“Displeased” Neighbors Pack May 30th Meeting, Vigorously Oppose Commercial Zoning

Posted By The Peak on Jun 1, 2018

May 31, 2018

By Les Conklin

June 8, 2018 – Update. The Greater Pinnacle Peak Association – Friends of the Scenic Drive Board of Directors has voted unanimously to oppose the proposed development and new commercial zoning on Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive. Please read Help Oppose Proposed Commercial Project on Scenic Drive.

“Divine Desert Drive” by Chad Weaver, Carefree – Winner Scenic Drive Category, 2015 Summer Fun Photo Contest

“I arrived ten minutes early for the May 30th,  6 p.m. neighborhood open house meeting at Lone Mountain Elementary School. Given that many winter residents have left the area in advance of summer’s warmth, I wondered how many residents would attend.

After completing my second pass through the school’s parking area, I finally found a parking spot.  I could see people streaming towards the entrance. Entering the cafeteria, I saw the room was already filled. Someone called my name. It was Edie and B.J. Shannon and Howard Myers, Friends of the Scenic Drive volunteers. They were inviting me to sit at their table. Unfortunately, there were no empty chairs to be seen, so I joined others in “appropriating” chairs from the adjacent computer lab. Edie and I estimated the crowd at between 200 and 275 people. It was standing room only with lots of people standing. Amazing.

Neighborhood Open House Required by Scottsdale

The open house was being conducted by Beus Gilbert PPLC, attorneys representing the current property owner and prospective buyer of approximately five acres of land on the NW corner of E. Lone Mountain Road and N. Scottsdale Road. Their plan is to build a commercial 600-unit storage facility on the site. You will find information about the proposed project in the meeting notification letter below.

To have the project approved by the City of Scottsdale, the developers are seeking a major general plan amendment to change the land use to commercial from rural residential. In addition, City of Scottsdale zoning must be changed for the property from single family residential to neighborhood commercial. The process will involve review by city staff, the Scottsdale Planning Commission and final action by the Scottsdale City Council. For more details about zoning changes, refer to the zoning letter below.

Since this was not his “first rodeo” and sensing the mood in the jam-packed room, Attorney Paul Gilbert first laid down ground rules for the meeting. He and his colleagues would take ten minutes to describe the project (see the notification letter for the charts they used as visual aids). Following the introduction, residents would have 50 minutes for questions.

Shared Opposition to Commercial Zoning

The meeting proceeded as planned, although attendees were clearly opposed to the proposal and were not  shy about expressing their concerns and anger about having a commercial venture plunked down in the middle of an upscale residential and scenic area. The room erupted often in cheers and supportive applause when questioners raised specific objections.

The strongest audience response was to the call for “No commercial development!” in the neighborhood. The statement that the storage facility was not needed, also brought a very strong response. It was clear that many residents fear the facility will attract large tractor-trailer trucks and other moving-related vehicles to the area. The visual impact of lighting, signage of the 600 unit, 3-story building (two above ground and one below) and a decrease in residential property values were also emphasized by the very involved audience.  Most residents seemed to concur that a corner on a Scottsdale Scenic Corridor and the landmark Scottsdale Scenic Drive, in the midst of a beautiful residential area, is the wrong place for this project.

At the end of the 50-minute question period, people were waiting to ask questions. Paul Gilbert and his colleagues offered to remain and answer their questions.

Process Expected to Take Until Fall

I am sure that the cafeteria at the Lone Mountain Elementary School is a much happier place at lunch time during the school year than it was during last night’s meeting.  I did not hear a single resident speak in favor of the proposal. I heard many, many people speak against it. As Gilbert joked at one point, “This is a tough crowd.” None-the-less, it was an informative, and as these things go, a fairly orderly open meeting.  Now the work begins.

More Information

Adam Yaron of the City of Scottsdale is the contact person for the case. His number is 480-317-2761.

Related Articles & Websites

Sneak Peeks: Scenic Drive NEW Commercial Zoning Meeting May 30, 6 PM  Article

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