Oro Valley council accepts 33 acres of desert adjacent to Honeybee Canyon Park

Oro Valley officials voted Jan. 14 to accept a donation of two parcels totaling about 33 acres of natural desert land adjacent to Honeybee Canyon Park.

Deputy Town Manager Chris Cornelison told the council the parcels are being offered without compensation and that property taxes are current. Staff recommended standard due diligence — a title review, deed preparation and other documentation — and said staff is not proposing any active uses at this time but will consider how the parcels fit into the town's broader trails and parks planning.

The property owner’s representative, introduced to the council as Mark Winkelman and described in the meeting as the COO of the entity that owns the property, said the donation preserves permanent open space and praised town staff for their cooperation. He recounted prior work with Oro Valley on open-space projects and expressed hope the transfer will complete smoothly.

Councilmember Green moved to approve Resolution R26-01 authorizing the town manager and designated officers to complete due diligence and sign the gift agreement; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously (vote recorded 6–0). The town will hold the parcels and later decide whether and how to incorporate them into park and trail planning during the town’s ongoing trails master planning process.

The council’s acceptance follows the model used for a prior donation the presenter referenced, with the main difference being that staff does not plan to sell these parcels after acceptance. Any future decisions about trails or improvements will be returned to council for direction.