Prior to the Sabino Springs Specific Plan, the property was predominantly zoned SR (Suburban Ranch - 0.3 residences-per-acre).  The Specific Plan rezoning for the Sabino Springs property had a rocky start due to its reliance on a loophole in the Pima County Buffer Overlay Zone Ordinance (B.O.Z.O.).  The developer, Perini Land and Development, exploited this loophole to designate the golf course (Raven) as natural open space.  This loophole is explained on page 79 of the Specific Plan:

Of course, in reality golf course fairways and greens hardly provide wildlife habitat opportunities for the vast majority of desert species.  Large numbers of rabbits can be seen on and around the golf course, but residents of Sabino Springs have observed that other wildlife has all but disappeared (as reported in the Arizona Daily Star).

The neighbors fought against Perini proceeding under the golf course loophole and formed the Sabino Canyon Coalition to oppose the rezoning of Sabino Springs to the high level of grading and density in the Specific Plan.  The coalition opposition included an effort to get a referendum on the ballot that was contested all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court before being denied.  As a result, Perini was able to proceed with their Specific Plan using the golf course to satisfy natural open space requirements.

Pima County subsequently closed this loophole, adding the following text to the B.O.Z.O.:

By the time Pima County closed this loophole, Perini had already taken advantage of it.  As a result, most of the true natural open space of Sabino Springs has been destroyed by development.  Furthermore, the property has crept to a density of more than one home per acre -- a far cry from the original one home per three acres SR zoning designation.  After all this, Perini continues to add insult to injury by seeking further grading increases.