Save the Scenic Drive: What Scottsdale Voters are Saying

Posted By Cindy Lee on Feb 13, 2015

Monument South of Happy Valley Road

By Cindy Lee

A Scottsdale homeowner new to the neighborhood—husband, and father of a young family—wrote to express how he feels about the proposed up-zoning change to the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive area along the east side of Scottsdale Road between Happy Valley and Jomax Roads. The proposed change would switch 26 acres of resort/tourism zoning and 40 acres of commercial zoning into the Scenic Drive area that was zoned residential when the City of Scottsdale’s General Plan was adopted in 2002.

“I think any acreage with these zoning uses (resort and commercial) would be detrimental to our neighborhood. The state should move resort zoning closer to the 101, near Desert Ridge and the other resorts located just north and south of the freeway. Guests at resorts will prefer to be closer to that area’s shopping and transportation hubs.

Map of Proposed Rezoning Areas from ASLD 19-ZN-2014

“As for commercial, there is enough already at the major intersections in north Scottsdale. Scottsdale is one of the few cities in the valley with natural desert. Why create a cookie cutter city of retail corners, surrounded by high-density apartments or offices? Let’s keep the unique, rural feel of north Scottsdale.”

Another homeowner—with a background in real estate development—added:

“The Scenic Drive is along the last 6 miles of Scottsdale Road from Happy Valley Road to the Carefree Highway. Do north Scottsdale homeowners know that the vacant land on the west side of Scottsdale Road is part of the City of Phoenix? Thousands of acres on the Phoenix side have been zoned and will be developed. There will be commercial development.

“The land east of Scottsdale Road between Happy Valley and Jomax Roads is magnificent, undeveloped desert in north Scottsdale along the Scenic Drive. It is zoned residential. A current rezoning proposal would switch the location of resort/tourism and commercial development zoning onto the Scottsdale side of Scottsdale Road between Happy Valley and Jomax. That’s why I’m concerned. It is the beginning of what can happen in the future. A change and precedent like this will open the door for more rezoning to continue along the Scenic Drive.

Monument at Scenic Drive Exhibit Area

“A lot of study went into creating Scottsdale’s General Plan that applied residential zoning to the land between Happy Valley and Jomax Roads where the Scenic Drive Visitor Exhibit area is located. Why switch the zoning now within the Scenic Drive and erode the planned link between Scottsdale Road and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve? This property is one of the last jewels of our Scottsdale planned Preserve and we need to preserve it. We need to save our Scenic Drive now.”

* * * * * *

In the General Plan ratified by Scottsdale voters in 2002, the Scenic Drive area between Happy Valley and Jomax Roads is located within the “Recommended Study Boundary of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.”

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/Public+Website/generalplan/General+Plan.pdf (See Plan maps, pages 124-125)

Google Map of the Last 6.2 Miles of North Scottsdale Road that Comprise the Scenic Drive

Quoting from the City of Scottsdale website: “The General Plan is the culmination of Scottsdale’s collective vision for how its citizens want the community to evolve over time.” http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/generalplan/generalplan2001

Scottsdale voters spoke when they voted yes for the 2000 Bond program that raised $27.1 million, of which nearly $7 million is going toward the preservation, re-vegetation and enhancement currently in progress along the Scenic Drive.

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Construction/ScenicDrive

Scottsdale homeowners spoke again when they ratified the city’s General Plan in March 2002 that put the Scenic Drive Visitor Exhibit area within the planned Preserve. The zoning change proposed today would—instead—put commercial and resort development into the Scenic Drive.

Scottsdale voters are speaking now to say: “Please! Save the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive!”

Group Photo from “Save the Scenic Drive” Video Shoot – 2/8/2015

SAVE THE SCENIC DRIVE! Please watch our videos.

Watch “Save the Scenic Drive” Video

Watch “Save the Scenic Drive: GPPA Board + Scottsdale Voters Speak” Video

If you would consider signing a petition to express your opposition to the zoning switch, please write to info@gppaaz.org.

Thank you.

Cindy Lee

“The Desert Foothills Scenic Drive is located in Scottsdale, Arizona on the northern six miles of Scottsdale Road. Situated between Happy Valley Road and Carefree Highway, the Scenic Drive consists of approximately 11.5 miles of roadside frontage. Seen as a community landmark, preservation efforts have been made for over 50 years to maintain its natural desert character. Neighboring communities, volunteers, non-profit organizations, and the City of Scottsdale have made substantial contributions to preserve and restore the natural desert environment and enhance its character as a distinctive tourist destination.”

Excerpt from http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Construction/ScenicDrive