Trend Watch April 2008, by Linda Morales

In December, 2006, the Pima County Board of Supervisors directed County staff to begin a study of the Southwest region of Pima County. This study, called the Southwest Infrastructure Plan (SWIP)was requested to better plan for the anticipated growth in densities and infrastructure for seventy square miles of land located within the seven mile by twelve mile rectangular region generally bounded by Tucson Mountain Park to the north, Mission Road to the east, the Tohono O’odham Nation – San Xavier District and Pascua Yaqui Tribe lands to the south, and Sandario Road to the west. Ryan Airfield, a component of the Tucson Airport Authority, is contained within the boundaries of the study.

The purpose of SWIP is to provide a snapshot of existing conditions, an inventory of current and proposed infrastructure, opportunities for sustainable practices, and a forecast of future land needs. Pima County sees this area as a satellite community consisting of the 14,000 existing homes (mostly in the eastern area) and up to 40,000 additional new homes in planned communities, mostly in the western section of the planning area. It is hoped that Ryan Airfield and new industrial and commercial areas near Valencia Road and Ajo way will create a new hub for employment in the area. More →