Valley later this year. The conservation easement will ensure that the site will never be developed and will remain an asset for wildlife and the local community. The property will remain open for public access under The Conservation Fund’s interim ownership.
