area making it an ideal location for future growth in Pinal County. See Figure 5‐7 for a
map that shows the Superstition Vistas area in relation to FMR.
The Comprehensive Plan states the planned development could one day have a
population approaching one million people and may take as long as 50 years to come to
full fruition. The Comprehensive Plan identifies several proposed high‐density mixed‐use
locations including one near the junction of highways 79 and 60 and another just north
and west of FMR. These locations could be among the more developed areas within the
Superstition Vistas planned community. Currently there are several potential
impediments to the development plans including limited potable water resources in the
area and a plethora of jurisdictional waters of the U.S. in the area that require
environmental considerations.
One concern for the AZARNG with the potential development of Superstition Vistas, is
the likelihood of increased light pollution, similar to what has occurred in Tucson and
other intensely developed areas. Florence Military Reservation is located between the
cities of Phoenix and Tucson in an area that currently has minimal development. This
location is ideal for the military operations conducted at FMR for many reasons including
limited light pollution from nearby jurisdictions. As discussed in Chapter 3 Military
Profile, activities at FMR include range operations for military maneuvers, live fire
weapons training, land navigation and contractor supported UAS testing. As with all
realistic military training, there is the need to conduct operations during daytime and
nighttime to ensure personnel are prepared for all scenarios when deployed overseas or
supporting civil emergencies.
Light pollution from Tucson, AZ
Source: Arizona Sonora News
Service, 2016
Figure 5‐17 shows locations, as indicated by the red and yellow shading, around the
southeastern portion of the Phoenix metro area and the northwestern portion of the
Tucson metro area where light pollution is migrating into the JLUS Project Area. While
smaller in land area, light pollution is also relatively heavy around the Town of Florence
to the south of the FMR. Florence Military Reservation has less light pollution as
indicated by the gray and blue shading on the map. Light pollution from nearby
jurisdictions has the potential to degrade nighttime training at FMR by limiting the ability
to use technology or naked eye training to aid warfighting scenarios. From the use of
NVG to equipment that enables downrange weapons targeting, light pollution can impact
troop training and desired outcomes. In addition, light pollution can also degrade troop
training where use of technology is not a factor such as naked eye vision and situational
awareness of personnel during nighttime maneuvers.
Many states, including Arizona, and jurisdictions have taken actions to minimize light
pollution. In many cases the action is taken to improve resident quality of life or reduce
impact to astronomy activities, not to address military compatibility. Arizona Revised
Background Report
5-103